Ciao!

Death to the Pixies (not yet)

11.17.2004

The band broke up in 1992 — just about the time I was formally introduced to them. One of my five favorite groups, one that w/ five years & five albums shook up & influenced a generation of indie musicians. The Pixies, literally, came out of nowhere, developing an enormous volume of material in such a short life-span, then disintegrated into clashing egos (mainly Frank Black's) & a host of side projects (my favorite, of course, was The Breeders).

Last night, at their last show in Chicago's Aragon Ballroom, they were amazing. There was little pomp & ceremony, as The Pixies just barreled through their music set, barely stopping to breathe between songs. If this was finally going to be the real "Death to the Pixies" tour, then I got to watch them rage against the dying of the light.

After eleventh hour cancellations from everyone else in our group, including any person who could possibly have gotten us to Chicago, stubbornness & spite persevered. And, really, Dan's the hero of this story. To make an arduous story short, Bay, Bill, and I drove a red VW Golf to Chicago to see The Pixies. We even got into the city w/ enough time to walk around, comfortably dining at a Thai restaurant around the corner.

The Aragon Ballroom was a beautiful, stylish 1920s ballroom. I'm glad The Pixies stuck to their indie sensibilities & played a small, intimate venue — even knowing they could've packed an impersonal stadium. I got to watch Frank Black scream, and Kim Deal smile & bounce w/ her bass, from about 40 yards out.

I'm not sure if the band still hates each other — or, more precisely, if Frank Black still hates his former bandmates. They seemed to chit chat on stage sometimes, though always over the roar of guitars. There was no on-stage banter, except for Kim Deal's always upbeat "Thanks a lot!" at the end of most songs.

But after the band's set ended, Joey, David, and Kim stood at one end of the stage, Frank Black at another, hands defiantly on his hips. But Kim Deal's not just my favorite Pixie, she was the crowd's as well — which roared to life as she moved across the stage, waving, w/ her signature glowing smile. It was enough to convince Frank Black to ask her if she was up to taking lead vocals (she'd barely sung all night, and her backing vocals often drowned out). She nodded enthusiastically, and made her way back to her corner of the stage, this time bathed in light, to start the bass line to "Gigantic". And the crowd went wild.

And this I know
His teeth as white as snow
What a gas it was to see him
Walk her every day
Into a shady place
With her lips she said
She said

Hey Paul, Hey Paul, Hey Paul, let's have a ball ...

Two three-hour stints of driving & a six-hour shift at The Rocket Star later, I've just woken from my first nap, caught up on the minimal ammount of work needed for tomorrow, and getting ready for bed. I'll catch y'all Thursday.

Posted by Miguel at 07:31 PM

Comments

Posted by: Sara at November 19, 2004 04:25 PM