Hangwire

Last week I saw two my beloved Pixies twice, on the Monday in London and on the Friday in Amsterdam. It’s certainly the shortest time between Pixies gigs for me. They were performing ‘Bossonova’ and ‘Trompe le Monde’ back to back, which meant that I’d seen three different iterations of the band do all of their classic albums in their entirety, I doubt anyone’s keeping score. Yes, there have been changes in the Pixies camp. Paz Lenchantin, their energetic bassist for the past ten years, replaced by Emma Richardson previously of Band of Skulls. There is a cloud over Paz’s departure as it was news to her.

The London gig was in the companion of my brother Mark, which was only right and proper as we’d seen the ‘Come of Pilgrim/Surferosa’ tour together. The gig was at the 02 Forum, which I had slight concerns about cause the O2 in Bristol in shocking, but the Forum was an old theatre and a cracking venue. We missed the support act as we were in the pub with the rest of the 6 Music dads, but got into the venue in plenty of time for the opening of ‘Celia Ann’. One of the other changes in the Pixies camp is that Charles is now talking! Yes, talking to the audience. He was actually quite playful, “We like surf music but we’re not a surf band. We like blues but we’re not a blues band. We’re…a mischievous band.’ My heart sang! Yes Pixies! You are a mischievous band! Charles talked more than he had in the last ten years at a gig! We got pretty close for Bossonova but towards the end we had to nip out for a slash. We navigated our way out towards the toilet as the band did ‘Hangwire’ and as they did the line I turned to Mark and sang “Every moment and every day I bossonova with cha!” and a fellow member of the audience joined in.

Suitably drained we bought a drink and headed down the front for ‘Trompe le Monde’ and we spent pretty much the entire album moshing. ‘Bossonova’ is the better album but ‘Trompe le Monde’ has more bangers, although my bestest mate Matthew would disagree with me four days later. We headed out into the Camden night where I bought a bootleg t-shirt and went to a pub for a snifter. Great gig made sweeter knowing that I would be doing it again in three days!

Amsterdam came about when Sian saw the tour dates and pointed at that date. A Friday night Pixies gig in Amsterdam? Hell yes! We went over on the Thursday and Matthew joined us the next day, They were playing at the Paradiso which is a former church and very cool. Did get to see the support band this time - The Pale White - who I liked, their drummer was great. They were a bit of a 70s throwback, Sian and Matthew weren’t keen.

Then it was onto ‘Bossonova’/’Trompe le Monde’ take two, same main set of course. Charles was chatty if a little less happy. The previous night people had been shouting for songs not on the albums, “We all know why we’re here, right?” he asked. The crowd were a less enthusiastic than the London bunch. I didn’t mosh as much much did get right to the stage edge for a jump around to ‘Umass’, it’s EDUCATIONAL! Pixies played a five song encore including a new Countryish one about Las Vegas which I liked, but no ‘Debaser’ for the third or fourth Pixies gig in a row, but I can’t complain - well I can - two joyus gigs with the three people I love most in world.