Pixies at the Paramount

Silvie and I caught the Pixies Friday night at the Paramount. This was the second of a two-night stand for the group in Seattle. They are touring in celebration of the 20th anniversary of their landmark Doolittle LP, and played the record in its entirety, bookended by a few B-sides, as well as a three-song encore of older faves. I wasn't entirely sold on the gimmick of the tour; I like Doolitle, of course, and many of the group's iconic tunes are there, but a setlist that drew from all of the band's releases would have been preferable [side note: I think that my favorite Pixies album is actually the last one, Trompe Le Monde, and that Frank Black's creative powers peaked during his first two solo releases; a full run through of Teenager of the Year would be fantastic!]. But, I was game to roll with the theme of the evening, and, aside from the more forgettable B-sides, the show was fab. The band kept the tunes to their recorded short lengths while varied off-the-wall footage played on a screen behind them (the night opened with a screening of Un Chien Andolou, which primed the crowd for Debaser, although the band chose to open with a few B-sides). The band played LOUD, and Frank was in fine screaming form as they ran through the album. After a few more B-sides, they encored with some (even) older material including Where is My Mind, maybe their best tune. Highlights included No. 13 Baby, with its wonderful trance-like ride out, and one of my faves, There Goes My Gun with Frank's hysterical (and kinda funny) shriek of "Look at ME!"

Setlist:

Dancing the Manta Ray

Weird at My School

Bailey’s Walk

Manta Ray

Debaser

Tame

Wave of Mutilation

I Bleed

Here Comes Your Man

Dead

Monkey Gone to Heaven

Mr. Grieves

Crackity Jones

La La Love You

No. 13 Baby

There Goes My Gun

Hey

Silver

Gouge Away

First encore:

Wave of Mutilation (U.K. Surf)

Into the White

Second encore:

Bone Machine

The Holiday Song

Where is My Mind?