Pixies and Modest Mouse Bring An Alt-Rock Showcase To Charlotte
A Glorious Night of Rock at PNC Music Pavilion
It was an indie and alternative rock lover’s dream at PNC Music Pavilion as the one and only Pixies came to town. To sweeten the deal, they were bringing Modest Mouse along for the ride, and what a ride it was!
Fans couldn’t have asked for a better evening as the weather was gorgeous, a perfect setting for one of the highlights of the summer concert season. Indie rock giants Modest Mouse hit the stage first with a spectacular display of lights that resembled fireworks. As they kicked into “The Stars Are Projectors,” indeed it looked as if there were actual stars shining down upon the band. Kudos to the lighting director on this one as it made for a breathtaking display.
Frontman Isaac Brock is the only original member left in the band and he was in full command on lead vocals and guitar as he took his spot front and center. Dressed in blue pants and a suit jacket, he looked all business. Fortunately for us, his business is rock and rock us he did. Don’t worry the rest of the band rocked just as hard with Tom Peloso alternating between keyboards, bass guitar, guitar, and upright bass throughout the set.
One of the unique things about Modest Mouse is that they feature two percussionists, drummer Damon Cox and percussionist and drummer Ben Massarella who played a wide variety of different percussion instruments. Bassist Russell Higbee kept the basslines thumping and guitarist Simon O’Connor was a master on lead guitar. I’m also giving Simon a special shout-out for sporting a Yngwie Malmsteen tee shirt on stage.
Modest Mouse is celebrating the 20th anniversary (20 years, how is that even possible? It really seems like yesterday.) of their classic album Good News For People Who Love Bad News and we were lucky to hear three songs from that legendary record. The band was on fire as the stage lights dazzled around them. A special treat was a cover of The Cure’s “A Forest” and my personal MM favorite “Fuck Your Acid Trip.”
It was a terrific set and a perfect way to get the evening started. If you’re headed out to see the tour, please get there early. Modest Mouse is definitely not to be missed!
After a short break, it was time for Pixies to take the stage. The lights dimmed and the band members began making their way out onto the stage to the sounds of The Beatles’ “You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)” as the crowd cheered in appreciation. The Pixies were a staple of alternative rock’s formative years with a sound that really has no comparison. The cool thing about Pixies is they offer a great blend of sounds and during their set, you can hear everything from surf and punk rock to pop and grunge and everything in between.
The band went back a bit to kick off their set with “Cactus” from their iconic album Surfer Rosa and it was game on. Lead vocalist and guitarist Black Francis was impeccable vocally, masterfully going from almost spoken word to full-on soaring rock at ease. This was another thing that fans really loved about the Pixies. They were really one of the first bands to shift and change from quiet to loud to quiet and back again multiple times throughout a song. The dynamic volume changes are what set them apart from their contemporaries and something that is uniquely Pixies during the alternative rock boom years.
Joining Black Francis were original drummer David Lovering who was fierce behind the kit and original guitarist Joey Santiago who can really let it rip. For this tour, Pixies have enlisted the help of bass guitarist Emma Richardson to round out their live sound as well as add female vocals.
The band sounded fantastic and again, I have to say the lighting was spot on. The visual changes added another dimension to the songs going from an orange wash to bathed in white amongst other styles. It was a definite vibe allowing us to stand and let the music wash over us, losing ourselves in the moment and mystery of the music.
The setlist was heavy with tunes from the Doolittle album with the audience going completely nuts for “Monkey Gone To Heaven.” But Pixies played a little from every era and did a great job mixing things up for fans of all ages and experiences. We even got a few covers thrown in with some “Hold On” by The Jesus and Mary Chain and the final song of the evening Neil Young’s “Winterlong.” With 26 songs, Pixies really gave us everything they had.
This was an amazing show from both Modest Mouse and the Pixies. There are a few dates left on the US leg of the tour before they jet off overseas so be sure to check them out while you can. This year Pixies put out two new singles, so if you can’t make it to a show, check them out below and add them to your playlist today!
See the Full Gallery of the Night Here!
If you captured any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see.
Click Here for Pixies’ New Singles “You’re So Impatient/Que Sera Sera” !
Click Here to Order the Classic Modest Mouse Album ‘Good News For People Who Love Bad News!
Tour Dates:
JUN 11 TUE
Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion @ 6:00pm
Modest MouseCat Power
Gilford, NH, United States
JUN 12 WED
TD Pavilion at the Mann @ 6:00pm
Modest MouseCat Power
Philadelphia, PA, United States
JUN 14 FRI
Merriweather Post Pavilion @ 6:00pm
Modest MouseCat Power
Columbia, MD, United States
JUN 15 SAT
Forest Hills Stadium @ 6:00pm
Modest MouseCat Power
Forest Hills, NY, United States
JUN 16 SUN
Xfinity Center @ 6:00pm
Modest MouseCat Power
Mansfield, MA, United States
JUN 18 TUE
Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill @ 6:00pm
Modest MouseCat Power
Sterling Heights, MI, United States
JUN 19 WED
Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island @ 6:00pm
Modest MouseCat Power
Chicago, IL, United States
JUN 20 THU
Surly Brewing Co. @ 6:00pm
Modest MouseCat Power
Minneapolis, MN, United States
JUN 22 SAT
Breese Stevens Field @ 6:00pm
Modest MouseCat Power
Madison, WI, United States
JUN 23 SUN
Vibrant Music Hall @ 6:00pm
Modest MouseCat Power
Waukee, IA, United States
JUN 24 MON
Starlight Theatre @ 6:00pm
Modest MouseCat Power
Kansas City, MO, United States
JUN 26 WED
Germania Insurance Amphitheater @ 6:00pm
Modest MouseCat Power
Austin, TX, United States
JUN 27 THU
The Pavilion At Toyota Music Factory @ 6:00pm
Modest MouseCat Power
Irving, TX, United States
JUN 28 FRI
Walmart AMP @ 6:30pm
Modest MouseCat Power
Rogers, AR, United States
JUN 30 SUN
Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre @ 6:00pm
Modest MouseCat Power
Greenwood Village, CO, United States
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