(Photo from The Washington Post – By Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
The Pixies 2006 documentary was aptly called LoudquietLoud. Whether it was DAR’s acoustic’s or the Pixies’ playing – the show was one of the loudest I’ve attended in a while. When the Pixies first got back together in 2004, I was excited but unsure whether I wanted to see them. Reunions tours can sometimes be a bust.
I’m under the impression that Frank Black (or is it Black Francis since we’re talking about the Pixies?) must have been sipping green tea with honey regularly for the past 20 years. A 45 year old man should not be able to scream like he did during songs like “There Goes My Gun” or “I’ve Got Something Against You”. But Black wasn’t the only member of the band who proved himself. Perhaps because of the way the songs are written the songs simply cannot be performed half-assed. That being said – the band seemed extremely tight as they shifted from their signature loud and quiet format -sometimes several times in one song.
Obviously, Black is the star of the show. But as my friend Michael told me, “they’re like the Beatles of ’80s. If one was missing, it wouldn’t be the same.” After seeing the show, I couldn’t agree more. Guitarist Joey Santiago is a master of the aggressive one-note style of playing – only letting loose on an extended version of “Vamos”. Kim Deal and David Lovering proved that they are probably one of the most under-rated rhythm sections in rock.
And to anyone who thinks that concerts where bands play entire albums suck – this show reminded me how great of an album Doolittle is. It gives the band and its audience something to celebrate. Most reunions shows are just a greatest hits forum. With the album-concert concept – bands are forced to play songs they probably never played. It’s nostalgia without the bitter taste in your mouth.
And it also confirmed my theory that everytime I listen to Nirvana I hear a half-assed Pixie song.
Leading Us Absurd 