The Pixies played the Ace of Spades on Wednesday, October 26. The Boston band sold out the weeknight show, packing the venue to capacity with long time fans. Some even brought their kids along to rock out. The crowd waited anxiously for the group to arrive many waiting by the bar and dining areas to eat, drink, and talk about the band in anticipation.
The band came on stage playing their 1989 hit ‘Debaser.’ In true rock and roll manner, Black Francis, lead singer and rhythm guitarist, wore all black and sunglasses. The Pixies played twenty-nine songs in total including hits like ‘Monkey Gone to Heaven,’ ‘Where is my Mind?,’ and ‘Velouria.’ By the end of the night, everyone had their hands and drinks up.
We caught up with a few folks from the show to see how they felt, here is what they had to say.
“I thought the concert was awesome. Strong performance by their new bass player. This was my first time seeing them, and I wasn’t disappointed. Haha, it was kinda nice not feeling like the “old guy” at the show. I think it’s a great thing that they played this small show before their big tour. I give them much respect for that. I had a blast, they took me back to a happy time.” – Mike Smith
“The show was awesome, but the crowd was even better. Everyone was friendly, strangers and friends. It was a little like going to a really great house party and meeting a bunch of new great friends.” – Megan Lee
“Showing up at the venue (Ace of Spades) to see The Pixies was something great. Seeing all the friends and positive energy protruding from everyone around me only enhanced the experience of seeing this amazing band! They sounded full and executed every song I remembered as they did on their albums. So good that I even purchased the “tough guy” Pixies shirt!” – Alex Dorame
“The band played a great selection of songs and sounded great, entertained the crowd but they also showed that they are slowing down with age, sometimes the loud intense bands have the hardest time live because they can’t bring down the house like they once did.” – Dal Basi
“I was so excited to finally get an opportunity to see THE PIXIES. I was transported back to a very special time in my life…they did not disappoint.” – Joey Miller
“The first time I saw the Pixies was at the Fox Theater in Oakland in 2009, they were doing the anniversary tour for Doolittle. I was so excited to see them in what I would consider such a small venue for such a big band. I loved the show…When I heard that they announced a new tour a few weeks ago, my curiosity was piqued. I was damn near floored to learn that they were going to play Ace of Spades…The show was really awesome and (Ace of Spades) made the whole thing seem so intimate, although I really missed Kim. She did all the in between song banter the last time I saw them and her energy was just different. Don’t get me wrong, Paz is great and I love her, but I think it’s hard sometimes to get over someone being replaced by another person in a role that you feel is only theirs – like the two Beckys in Roseanne. I did love that when the band came out for the encore, Frank managed to mumble something indecipherable at the crowd and had traded in his signature sunglasses for plain old seeing glasses. I’m happy I went, I’m happy I can put that in my book of “shit that’s gonna make me a weird old lady” and (can) tell someone’s kids about it someday. I kinda wish that we could get more of those big acts who want to play small clubs coming through here. The scene totally supports it, it was a Wednesday night and the crowd was 100 percent into it.” – Catherine Smith
Words and Photos: Emma Montalblano.