Back in Parts 1 and 2 of this series, we looked somewhat critically at Pitchfork's list of the best tracks of the 90s. This time, Rachel and I are documenting our journey -- quite literally -- through the 90s via a series of concerts. In 8 days, we'll have seen Pixies, Pavement (twice), and Guided By Voices. All bands that have broken up for a good chunk of time. And while Pixies really were as active in the 80s as they were in the 90s, all three bands possess a solid amount of 90s cred. Witness eight magical days. Think of it as our own sort of Hannukah.
Pixies: Austin Music Hall, Austin TX, Wednesday, September 22
90s Credibility:
Bossanova (1990)
-- #28 - Pitchfork's Top 100 Album's of the 90s
-- A - Robert Christgau, Dean of American Rock Critics
Trompe le Monde (1991)
-- #83 - Pitchfork
-- A- - Christgau
To kick off the 90s, Pixies really mark the transition from the prior decade. The term "alternative music" has always been a large umbrella musically. It has always embraced all sorts of music with a basis in rock or pop, the main criteria being that it doesn't quite fit in with the mainstream. Still, various styles within "alternative" music dominate, and in the mid 80s, softer British music ruled. Pixies were one of the bands that helped transition the alt focus back to American hard rock. For example, Nirvana, the ultimate early 90s alt rock band, owes a huge debt to Pixies, as Kurt Cobain repeatedly shared.
So it was perfect that we opened our 8 magical days with Pixies, especially since we tragically missed a chance to see them years ago in Worcester, MA despite having tickets. This tour, the band is playing its great second LP Doolittle in full, along with B-sides. After a 40 minute sonic assault by Fuck Buttons and a short wait, the lights came down. Pixies? Not quite. First, we were treated to Un Chien Andalou, the oddball (eyeball?) film by Luis Buñuel that inspired album opener "Debaser." The band did arrive after that, but before launching into said "Debaser" we were treated to several songs that, as bassist Kim Deal put it, so obscure that the band had to basically learn them from scratch to perform them on this tour. Some of the songs were decent, but quality is often a factor in why songs end up as B-sides and not album cuts. The band also had a tendency to leave pretty big gaps between tracks. Was the band baiting the audience for some reason by testing its patience?
Then Doolittle. The band was tight and loud all night. The music generally sounded good. In terms of musicianship, each of the four sounds as skilled or better than they did back in the day, particularly lead guitarist Joey Santiago, who alone seemed to strive to add something new to the familiarity of a set of songs that most people in the audience have heard dozens if not hundreds of times over the last 21 years. Maybe it was Joey's parents in the audience, as Kim announced?
Despite all of this, it was a fun night. Pixies didn't sound devoid of passion, although it was clearly less than at their peak. Getting to hear a solid band play great songs in a place with great acoustics goes a long way. And honestly, the band ripped through two versions of "Wave of Mutilation" and pleased the crowd with "Monkey Gone to Heaven" and "Here Comes Your Man." And after the B-sides and occasional filler-songs from Doolittle, the band soothed the crowd (another great Austin crowd) with an encore including older favorites "Gigantic" and "Where is My Mind?" I left satisfied, but not blown away. Unfortunately, that's about what I was expecting.
Pavement: Central Park Summerstage, New York, NY, Friday, September 24
90s Credibility:
-- #9 - ranking of 1990s artists on AcclaimedMusic.net
"Gold Soundz" (1994)
-- #1 - Pitchfork's Top 200 Tracks of the 90s
Slanted and Enchanted (1992)
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)
-- A - Christgau
-- 5 stars - Allmusic..com
When Pavement announced they were getting together for a show or two in Central Park, we jumped and got four tickets. Plan would be to go up and join my sister and her husband for the show, visit with family, eat some good grub. That was a year ago, long enough, apparently, for several poor folks to lose their tickets. We guarded ours for those months and made our way up to NYC as planned, with a list of good breakfast and lunch joints near our hotel and a reservation with the big family at DBGB Kitchen and Bar.
What a great day for a show. Lots of sun during the day, in the 70s for much of the show. We couldn't decide what to have for lunch, so we stopped at two nearby places and split gyro and a pretty scrumptious Cambodian sandwich for lunch). The four of us headed over to Rumsey Playfield in Central Park near the 72nd St. entrance a good hour before Pavement hit the stage.
For those of us who guarded our tickets, the wait and the effort in this case was worth it. This was their last of five nights in New York, and I think they went out with a bang. And on stage was a rock band that looked really into what they were doing. The music sounded great pretty much from start to finish. Malkmus' voice was in top form. The setlist couldn't have been better. Everything you wanted to hear was tossed in, and then some. Pavement played for what had to be over two hours over a long main set and two encores, finishing with a rousing "Range Life." And yes, they did still mention Stone Temple Pilots.
Pixies: Austin Music Hall, Austin TX, Wednesday, September 22
90s Credibility:
Bossanova (1990)
-- #28 - Pitchfork's Top 100 Album's of the 90s
-- A - Robert Christgau, Dean of American Rock Critics
Trompe le Monde (1991)
-- #83 - Pitchfork
-- A- - Christgau
To kick off the 90s, Pixies really mark the transition from the prior decade. The term "alternative music" has always been a large umbrella musically. It has always embraced all sorts of music with a basis in rock or pop, the main criteria being that it doesn't quite fit in with the mainstream. Still, various styles within "alternative" music dominate, and in the mid 80s, softer British music ruled. Pixies were one of the bands that helped transition the alt focus back to American hard rock. For example, Nirvana, the ultimate early 90s alt rock band, owes a huge debt to Pixies, as Kurt Cobain repeatedly shared.
So it was perfect that we opened our 8 magical days with Pixies, especially since we tragically missed a chance to see them years ago in Worcester, MA despite having tickets. This tour, the band is playing its great second LP Doolittle in full, along with B-sides. After a 40 minute sonic assault by Fuck Buttons and a short wait, the lights came down. Pixies? Not quite. First, we were treated to Un Chien Andalou, the oddball (eyeball?) film by Luis Buñuel that inspired album opener "Debaser." The band did arrive after that, but before launching into said "Debaser" we were treated to several songs that, as bassist Kim Deal put it, so obscure that the band had to basically learn them from scratch to perform them on this tour. Some of the songs were decent, but quality is often a factor in why songs end up as B-sides and not album cuts. The band also had a tendency to leave pretty big gaps between tracks. Was the band baiting the audience for some reason by testing its patience?
Then Doolittle. The band was tight and loud all night. The music generally sounded good. In terms of musicianship, each of the four sounds as skilled or better than they did back in the day, particularly lead guitarist Joey Santiago, who alone seemed to strive to add something new to the familiarity of a set of songs that most people in the audience have heard dozens if not hundreds of times over the last 21 years. Maybe it was Joey's parents in the audience, as Kim announced?
Despite all of this, it was a fun night. Pixies didn't sound devoid of passion, although it was clearly less than at their peak. Getting to hear a solid band play great songs in a place with great acoustics goes a long way. And honestly, the band ripped through two versions of "Wave of Mutilation" and pleased the crowd with "Monkey Gone to Heaven" and "Here Comes Your Man." And after the B-sides and occasional filler-songs from Doolittle, the band soothed the crowd (another great Austin crowd) with an encore including older favorites "Gigantic" and "Where is My Mind?" I left satisfied, but not blown away. Unfortunately, that's about what I was expecting.
Pavement: Central Park Summerstage, New York, NY, Friday, September 24
90s Credibility:
-- #9 - ranking of 1990s artists on AcclaimedMusic.net
"Gold Soundz" (1994)
-- #1 - Pitchfork's Top 200 Tracks of the 90s
Slanted and Enchanted (1992)
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)
-- A - Christgau
-- 5 stars - Allmusic..com
When Pavement announced they were getting together for a show or two in Central Park, we jumped and got four tickets. Plan would be to go up and join my sister and her husband for the show, visit with family, eat some good grub. That was a year ago, long enough, apparently, for several poor folks to lose their tickets. We guarded ours for those months and made our way up to NYC as planned, with a list of good breakfast and lunch joints near our hotel and a reservation with the big family at DBGB Kitchen and Bar.
What a great day for a show. Lots of sun during the day, in the 70s for much of the show. We couldn't decide what to have for lunch, so we stopped at two nearby places and split gyro and a pretty scrumptious Cambodian sandwich for lunch). The four of us headed over to Rumsey Playfield in Central Park near the 72nd St. entrance a good hour before Pavement hit the stage.
For those of us who guarded our tickets, the wait and the effort in this case was worth it. This was their last of five nights in New York, and I think they went out with a bang. And on stage was a rock band that looked really into what they were doing. The music sounded great pretty much from start to finish. Malkmus' voice was in top form. The setlist couldn't have been better. Everything you wanted to hear was tossed in, and then some. Pavement played for what had to be over two hours over a long main set and two encores, finishing with a rousing "Range Life." And yes, they did still mention Stone Temple Pilots.
Pavement @ Central Park Summerstage - Sept 24, 2010 (pic by Greg Cristman)
credit: Brooklyn Vegan
As I learned on the Modern Mystery blog, the Central Park shows can be found on NYCtaper.com.
Here's one track:
Coming Up Tonight and Thursday: More Pavement and Guided By Voices
Long after Rachel and I got our NYC Pavement tix, the band announced that they would be touring the states, including a stop at Stubb's in Austin. We got tickets, figuring worst case scenario we'd sell either one of the dates. Well, no need to cancel came up really, so we're doubling down on Pavement tonight with some friends. Thursday, we stay in the 90s for Guided By Voices at the new East Side Drive-In. We'll be sure to fill you in.
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