Live Review: Pixies with Modest Mouse & Cat Power - North American Summer Tour 2023

Pixies - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Pixies - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine
​Edited by Fiza Javid
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The Salt Shed Chicago - Night Number Two
Thursday - 8/31/23

Walking in during the intro, to The Beatles song "You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)"-
They all begin to settle into their respective places.
Opening with "Cecilia Ann" (a Surftones cover), then into "You're Such a Sadducee", and then into the song "Tame", which was anything but.
Just let it rip man- let it rip.

Have to say how rambaffling this all is- almost a  completely different setlist than from night one the night before, just some switching up and burying of certain songs to fit the mood, what if a full on Blue Moon rising from the east, some five songs into their set.
And they make note of that on night number two from The Salt Shed as well, with the imperial nugget "There's a Moon On".

So as the night unfolds, it's full on electric, full on rabid vocals from the push and pull of Black Francis, making it known two songs in when he tightly rolls up his sleeves that we're headed to some heavy heavy.

The aggressive songs demand it- what with the Pixies having over the years refreshed their dynamic between "Quiet and Loud", with some more "Quiet and Loud".
The formula works, never ever getting stale, never ever getting boring.

My take is Black Francis, Joey Santiago, David Lovering and Paz Lenchantin wouldn't tolerate it.
Pixies remain whipsmart, live badass.

Minimal set and backdrops, just some fancy strobes old and new encompassing the back of the stage.

Music counts, the band commits, their audience of oh so many years commits.
Wicked smiles are seen from them, when something catchy and jagged in the interplay catches their ears and eyes, as only solid improvisation can ensue when paying attention.

No fancy clothes, like coming out of a cab from Elston, head a bit east into the venue, strap on instruments, and away we go.

A tried and true formula, with contemplative and wacky songwriting intermixing with some twisted humor, and electrifying full on noise.
Indie as all get out, the Pixies, not beaten down and held hostage by A&R men wanting hits and catchy this and that.

The thought of that would repel them to the point of taking a shower.
Better still, as a middle finger fuck you, you most likely would enter their universe, and not on a positive note, but rather buried in a song like a casket going six feet underground.

They have their menacing and enlightening ways, like Isaac Brock in Modest Mouse, where everything holds fodder, especially when paying attention to the outside world, and bizarre newspaper clippings that catch your eye.
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From the biblical to the fanatical, to the humorous to the comic book comical.
All of it is welcome news to both bands, with sinister pop and the hard and heavy offering thrills and chills.

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Pixies - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Pixies - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Pixies - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Pixies - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Pixies - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Pixies - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Modest Mouse - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Modest Mouse - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Modest Mouse - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Modest Mouse - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Modest Mouse - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

This review-
It doesn't matter really about song selection, and this and that.
It matters greatly that Pixies still want to play together, and let it be known they know what the hell they're doing, having some damn outright fun, and even if they don't, and mistakes are made, no matter. That can be entertaining as well.

Such a blast- such a downright energetic set from these guys.
Same with Modest Mouse, even though the sun was kinda still out setting to the west.
15 songs total, with catchy and quirky beats throughout.
After the three songs from the pit, I roamed around the main floor a bit, catching the crowd taking it all in, especially along the rail riverfront of The Salt Shed.

It was there that I found a batch of Modest Mouse diehards, a bit older, like in their fifties, dancing a style similar to the Grateful Dead and their shows back in the day.
And dancing not in a humorous way, but serious / sweaty shit.
Multiple songs, until they got plum tuckered tired out.

Dancing like around a campfire listening to a jug band, and spot on to the beats.
Fascinating stuff, elevating the mood in my head in what Isaac Brock and Modest Mouse means to so many people.

Here's another songwriter, like Black Francis, who has his eyes and ears to the ground, noting the what the fucks when attempting another song to create, from the mystical to the mythical to the fanatical to the comical.
You know his heart's in it - Isaac is a sweaty mess right after song three, spitting out words fervently at his mic.

Also cool to note that he was wearing the same satin jacket that Cat Power came out with, the logo of Cat Power ever evident on the back for all to see.
Support thereof, with all three bands.
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A solid lineup as all get out.

Look man, there's some eleven or so dates left on this tour as it heads west-
I highly recommend you check them out- all bands- and get their early for Cat Power- she's awesome as well, embraced with a tight knit band.

Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago​

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Pixies, Black Francis, Joey Santiago, David Lovering, Paz Lechantin, Modest Mouse, Isaac Brock, The Salt Shed, JBTV Music Television, Fiza Javid, Bobby Talamine, Chicago, Live Music