No drama, no encore break, no chit-chat with the audience, just a rattle through 27 songs from their mammoth back catalogue at Custom House Square on a Wednesday night in Belfast. Pixies are closing in on 40 years as an outfit [formed 1986], albeit they had their own little hiatus of ten years between 1993 and 2003.
In contrast, Dublin indie-punk rockers Sprints, who were supporting Massachusetts finest, released their debut album at the beginning of this year. Led by flame-haired singer Karla Chubb, the band have been on the road plugging their new record since January. Although Chubb and the guys may be slightly fatigued and glad to be back on Irish soil, they said it was an “absolute privilege” to be opening for the Pixies. They even managed to preview one of their new songs close to the end of their raucous 40-minute set.
Pixies sauntered out on stage just after 9pm and opened with ‘Gouge Away’ and ‘Wave of Mutilation’, both from the album Doolittle, which had a staggering nine tracks sprinkled throughout the gig. A superb version of The Jesus and Mary Chain’s ‘Head On’ was the first of three covers during the Belfast performance, the penultimate date to close their European leg before switching to New Zealand & Australia with Pearl Jam in November.
Guitarist Joey Santiago is as chilled and ice cool as always with his signature army colours and headwear. Frontman Black Francis is in fine voice, albeit clearly mellowing in his advancing years, belting out classics such as ‘Monkey Gone to Heaven’ and ‘Debaser’ in the early third of the set list.
Former Band of Skulls bassist Emma Richardson joined the band earlier this year and the crowd were treated to her vocals on ‘In Heaven (Lady in the Radiator Song)’ from David Lynch’s Eraserhead. It may have been a bridge too far to expect Richardson to pull off Kim Deal’s ‘Gigantic’, which was omitted this time round. It was one of the few iconic Pixies songs that didn’t make the cut. ‘Here Comes Your Man’ had the audience merrily bopping along with the lively David Lovering killing it on the drums. No ‘Bone Machine’ either surprisingly, although the rarely played ‘Dig for Fire’ was a highlight of the night for sure.
There was a change in gear halfway through the set, with a couple of new songs [‘Chicken’ and ‘The Vegas Suite’] from their forthcoming autumn LP, The Night The Zombies Came. With a generous helping of songs from recent albums such as Doggerel and Beneath the Eyrie, it’s great to see Pixies bringing new material to a very loyal fan base. Perhaps it’s the parent’s influences, however it was noticeable last night of the large chunk of younger punters too, hopefully appreciating the influence that Pixies have had on so many artists from the 1990s and beyond.
The chaotic punk energy of ‘Nimrod’s Son’ laid out the path for the home straight of the gig, as they built the momentum towards their most loved anthem – ‘Where is My Mind?’ – there could be an argument that it’s one of the finest songs of the past thirty-odd years. The closer, Neil Young’s ‘Winterlong’ may not be quite frenetic enough for some of the Pixies faithful, however it brought down the curtain on the evening along the shores of the River Lagan. With all of the recent hype and bluster about the forthcoming Oasis reunion, it is refreshing to just get back to basic musical brilliance tonight. Long live the Pixies! There’s clearly plenty more in the tank from these legends.
Sprints photos:
Pixies photos & set-list:
Set- list:
Gouge Away
Wave of Mutilation
Head On (The Jesus and Mary Chain cover)
Isla de Encanta
Monkey Gone to Heaven
Debaser
Hey
Mr. Grieves
Dig for Fire
Caribou
The Vegas Suite
(Unknown) (Possibly Motoroller) ?
Chicken
Velouria
The Happening
Here Comes Your Man
Cactus
Nimrod’s Son
Vamos
Ana
Motorway to Roswell
Planet of Sound
Tame
In Heaven (Lady in the Radiator Song) (Peter Ivers & David Lynch cover)
Death Horizon
Wave of Mutilation (UK Surf)
Where Is My Mind?
Winterlong (Neil Young cover)
Words & photos Lee Campbell – @lee.campbell75