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Joyful return of the best band in the universe ever? Embarrasing invasion of the pie eaters? Erm, never did understand what all the fuss was about? There are no new angles on the Pixies reunion.
What I can say is that last night there was a tangible sense of anticipation that you'd have thought any band was going to struggle to live up to. This didn't seem to bother the Pixies. In a manner that once would have rated as very rock 'n roll, they sauntered calmly onstage and proceeded to nonchalantly knock out an hour and a bit of their familiarly (im)perfect masterpieces. Having never caught them live first time around, the thing that struck me most was simply how much better they are at music than so many of their contemporaries both now and then. From Joey Santiago's studied noise-making, to Kim Deal's sardonic vocal, to David Lovering's enthusiasm and Black Francis' goofy holler, they are a band not so much ahead of its time as entirely out of it. I was blown away.
Of course, the Pixies were right not to be bothered. There was so much, I hesitate to say it but, well, love in the place that most of the audience was going to have a good time regardless. So I can understand anyone who felt a little underwhelmed. But I don't think it's the Pixies that have changed - cheap jibes aside.
The world has moved on since the last time they were here. Our eardrums are jaded by thousand bands aping their guitar tricks and vocal quirks. A bunch of ordinary looking folks on stage has become the tedious norm rather than a refreshing break from theatrics and posing. Even their demented humour sounds more familiar - noisy hardcore bands having long since abandoned their dubious credos. (Henry Rollins has become the new Philippa Forrester for fuck's sake, chew on that while you're wondering what the Pixies are doing here!)
But the Pixies are not back to save the world or move music on. They're back to make some money and entertain us in the process. And though they may not be bringing us anything new, they did remind us of the heights that can be achieved. They were great and if anyone can truly point me in the direction of another rock band doing the rounds at the moment who could live up to last night, I'll be in the front row.
Set list: Winterlong/ Nimrod's Son/ The Holiday Song/ Here Comes Your Man/ Vamos/ In Heaven/ Wave Of Mutilation (UK Surf)/ I Bleed/ Monkey Gone To Heaven/ Bone Machine/ Velouria/ Dead/ No. 13 Baby/ Subbacultcha/ Gouge Away/ Caribou/ Hey/ Cactus/ River Euphrates/ Debaser/ Broken Face/ Something Against You/ Tame. Encore: Gigantic/ Wave Of Mutilation/ Into The White
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