Pixies Bring 'Doolittle' Tour to Los Angeles

Posted on Nov 5th 2009 12:00PM by Steve Baltin
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While 'Doolittle' was the Pixies commercial breakthrough upon its 1989 release, it still feels like an album well before its time. Of course the same could be said for the Pixies in general. But after praise from bands like Nirvana and Radiohead and a memorable 2004 reunion tour, the Pixies have found their place in the 21st century. Now 'Doolitle' is getting a second chance as well.

To celebrate the album's 20-year anniversary, the Boston band doing an all things 'Doolittle' tour, bringing both the record in full and its B-sides to the stage. On Wednesday night, the tour finally came to the US before a sold-out audience, which included Jack Black among others, at the Hollywood Palladium.

The show began with a little 'Doolittle' appetizer, a four-song set of B-sides, including 'Dancing the Manta Ray,' 'Weird at My School,' 'Bailey's Walk' and 'Manta Ray.' But the main attraction was clearly the album in full, and from the opening riff of the powerful 'Debaser,' it did not disappoint. As the crowd pogoed in front and even got in some retro moshing, the band delivered hits like 'Monkey Gone to Heaven' and 'There Goes My Gun' with expert precision. Bassist Kim Deal provided some in-between humor, doing play-by-play at points like when she announced, "We're not even through side one yet," and "Does anybody know the next song?" before the biggest hit, 'Here Comes The Man.'

Her sarcasm aside, the group ate up the well-earned adoration. After they finished the closing 'Gouge Away,' they spent several minutes at the front of the stage shaking hands with fans, smiling and taking their bows. And why not? It may be 20 years late, but 'Doolittle' has clearly found its place.