Pixies Bring 'Doolittle' to Asbury Park

Posted on Oct 29th 2011 11:00AM by Michael Mehalick
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Kristian Dowling, Getty Images

Last night (Oct. 28), as temperatures continued to dip toward freezing along the New Jersey coastline, things were just heating up in legendary Asbury Park. Hordes of fans aged 18 to 40 -- some already dressed for Halloween -- filled the Wonder Bar and celebrated the one time you could hold a "Pixie Party" without being in danger of receiving any curious stares. The occasion: Equally legendary Boston-born alt-rock pioneers the Pixies were in town for the second stop in as many days on their revived 'Doolittle Tour.'

Opening act Surfer Blood, who just released the 'Tarot Classics' EP, took the stage first and set the scene inside Asbury's cavernous Convention Hall. The band played several new tracks for the first time live, including the appropriately spooky 'Blair Witch.'

A few minutes later, after film clips inspired by Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali illuminated a large video screen, the Pixies took the stage and captured the crowd's full attention for the rest of the night.

"We're going to play some B-sides first," said the band's buoyant bassist, Kim Deal, as they launched into 'Dancing the Manta Ray.'

A few songs later, the familiar ringing guitars of 'Doolittle' opener "Debaser" rang throughout the building. For much of the show, as the band more than dutifully re-created its classic 1989 album, lead singer and rhythm guitarist Black Francis remained in the spotlight, while Deal took over the banter in between songs, not unlike the seductive DJ from the classic cult film 'The Warriors.' The quirky dynamic and history of the band was celebrated throughout the night as videos of each individual member were shown as the band played.

"Now we're on the other side," Deal quipped midway through, "somebody's going to have to get up and flip the record." Seconds later, the Pixies launched into a particularly inspired rendition of 'Monkey Gone to Heaven.' Indeed, the second side of 'Doolittle' allowed for a little more of that band dynamic to shine through, as drummer David Lovering took over lead vocals for the whistlers' favorite 'La La Love You.' This set up Francis' most expressive sing/wail of the night, which came during the ultra loud 'There Goes My Gun.'

After finishing side two of 'Doolittle,' the band reemerged after an encore break to play the "U.K. surf" version of 'Wave of Mutilation' and closed with fan favorite 'Where Is My Mind?' After the band's much deserved final bow, the crowd left knowing it had seen one of the better shows in which a band plays the same song twice.

Watch the Pixies Perform 'Where Is My Mind?' in Asbury Park