FRANK BLACK

The other night I was in the head when the band started playing a Pixies’ song that was practically my high school theme song. I quickly abandoned the man in the wheelchair who was vomiting violently, and rushed through the mass of people to see if, collectively, we could find our minds. The set ended with one tasteful encore, which finished with the only cover of the night, a version of Tom Waits’ “Black Rider”. What fell in-between was almost two hours of exquisitely crafted melodies, delightful, off-kilter rhythms, and sweet American rock. Frank Black and the Catholics played with fierce economy and precision, pausing for nothing, including instrument changes. The blitzkrieg pace reminded me of a band I saw Black open for a few years ago, the Ramones. Black presented songs from nearly every record in his cannon, the only exception being the 1991 release, Trompe le Monde. That being said, I must admit I did have mixed emotions on the inclusion of material by the Pixies, as it was obvious that it was what a large percentage of people were there to see. Granted, this is stunning material, and Black wrote it as well. And yes, it did give me the chills. I guess it was just disheartening to see less of a response to current material, like last year’s perfect album, Devil’s Workshop. I suppose you have to give the people what they want. And let me tell you, brother, I am not complaining about what I got! Opening act and ex-Pixie drummer, David Lovering, provided moderate entertainment with his \"mentalist\" act, although an episode of Mr. Wizard would have been not only more entertaining, but more educational as well.
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