(Excerpt)

Hole played two shows with Mudhoney the other night down at the Astoria. Perhaps you caught them. You should have done. Purely as a rock experience, the first night, when everything fucked up and Courtney ended up smashing her only guitar - a Rickenbacker - in frustration, was completely insane, on a par with those early Mary Chain performances, Joy Division at the Moonlight, The Birthday Party anywhere. Hole were so antagonistic I'm surprised the audience didn't start running for safety the minute Courtney started screeching. Eric was pure fury on guitar, storming across the stage, threatening to bring down the whole rotten mess. The hatred and the anger were tangible.

The second night was more together, less on a knife-edge, but no less thrilling. Kids pogoed, stage-dived and tried to get a glimpse of Courtney's knickers as she thrust her hips forward into their faces, wielding her guitar like a demented incarnation of every retro male rocker's fears. Totally in control, totally hateful, evil, manipulative, powerful.
 
 
 

Everett True
Melody Maker, August 24, 1991