As you know by now, the Pixies played the Horseshoe Tavern on Sunday after Robert Plant woke up with the flu or something. The announcement was followed by a frantic scramble to acquire tickets. Luckily I captured some.
The overcrowded Horseshoe was revved up to see the legendary group, I was kind of tired from walking around the Field Trip grounds for the weekend. Still, anytime you can see a group of such distinction at the Horseshoe, you take it.
As for the show, what can you say?
The Pixies are the ultimate music mercenaries.
They have a list of songs everyone likes, they come, they wave, they play them, get paid and leave.
They are there to merely satisfy your nostalgic desires and it works.
Playing a venue of this size for probably the first time in awhile, the Pixies seemed to be a bit louder and a bit punchier then you are used to. There are few people who can snarl like Black Francis and Paz Lenchantin did a reasonable impression of Kim Deal. The crowd, when trying not to pass out from the heat, was energetic and went along with all the songs. It made for a pretty unique experience.
The group romped through thirty songs (even some new ones), not saying a single word to the crowd and gave everyone the hits that they wanted (except Debaser)
Just like a Pixies song, the show was abrupt, quick and packed a punch. I guess it couldn’t be more fitting.