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September 29, 2004
Pixies at The Greek Theater in Los Angeles, Sept. 22
The most influential band of the last twenty years stepped on a Los Angeles stage at The Greek Theater for the first time in 13 years with little fanfare. Billy Holiday was playing over the PA when the four members of the Pixies strolled on stage with waves and smiles. No words were spoken and before anyone could catch their breath, drummer David Lovering began knocking out the famous intro to “Bone Machine.”
The Pixies don’t move much on stage. Don’t say much either. Here’s a highlight of the their audience interaction: Kim Deal, sporting a new, short do, steps up to the mic and says “It sure is a nice night.” And the crowd goes wild. Deal could read the dictionary with that voice of hers and people would love it. Anyway, not much else was said, except for thank yous and when Black Francis (he wants to be called Frank Black nowadays, but we just can’t) asked his band if they wanted to play “our internet song,’ a reference to the group’s first song since reuniting in March, “Bam Thwok,” which is only available online.
So they may not have the greatest stage presence — but they sound perfect, like they’ve secretly been practicing the 30-plus songs they plowed through for the last 13 years. They played the album gems one would expect, even gave us both the slow “U.K. Surf” version of “Wave of Mutilation,” and the faster one. Joey Santiago attacked his guitar with one of Lovering’s drumsticks during “Vamos,” and they treated us to the b-side lullaby “In Heaven,” and a wonderful cover of Neil Young’s “Winterlong.”
So what if they don't do much on stage.
— By Michael Coyle
Posted by micoyle at September 29, 2004 2:52 PM
