Pixies, Birmingham O2 Academy - review
The harsh grunge-psychedelic tones of the Pixies are one of the most recognizable sounds of the late eighties and the early nineties – it is one that has inspired legions of acts such as Nirvana, Radiohead, The Strokes, Blur and Weezer.
It's a pretty safe bet with that knowledge, to assume that Pixies are one of the greatest bands you could listen to and indeed see live – you'd be right.
Armed with brand new album Head Carrier, Pixies set out on a headline UK tour with their final show bowling into Birmingham's O2 Academy last night.
Support act FEWS had a tough crowd to please – with the room packed to bursting with baying Pixies fans.
The London post-punk mob rose to the challenge however storming the stage and diving straight into their noisy back catalogue – no walk-on music, no introductions, just blaring strobe lights and punchy music.
FEWS encapsulate the angst-ridden, brooding grunge era of the nineties alternative rock scene to the last thrashing chord and hair-raising vocals.
With very few vocals harmoniously breaking through their cacophonous punk guise, FEWS took the crowd on a raw musical journey interspersed with haunting, lyrical outbursts.
The first few notes of River Euphrates filled the O2 Academy, pints went flying like a tidal wave of excitement and Pixies took to the stage.
With little-to-no crowd interaction, the band ploughed through a lengthy, passionately-crafted set list full of fan favourites, new songs and rarities that highlighted just why Pixies are as relevant as ever, almost 30 years since their inception.
Current bassist Paz Lenchantin has added an extra drive of passion to the outfit – with her meaty bass riffs adding kicks and bites to the punches Pixies already pack, and saccharine sweet vocals to juxtapose vocalist Black Francis' harsh screams.
The room came alight when classics Caribou, Monkey Gone To Heaven, Debaser and Fight Club ode Where Is My Mind were brought to life, as well as brand new tracks that still encapsulate the visceral punk edge Pixies inspired so many with.
Ending with much-loved B-side Into the White played through a thick cloud of ominous white smoke obscuring the band's silhouettes.
The band closed an unmissable set in a spine-tingling fashion as the last chords rang out across the crowd and the sudden silence dropped after a machine-gun delivery of songs for almost two hours.
By Becci Stanley
