June 2, 2024
I have waited 33 years to see the Pixies for a second time. I saw them in 1991 at The Beechum Theater in Orlando, FL. Back then I took a lot of enhancements and don’t remember much of the show, so this time I promised myself that I would be completely sober. I am glad I did. The show was a culmination of atmospheric perfections, sound ecstasy and performances of the upmost quality. The lineup for the evening was Cat Power, followed by Modest Mouse and then Pixies closing the evening out.
However, I want to start with the venue, Ascend Amphitheatre. The Ascend Amphitheater is an open-air event venue located along the Cumberland River a in an area known as Riverfront Park. The capacity of the venue is roughly 7,000 people. The venue seats around 2,300 in fixed seating, and 4,500 on a beautiful green lawn, plus the pit area.
Thats where I was tonight. In the pit, against the barricade. I had awaited seeing the Pixies for so long and if I were going to do it, I was going to try and pretend I was twenty-five again, rather than fifty years old. The fans upfront, in the thick of things, are my people. Although, I will say that the people on the lawn closer to the restrooms, in their low back chairs paying half what our tickets cost are pretty great too.
I’ve mentioned this in a past article, but going to see live music is an experience that breaks down walls. I might not have anything in common with a lot of these people outside of shows, but here, watching our favorite musicians shred our favorite tunes, we are all one. The connection is the music. It’s not who you voted for, or what religion you adhere to or anything else for that matter that causes a divisive rip in our normal social settings. It’s about that linear feeling of love from the music that binds us. That’s the feeling I crave.
The bill started off with a beautiful and powerful voice, from a beautifully empowered woman named Cat Power. Chan Marshall, by birth, grew up in Atlanta playing in local bands in the early 1990’s until her breakthrough, opening for Liz Phair as a solo act in 1993. Her early music throughout the mid ’90s is an eccentric culmination of indie rock, punk, folk, and alternative, and earned some early buzz, but it really seemed to be the 1998 album Moon Pix (her 4th album) that provided the breakout, as we say. This timeless work has come to be regarded not just one of her best productions, but in some circles, it’s considered one of the best albums of the ’90s in general. My circle of “me” can certainly argue that with anyone who wants to listen. Her sound later began to ease into a more soulful tone, and she grew to more commercial success and critical acclaim in the 2000s, with albums like 2003’s You Are Free and 2006’s The Greatest.
She bounced onto the stage, barefoot and joyous. She waved to the crowd as her band got set. Joined behind her was an ensemble of drums, guitar and keys. It was a simple set up, with nothing flashy and that’s all she needed. Now, that’s not to say that they weren’t a great band. They played with an impeccable sense of timing and that’s exactly what Cat Power needs to source her unrelentless vocals.
She was tender when she needed it. Jazzy when she wanted to. She gracefully sundered off the stage, after her set, raising her hand with a balled fist.
Modest Mouse took a different approach and charged the stage with a fury. They opened with The Stars Are Projectors and then tore into Tiny Cities Made of Ashes before we knew it. I’ll be honest about not being a huge Modest Mouse fan. I like them. I have always enjoyed their approach and their music when it came on the radio, but I never went out of my way to find them. I don’t own any of their vinyl pressings, not a cd, nor had I ever seen them in concert until this very moment that I am transcribing. I was here to see the Pixies and I kind of thought these guys were just in the way. However, that changed on this day. Their showmanship was electric and appealing. They were super tight and again, kudos to the engineers and sound people, because the music was laser sharp.
Isaac Brock is the bands frontman, and he plays the role well. He came out dressed in a suit, which looked sharp, but I could help but think to myself that this was a poor decision due to the southern heat. Although the sun began to set beyond the Cumberland River behind us, which was breathtaking, the temperature was in the mid-eighties. To be onstage, playing and singing your heart out, with a suit on is quite impressive. At points throughout the show, he was sweating so profusely that he kept sticking his guitar pick flat against his forehead for safe keeping until head needed it once more.
Modest Mouse is coming out on tour after recently rereleasing Good News for People Who Love Bad News, which turned 20 years old earlier this year.
Shortly into their set they appeased the crowd with their iconic hit Fire It Up. It was cooling down a bit as the sun continued to dip. This number seemed to come along at exactly the right time, as a breeze finally wisped from the water, across the lawn and onto the stage. I could sense a slight gasp of happiness and relief from the onlookers that I was sharing a concrete slab with, in front of the stage.
As darkness rolled over the park from our orb being hidden, the lighting from the show became more pronounced. The backlit bandmates seemed larger now, and the music more intense. They got into Fuck Your Acid Trip and Wooden Soldiers as this change in atmosphere shifted. The rock gods had accepted this homage paid by Modest Mouse and granted them a symbiotic climate to showcase their talents. Float On was one of the last songs played on this set list and it seemed to round out a great showing. Everyone sang along, including myself. Thank you, Modest Mouse, for showing me another side of you. Live music done well is hard to argue with.
Set the stage for the legendary Pixies crew. The stacks of Marshall and Vox amps were rolled out, one after another by technicians. This was followed by the drum kit on a riser, featuring their logo in the center, and then several guitars and a mountain of foot pedals awaiting a stomp for key changes and distortion. The mics were carefully placed in their proper stands like candles perched on a mantle, waiting to be lit by sultry angelic voices.
The big question for me was who was on bass tonight. I hadn’t dug too deeply before the event, but it was certainly someone new. It had been Kim Deal at the inception of the band. Deal played in the original lineup that we still have tonight, featuring David Lovering on drums, Joey Santiago on guitar and of course, Black Francis (Frank Black) on rythm guitar and lead vocals. Then we had Paz Lenchantin for nearly a decade on those thick strings and haunting harmonies and backup vocals.
Tonight, I gazed forth into the eyes of the newest member of the team, Emma Richardson. Richardson comes via the group Band of Skulls in the UK. Emma’s most regaling trait at this close of the day is the fact that she doesn’t try anything different. She is truly a Pixie and does everything the right way. And the voice. The voice is a blend of soul and celestial hum that backs and bookends Black’s lead vocals harmoniously.
They lead off their time with two songs from their Doolittle album, which were Gouge Away and Wave of Mutilation. The crowd is immediately hyped up and ready for all that comes next. Doolittle is my favorite Pixies album and if you check out my article on this site about the most influential albums in my life you can find out why.
The number one question I got following the show from in person friends and social media buddies was “how was Frank’s voice?” The answer is gorgeous. He sings with such intensity that he has be known to over stretch and sound scratchy at times. That is what I have heard. That was not at all the case for this bill.
I could wax poetically in endless and most likely annoying fashion about the musicianship of these hopefully Rock and Roll Hall of Famers (Sonic Youth should be right there with them).
This show was utterly extraordinary. I was once again swallowed up by the glorious incantations of live music. For the complete set list by Pixies click here.
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