Wow!
All I can say, is wow. The pioneers of an alternative generation that never got the commercial respect they deserved, returned for another reunion, but this time, a smaller venue, the Tower Theater. What a great night for music, and much to my surprise, their best record was played...in its entirety.
Lights dim, fog machine emits smoke and the crowd is silent, watching a strange foreign film where a woman is getting her eyeballs sliced (hint hint). After 5 to 10 minutes, the strange movie ends, the band walks to their equipment and plays "Dancing the Manta Ray." A very mid-tempo song, followed by 3 more B-Sides, much to the crowds confusion. Kim Deal announces they are playing "deep cuts." The screen flashes the word, "Doolittle," and out belts Frank Black's opening lines to "Debaser," tieing the film together with the set. After a few songs from the album I figure out, wow, I think they're playing the entire album from beginning to end!!!! Duh? And they did. It was impressively tight. Frank Black/Francis's vocals were perfection as well as Kim. The DVD that was released from the last reunion did not display how great his vocals are live. I couldn't comprehend how he can scream so loud and long and still hit those falsetto notes throughout the night. The band was on top of their game.
High points of the set were "Here Comes Your Man" with the hokey screen of all of their faces behind them being silly and bobbing to the song as they were performing. They really seemed to appreciate each other and be really happy to be there at the show. "David Lovering," singing "La La Love You," another highpoint, "Hey," ofcourse another great one, and one of my favorites was hearing Kim and Frank's harmonines on "Silver" sounding just like the record was superbly done. After "Gouge Away," the band does a big bow w/the the screen behind them doing the same, and a long goodbye, as if they were trying to say goodbye to each and every individual. The band leaves the stage and we await the encore.
1st encore, "Wave of Mutilation" reprise, this time, U.K. Surf version, followed by a violently noisy "Into the White," as the exit the stage again.
2nd encore, Kim announces, "we know more songs than just that album," and out comes more early Pixies tracks. "Nimrod's Son," "Vamos," "Isla de Encanta," and finally, a few tries to nail that "alright, stop" intro, all in good fun of course, and out comes "Where is my Mind," with all of the house lights on full shine. It was a great ending to a great show. It couldn't have been more pleased.
The Score: 8.5
The Math: Doolittle + a few besides x a strong performance = Pixies @the Tower Theater
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