Frank Black
The Independent
March 9, 2004

Review by Jake Thomas

With the recent announcement of the Pixie’s reunion, the internet chat boards were ablaze before this show, spreading rumors left and right that this would be a secret Pixies show, a warm up for their upcoming tour. And while I didn’t really buy it, I certainly hoped it was true and bought a ticket just in case. Because what’s the worst case scenario – you still get to see Frank Black play either way, and if it turns out to be something more than you’re stoked on that too.

Well, it was just a Frank Black show, but it was still damn good. There were no Catholics there to back him up, so it was just a solo show – the man and his oft out-of-tune guitar. It was mostly solo stuff, but probably a fifth to a quarter of the songs was Pixies songs, and it was pretty noticeable from the reaction to these songs what the crowd was there to hear. Off the top of my head, I know he played “Veloria”, “Wave of Mutilation”, and “Monkey Gone to Heaven” – which Frank claimed was his default song to start playing anytime he messed a song up more than a couple times in a row (luckily he played it anyways, as these mess-ups never occurred). Additionally, he played at least three tracks, including “Headache”, from his best solo album “Teenager of the Year” – which I like nearly as much as a lot of the Pixies stuff. The only possible complaint, other than it not actually being a Pixies show, is that the Independent is like a Scandinavian Sweat Lodge during a busy show. I’m certain I sweated off 5 pounds in the couple of hours I was there. Next time I’m going to bring one of those hand held fans and strip down to my skivvies, see how they like that. Buy some fans!


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