Pixies @ St James Theatre, Wellington
Playing their records Bossanova and Trompe le Monde in full, back to back.
There's a big soft spot in my heart for Pixies. My first Pixies CD was Bossanova and I played that thing to death. I was in bands that played lots of Pixies covers. I've seen them before and they did not disappoint, so, this was a show I didn't want to miss.
We got to the St James nice and early, happy with the seats, happy with the choice to come to the back to back album performance - Pixies also played a greatest hits set the next night but I heard the night we went was a better night out.
Elliot & Vincent
I had never heard of Elliot & Vincent. They kinda had a noisy buzz, sporadically rock, often moody kind of sound. The easy reference is The White Stripes, but they didn't have the lyrical clarity, also reminiscent of Earth Tongue, a local rock two piece I've caught before. Speaking of local, I spent the show and many months afterwards thinking they were an American act, but it turns out they're from Auckland. Should have done my research.
It must be hard to find something new as a rock two piece, and Elliot and Vincent tried a good try a few times but fell back to a solid just what you'd expect. It felt sort of recent art school graduate. Just when I was beginning to get it, they were done.
Pixies
Out they came, Black Francis with a cup of tea in hand, gave us a wave and cracked into Bossanova. They did it in album order, first to last. Then they did Trompe le Monde the same way. Then - as hoped - a quick encore too.
It was magic. I sang along, we grooved and gyrated, they were note perfect most of the time and relaxed and friendly the whole way along.
The crowd was good natured and remarkably obedient. I recall at one point a couple dancing in the aisle but getting swiftly sat back down, it felt like an injustice but the stewards were set on keeping it orderly.
They have a new bass player - Emma Richardson - who joined the band in 2024, previously in Band of Skulls. Emma is the third Pixies bass player I've seen, the others being Kim Deal and Paz Lenchantin, and she put in a strong performance.
The bass players who aren't Kim Deal tend to embrace their "not original" status and stand in the background, which Emma did well, despite being a head taller than the rest of the band. She stayed on her spot the entire time. She didn't interact with the crowd. She nailed the bass parts beautifully.
Black Francis, Joey Santiago on lead guitar and David Lovering on drums are the act you come to see. They have that effortless feel of three musicians who have performed together most of their lives. Always in sync, sharing knowing smiles, comfortable with each others shtick.
The encore came, it was three big hits and a new tune, they thanked us, we all looked stoked, and it was done.
I tried to get a shirt but they were out of my size. Serves me right for dilly-dallying. That was the only down side of otherwise a great night out courtesy of Pixies.
Photos from the gig
