All I Think About Now

“Fucking hell! It’s Black Francis!”

"Is that their tour bus?" he asked pointing at a bus in the Arena carpark.

"I don't think so."

We chatted about Pixes and then a lady with a dark complexion and long black hair got off the bus, glanced at us as she walked passed and went for a fag.

"Is that Paz the bassist?" my fellow stalker asked.

"I don't think so..." I said peering at her.

Of course it was her and it was their tour bus, but I didn't know that at the time. My fellow stalker got bored and walked off and I waited.

I was reading my book and thought about what time I'd throw in the towel when I looked up to see a chubby disheveled bald man with his washing get walking towards me.

Fucking hell it's Black Francis!

He gave me a look of weary resignation.

"Can I get some signatures?" I stuttered. There was that look again. He walked to the side and with a nod of his head he gestured me over.

I handed him a print and some album covers. I did have the cover of 'The Power of the Daleks' DVD to get signed to make Steve O'Brien laugh and I had thought about getting a selfie but Chuck was so grumpy that I lost my bottle. I was pretty happy (although he did sign my print as though he's farting out his name on the print) and wondered if I could get the rest of the band. I looked at the tour bus and thought I could see the drummer Dave Lovering. I did consider sneaking past the security but with the bus right next to the stage door ( and after my encounter with Chuck) it seemed fairly evident that the band weren't in the mood for my fan stalking.

I'll wait another hour then bugger off.

One of the crew came out and asked if I was hanging about waiting for autographs. I said yes and shuffled forwards with my tote of Merch'. He said the band weren't going to be around till a lot later, an obvious lie, but I thought at that point that I wanted to do something normal and go home for a run, so I left pretty happy. If you're gonna snag a Pixie might as well make it the head one.

I was reading my book and thought about what time I'd throw in the towel when I looked up to see a chubby disheveled bald man with his washing get walking towards me.

Fucking hell it's Black Francis!

He gave me a look of weary resignation.

"Can I get some signatures?" I stuttered. There was that look again. He walked to the side and with a nod of his head he gestured me over.

I handed him a print and some album covers. I did have the cover of 'The Power of the Daleks' DVD to get signed to make Steve O'Brien laugh and I had thought about getting a selfie but Chuck was so grumpy that I lost my bottle. I was pretty happy (although he did sign my print as though he's farting out his name on the print) and wondered if I could get the rest of the band. I looked at the tour bus and thought I could see the drummer Dave Lovering. I did consider sneaking past the security but with the bus right next to the stage door ( and after my encounter with Chuck) it seemed fairly evident that the band weren't in the mood for my fan stalking.

I'll wait another hour then bugger off.

One of the crew came out and asked if I was hanging about waiting for autographs. I said yes and shuffled forwards with my tote of Merch'. He said the band weren't going to be around till a lot later, an obvious lie, but I thought at that point that I wanted to do something normal and go home for a run, so I left pretty happy. If you're gonna snag a Pixie might as well make it the head one.

I knew a lot of people going to the gig and so arranged to meet in Wahacha. So Mojitoed up we went to the Arena. I knew the gig hadn't sold out but it must have been pretty close as the place was packed. The stage set was a little odd as it seemed to have been built for a club gig. The band were straight out of the gates with a 'Celia Ann' and they nestled songs from the new album 'Headcarrier' amongst the classics. I was surprised that 'Monkey Gone to Heaven was the fourth song in, and 'Doolittle' was very well represented, which is no bad thing, I thin there were only two tracks which weren't played. I thought the new tracks came soared live, with the exception of 'Baal's Back' which seemed oddly flat. As is my approach to gigs these days I decided to Mosh 'n' Go, so get to the front for some bouncing up and down before rejoining Sian and my mates for an occasional breather. I was surprised how young the Mosh Pir were. Most of them probably weren't born during the Pixies glory days. I did get a Calsberg shower from an inept crowd surfer and I saw a fight break out. Yet any evening when I get to jump and and down to 'Debaser' is a good one. I couldn't get out of the Mosh Pit for 'Vamos' so decided to jump up and down a bit more. Traditionally it's the track for Joey Santiago to wig out but he seemed reluctant to. I saw a look between him and Chuck which seemed to say 'Nah, not tonight.'.

Pixies have never been the most demonstrative of bands, but Kim Deal was always on hand for a cheery acknowledgement of the audience and that was missed in the gig. People have complained subsequently about the sound quality in the arena but I've got cloth ears so I didn't really notice. The only time I've ever noticed was when the Flaming Lips did a gig there.

I loved hearing 'What I Think About Now' one of the stand out tracks from 'Headcarrier'. I was surprised that they played 'Winterlong' a Neil Young cover which was a b-side and I also didn't think they'd play 'Into the White'. It was always Kim's song and thought the band should have retired it.

Great gig and was just so lovely to see so many friends. I had the strange feeling watching the gig that it might be the last horrah for Pixies, there was a weariness to the band (which could be down to the fact that it's their pen-ultimate gig of the year) but what do I know, I didn't even recognise the bass player,