The Pixies @ Stubb's, Wed, Oct 20
Although Stubb's BBQ was recently acclaimed by readers of the Austin Chronicle as Best Live Music Venue for 2004, I must admit I have never been especially fond of the place. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that last year after the Dashboard Confessional show there, my ears rang for three whole days. (Not so much due to the music itself, but more owing to the hordes of screaming teenage girls.) I've been a lot more open to the idea of wearing ear plugs, since that day...
The fact of the matter is, until Wednesday night, I had never been to a show at Stubb's where I was particularly impressed with the sound quality. I've stood in a variety of different locations around the outdoor amphitheater, but it seems no matter where I've listened, the music has always sounded sort of, well, muddy, for lack of a better word. Not so at the Pixie's concert this week.
I did in fact wear earplugs for most of the show (the whole Dashboard experience majorly freaked me out- being a musician myself I try to avoid incurring permanent hearing damage), which kind of cut out the high end unfortunately, but even with them in it still sounded good. The few times I took them out briefly I was satisfied with the audio quality at the show. I can't say as much for the air quality, since the sold-out show was totally packed with people, and it was a very hot and humid Austin night.
Gripes about external conditions aside, the event itself was an enjoyable experience. We arrived early enough to hear probably half the songs played by the opening band, the Thrills. Similar to other "throwback" bands with names that all sound like "The<something>s," I got the impression that the Thrills were capable of putting on a better show than they did. Like, maybe if it wasn't 95 degrees at 98% humidity, and if half the band members hadn't been wearing long sleeved shirts, they might have had a better time of it. The lead singer had a really charming way of thanking the audience at the end of every single song they played. It probably would have been tiresome if he hadn't sounded so sincere, every time.
I recall their music as mostly upbeat, punchy pop with a dark, smoothly vintage finish, a la The Strokes, but perhaps a bit more refined, along the lines of Elefant. In all honesty, it didn't really stand out to me. Maybe it was too vanilla, or maybe it was just the heat. I had the feeling, though, that they were capable of more.
After about six different various guitar techs and roadies in Pixies shirts had been shuffling around on the stage for about half an hour, the anticipation was mounting. The band strolled onto stage in what seemed a jovial mood (which seems kind of strange when you consider that the Pixies' music probably wouldn't be described as "jovial") and started off strong with "Bone Machine."
I don't know all of their songs so I can't say for sure, but the set they played sounded fairly identical to what they played at ACL Fest last month. Of course, the scene was much more up-close and personal. The crowd, a comfortable mixture of goth-punk-wannabe-teens, hipster 20-somethings and (slightly older) diehard original Pixies fans was energetic despite the heat. This is only the second time I've seen them, so I can't say how the show compared with performances from their earlier days. I couldn't find a reason to complain, though. They plowed through one song after another, then, just when the crowd might have been getting a little listless, re-energized the entire scene with a rousing rendition of "Where is my mind?", during which even the most jaded hipster in the audience felt compelled to join in the background chorus of "wwoooooooooh."
Other highlights to me included bassist Kim Deal's vocals on "Gigantic," and the energy level of "Here Comes Your Man." They saved "Debaser" until close to the end of the set, which lasted for probably close to two hours. No need to fear feeling jipped after a Pixies concert; after "Where is my mind" it felt almost like a complete second set of music. I was actually surprised by how long they played. Well, maybe it just felt like a long time because it was so hot. I was really glad I didn't pass out.
When at last we stumbled out, exhausted and dusty, sweat-streaked and hungry, we felt no regret for going to the show. After we were seated at Magnolia Cafe (on South Congress... and might I add, one of my favorite restaurants in Austin), the waitress asked us wistfully if we had just come out of the Pixies show. "Yeah, it was great!" we accidentally blurted, then noticed her downtrodden expression.
"I mean, it was a total bummer..." I amended. "You didn't miss anything at all..."
The fact of the matter is, until Wednesday night, I had never been to a show at Stubb's where I was particularly impressed with the sound quality. I've stood in a variety of different locations around the outdoor amphitheater, but it seems no matter where I've listened, the music has always sounded sort of, well, muddy, for lack of a better word. Not so at the Pixie's concert this week.
I did in fact wear earplugs for most of the show (the whole Dashboard experience majorly freaked me out- being a musician myself I try to avoid incurring permanent hearing damage), which kind of cut out the high end unfortunately, but even with them in it still sounded good. The few times I took them out briefly I was satisfied with the audio quality at the show. I can't say as much for the air quality, since the sold-out show was totally packed with people, and it was a very hot and humid Austin night.
Gripes about external conditions aside, the event itself was an enjoyable experience. We arrived early enough to hear probably half the songs played by the opening band, the Thrills. Similar to other "throwback" bands with names that all sound like "The
I recall their music as mostly upbeat, punchy pop with a dark, smoothly vintage finish, a la The Strokes, but perhaps a bit more refined, along the lines of Elefant. In all honesty, it didn't really stand out to me. Maybe it was too vanilla, or maybe it was just the heat. I had the feeling, though, that they were capable of more.
After about six different various guitar techs and roadies in Pixies shirts had been shuffling around on the stage for about half an hour, the anticipation was mounting. The band strolled onto stage in what seemed a jovial mood (which seems kind of strange when you consider that the Pixies' music probably wouldn't be described as "jovial") and started off strong with "Bone Machine."
I don't know all of their songs so I can't say for sure, but the set they played sounded fairly identical to what they played at ACL Fest last month. Of course, the scene was much more up-close and personal. The crowd, a comfortable mixture of goth-punk-wannabe-teens, hipster 20-somethings and (slightly older) diehard original Pixies fans was energetic despite the heat. This is only the second time I've seen them, so I can't say how the show compared with performances from their earlier days. I couldn't find a reason to complain, though. They plowed through one song after another, then, just when the crowd might have been getting a little listless, re-energized the entire scene with a rousing rendition of "Where is my mind?", during which even the most jaded hipster in the audience felt compelled to join in the background chorus of "wwoooooooooh."
Other highlights to me included bassist Kim Deal's vocals on "Gigantic," and the energy level of "Here Comes Your Man." They saved "Debaser" until close to the end of the set, which lasted for probably close to two hours. No need to fear feeling jipped after a Pixies concert; after "Where is my mind" it felt almost like a complete second set of music. I was actually surprised by how long they played. Well, maybe it just felt like a long time because it was so hot. I was really glad I didn't pass out.
When at last we stumbled out, exhausted and dusty, sweat-streaked and hungry, we felt no regret for going to the show. After we were seated at Magnolia Cafe (on South Congress... and might I add, one of my favorite restaurants in Austin), the waitress asked us wistfully if we had just come out of the Pixies show. "Yeah, it was great!" we accidentally blurted, then noticed her downtrodden expression.
"I mean, it was a total bummer..." I amended. "You didn't miss anything at all..."
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