THE PIXIES Having earned larger-than-life status as alt-rock deities, the Pixies had a lot to live up to at their reunion show. Multiple reports from earlier tour dates claimed the band was even better live now than before its 1992 breakup, suggesting that attending one of these reunion concerts was an experience akin to being in the Beatles' Ed Sullivan Show audience. While falling short of astonishing perfection, the group was still tight, ferocious and a joy for any Pixies fan. The importance of lead guitarist Joey Santiago was reinforced visually in a way that might escape a listener hearing the Pixies on CD. Even though it's not as novel today as it was in the Sonic Youth/Pixies 1980s heyday, Santiago 's cool demeanor and wiggy distorto stylings were still a marvel to behold, particularly in a fun, gratuitous solo of guitar weirdness during “Vamos.” One of the show's other memorable highlights included bassist/vocalist Kim Deal stealing Charles “Black Francis” Thompson's usual vocal role in the Pixies' cover of “In Heaven” from the movie Eraserhead . Hearing Deal's sweet, darkly angelic voice align with Thompson's over the Pixies' frenetic instrumental chemistry was enough for anyone to be grateful that the Pixies are performing together again. Evidenced in songs like “Bone Machine” and “Tame,” Thompson hadn't lost his uncanny ability to construct vivid, inspired mood and tension with maniacal barks, laughs, growls and screams pitted against tender croons. Despite that, perhaps because of the now-familiarity of the Pixies' repertoire over the years, or the fact that Rhodes Arena is a lousy environment for live music, the group came off less dangerous and deranged than as documented in vintage live recordings. Again, perhaps due to the venue, the obviously warm, affectionate crowd also seemed far too subdued for what the occasion warranted. The night opened with a set of pedestrian hard rock by the Datsuns, whose unimaginative blandness was even more apparent when later contrasted with the Pixies' raw quirkiness. No matter how tirelessly energetic or hard they wailed, the Datsuns failed to win an ambivalent yet polite audience. (Originally published in The Cleveland Free Times, November 24, 2004) |