WHERE IS MY MIND? (Answer: Still at the Show) – With the sun setting across the White Oak Lawn, the vibes were high and the positivity was infectious as the crowd geared up for a damn good show from a damn good band: PIXIES.
I’ll be honest, this might’ve been the chillest show I’ve been to in a while. I usually find myself at high-energy gigs, swaying with the tide of the pit and leaving sweatier than when I arrived. The Pixies—one of my favorite bands—give you the impression that it’ll be that kind of show. But when you really peel back the layers of their music, it’s a different kind of energy. It’s powerful, but internally nuanced. A push and pull that leaves you rooted in place before you even realize it. It’s incredibly earthy.
But first, credit where it’s due: Spoon. Talk about setting a vibe! Raw, melodic, meaningful. Their music has always been accessible to me, and I mean that in the best way possible… it’s introspectively accessible. You have to embed yourself in it to really get it, and this audience was perfect for that. With hits like “I Turn My Camera On,” “The Underdog,” and my personal favorite, “Inside Out,” they put on a wonderfully engaging performance. Britt Daniel was in his groove, as always. I tell people all the time: this is a GREAT band, and 30+ years of playing together shows in every note. Stoked.
Now, where do I begin with the Pixies? Sheesh. This was a band I discovered in my senior year of high school, during a very transformative time in my life. I was drifting from heavy ’70s rock on repeat (Zeppelin, Sabbath, Motörhead) into more diverse and modern sounds like R.E.M., Minutemen, Sonic Youth, and the Pixies. Around then, I also shifted focus from skateboarding to music, bass guitar more specifically.
The Pixies floored me with how simple it all seemed, but of course it wasn’t simple at all. Their music unlocked something in my brain, like stumbling onto an unfound scripture. They carried punk rock energy, but it wasn’t aggressive; it was something else. Something magnetic. They were even a band I could play around the ladies… (Try playing Vol. 4 when you have a date in your car)
Surfer Rosa is still a top-ten album for me, no contest.
The band’s been around since 1986, though they broke up in ’93 before reuniting in 2004. Since then, they’ve been rocking steady, and honestly, it feels like they haven’t skipped a beat. The energy is as strong as ever. And real quick, big shoutout to the WOMH crowd that night.. I ran into old friends, made new ones, bumped into a couple of coworkers, and even saw my 5th-grade math teacher (shoutout to Mrs. Wilson!). Everyone was present, tuned in, and just enjoying the night. Simple enough when you’ve got the Pixies in front of you.
Their set stretched across the catalog; early albums like Come on Pilgrim, Surfer Rosa, and Doolittle, all the way to their latest release, The Night the Zombies Came, which, by the way, kicks total ass.
As a longtime fan, I’ll admit I was embarrassed I’d never seen them live until now. I’m grateful to check that box. An amazing show, and a beautiful night all around. Do yourself a favor: spin The Night the Zombies Came, and catch the Pixies on tour if you can. You won’t regret it one bit.
Cheers!
I'm a Houston-based creative, music lover, tequila & enchilada enthusiast, and all-around vibe curator. I got my start as a college radio head and eventually found my way behind the lens as a photographer after wanting to join my friends on their surf trips without having to buy a surfboard. My philosophy? Simple. Life’s too short not to have a laugh and partake in a good time. I’m in it for the ride, because why the hell not?! Cheers, my friends! #alwayshappyhour
