Los Surfers Muertos

As I type it’s an hour and half since I met Pixies and like many of the good things in life it was over too soon.

When Sian told me two weeks ago that Pixies were doing an in-store at Spillers I was so shocked and delighted that I had to pause ‘The Great British Bake Off’. I was already pretty excited about the album - ‘Under the Eyrie’ coming out, although it has to be said that the podcast about the making of the album was terribly dull.

I’ve managed to get a day working from home today and had a day off coffee yesterday, so after a run this morning I was match fit for PIxies fun!

I had a ton of Pixies stuff to get signed but at Sian’s suggestion I pared it down to 6 things, I know. My brother Mark was going to come down but couldn’t so Sian took her his place. We got down early to pick up the albums and then milled around with the rest of the 6 Music listeners before getting behind the red rope which put Sian and I first in the queue. I don’t like to seem to keen but who am I fooling? We got talking to a lovely guy - who’s name escapes me - he was pretty hung over and is going to be on ‘The Chain’ on Radcliffe and Maconie tomorrow. Respect. We also got interviewed by The Guardian as it’s pretty fucking incredible that the album is sorta getting launched in Cardiff and Spillers.

This wasn’t the first time I’d met Black Francis, aka Frank Black aka Charles Thompson III and I think he said about as much to me this time as he did last time, but it was all together a more pleasant experience.

Talking of Spillers they were really on it today at one o’clock we were ushered in. I completely geeked out when I got in there and walked in the wrong direction, so Sian was the first to get the album signed. She asked them if they were enjoying their day in Cardiff, Dave smiled and said “Yeah.” Joey pointed and our tote bag and said “Steve Colbert!” (there’s a picture of him on the bag) Paz and Black Francis just smiled at her. Naturally I just fell to pieces but managed to get my RSD single and ‘Death to the Pixies’ print signed. “You’ve already signed this Charles.” said Joey but he signed it again anyway.

So how were Pixies, well they looked tired and bored (this is the second date on the tour) but I don’t give a shit, i got to meet them and get a ton of stuff signed. I’m listening to the album now and it’s actually a lot better than I was expecting and I’ve got the gig to look forward to tonight after some Mexican food!

Cardiff was happy Friday night. i was happy Friday night. Sian and I were buoyed by Wahacha mules when we went to the CIA. I had expected Blood Red Shoes to be supporting but instead it was Big Moon which I was pretty okay with cause Sian had seen them at Greenman and said they were great and I’d missed their set. Great they were which is good because Pixies support bands have traditionally been shocking.

i was at the bar when Pixies came on and started strong with ‘Where Is My Mind’. It was a bit of an odd Roller coaster of a set energy wise. they’d bang out three or four classics punctuated by two from the new album. The energy levels would noticeably drop in the audience which is understandable as it was the launch day for the new album and people hadn’t had the time to wrap their ears around the songs. ‘Los Surfers Muertos’ which had it’s live debut at the gig sorta came and went, which is a bit disappointing at it’s my current favourite as it’s just so…odd, but Hey it’s Pixies there were enough bangers to keep me shouting and jumping. When ‘Debaser’ rolled around I speed minced to the front and had a good old mosh. It was so packed that I couldn’t get out so had another mosh to ‘Rock Music’, larvely. I still think ‘Gigantic’ should have been retired when Kim left, but hey ho.

Of course there wasn’t a any in between song chat from the band, it’s sorta their thing now and as Black Francis once pointed out they ain’t The Monkees.

I fantastic day of maximum Pixies thanks to Ashli and all the staff at Spillers for making something incredible happening.