On the Beatith EITH OPNICKI Onon Thethe Beatbeatith EITH OPNICKI W K K the Pixies: Catch the Wave by KEITH KOPNICKI Liked They Sounded
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A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES Thursday, May 20, 2004 Page 19 OnOn thethe BeatBeat On the BeatITH EITH OPNICKI OnOn thethe BeatBeatITH EITH OPNICKI W K K The Pixies: Catch the Wave By KEITH KOPNICKI liked they sounded. Not so with The Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times Pixies. How could a band so epic in Latest Coffee with Conscience Concert The Pixies, “Wave of Mutila- approach, so truly punk at heart, so tion: Best of The Pixies,” 4AD, twisted, sinister and haunting in sound Out Now actually look so ... ordinary? Rating: A The Pixies, perhaps unknowingly, Get Outta Features Music Fusion Artist, SONiA Never heard of the Pixies? Here’s the turned their painfully average appear- short version. It’s 1987. Band blasts onto ance into an advantage and, in doing By MARYLOU MORANO SONiA travels the world to share her Church. For more information about Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times scene. Band establishes foothold. Then, so, launched one of rock’s ultimate The House message, and has performed in Australia, the Zoe Lewis concert, visit at the peak of their powers, with a seem- surprise attacks. Nobody that normal WESTFIELD — Singer -songwriter Canada, Israel, The Netherlands, and Great www.coffeewithconscience.com. By CAROL F. DAVIS ingly endless looking could be that good, could they? Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times SONiA, whose music represents a col- Britain among many other countries. Each Coffee with Conscience concert is stream of cool But they were. lage of folk, rock, blues and country, “It’s important for people of other coun- broadcasted the following month on TV-36 tunes and clas- The impossibly silly and maddening It’s once again time for the best took to the stage of tries to meet an Ameri- for residents of Westfield, Scotch Plains, lyrics, the sometimes stinging, some- yard sale around – the Friends of sic albums the First United Meth- can one-to-one. I am Fanwood and Mountainside. Concerts can ahead of them, times crunching, sometimes soaring gui- Sleepy Hollow 11th Annual Ga- odist Church of about peace and democ- be viewed on Fridays at 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. tar riffs all combined to define the musi- rage Sale will be held on Sunday, band breaks up. Westfield on Saturday, racy for everyone,” she and on Sundays at 7 p.m. Makes no cal genius that was The Pixies. May 23, in the beautiful Sleepy May 15, as part of the said, adding that the sense, but Each of their five albums is well repre- Hollow area of Plainfield. This year’s monthly Coffee with world’s focus overall has More from the these things sented here. The glorious riffery of “Where sale is bigger than ever, with almost Conscience Concert to be for humanity. rarely do. is My Mind?” the haunting “Caribou” 150 households participating. The Series of Westfield. “The truth is that Band mem- (This human form/Where I was born/I event will take place from 9 a.m. Chris Chandler, who we are all different, WF Districtwide bers go their separate ways, solo careers now repent/Cariboooou) and the berserk until 4 p.m., rain or shine. Proceeds is also a singer- but we are more alike are born, fans shed some tears and “Debaser” highlight an album that accu- benefit the neighborhood associa- songwriter and whom than we are different,” Art Show that’s the end of the story, right? Wrong. rately chronicles The Pixies’ short but tion. You won’t leave empty-handed. Coffee with Conscience she added. This story has a happy ending. productive run. producer Ahrre Maros SONiA was part of Michelle Helen Le Poidevin for The Leader/The Times Fourteen years after their demise, The Bass player Kim Deal’s pop/punk * * * * * * * referred to as a “spoken the celebrity coalition KUDOS TO THE KIDS…Countless purr on “Gigantic” serves to counter- pieces of art featured in the Westfield Pixies have come back from the dead. On Saturday, May 22, there will word-smith,” opened that joined over a mil- Maybe there was some unfinished busi- balance the devil-howl of the band’s be a spring concert, “O Heaven! O for SONiA. lion people at the District Wide Art Show garnered praise. singer/songwriter/guitarist Frank Black Some of them, pictured above, included: ness to take care of, or maybe the bills just Earth!” by The Madrigal Singers, at Although she ap- March for Women’s needed paying. The important thing on tracks like “Tame” “Planet of Sound” peared solo at Coffee Lives in Washington Devin Kiernan’s (grade 1) crayon por- 8 p.m. in First Baptist Church of trait; Steve Fromtling’s glowing acrylic; here is the band responsible for alterna- and “U-Mass.” But it’s when these two Westfield, 170 Elm Street. The con- with Conscience, D.C. on April 25, an tive music having its own section at Sam voices join forces on “Monkey Gone To experience she found Jessica Ropers’ (Art 2) India ink and cert will be directed by Elaine SONiA also performs watercolor on Strathmore paper; Rob- Goody is back. Heaven” or “Velouria” that The Pixies Fiorino, and will include modern with her sister CiNDY “empowering.” ert Bunting’s (grade 5) batik/watercolor First came a headlining gig earlier really get clicking on all cylinders. in the rock band “dis- As a soloist, composers in a cappella tradition, SONiA resist, Jessica Bender’s (Art 3) India ink this month at Coachella Music Festival Let’s not forget “Here Comes Your along with poetry readings by Judy appear fear,” which was SONiA, who claims and watercolor on Strathmore, and in California alongside a band they no Man” either, a song so catchy and damn formed in the late 80’s in their hometown Bob Dylan as a distant cousin, has ap- Philip Kim’s (Art 3) mixed media piece. doubt influenced, Radiohead. Then near perfect it deserves its own exhibition Sullivan accompanying this trea- of Baltimore, Md. peared on stage with Sarah Maclaughlin, sury of Renaissance choral music. came the announcement of a national at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Attendees at Saturday night’s concert Jewel and the Indigo Girls. and European tour and now this, a best- It is truly rare for a band to mix and The suggested donation is $10. Call heard selections from SONiA’s recently Accompanying her songs with both (908) 233-1570 for information. of collection. mash so many disparate styles of popu- released CD “No Bomb Is Smart,” includ- guitar and harmonica, SONiA calls her Sadly, “Wave of Mutliation: Best of lar music but The Pixies did it, and did * * * * * * * ing its title track. The lyrics of “No Bomb music “urban folk” and explains it is a The Pixies” does not offer any new it well. They improbably combined mix of blues and bluegrass. On Saturday, May 22, from 9:30 Is Smart” as well as SONiA’s eight other material, but it does serve to highlight, great 60s-esque melodies, manic punk collaborative or solo CDs are expressive of All net proceeds from SONiA’s Coffee over 23 tracks, the all-too-brief run of hysterics, touches of soft country bal- a.m. until 1 p.m., the Plainfield her passion for the environment, world with Conscience concert will be donated Cultural and Heritage Commission one of the most creative, refreshing ladry, rockabilly and hip surf rock to peace and equality. to the Eric Johnson House of Morristown. create a sound that was and is undeni- will sponsor the first “Central Jer- and, let’s be honest, coolest bands of “All of my songs are written from my “This concert is about being inclusive the last 25 years. ably their own. sey History Fair,” to be held at the heart and my feelings,” said SONiA in a and respectful of others,” SONiA said. Never heard of The Pixies? You’ve Plainfield Public Library, Eighth The Stones, The Beatles, The Sex pre-concert interview with The Westfield Coffee with Conscience closes another Pistols — these were bands that looked got some catching up to do. Street and Park Avenue. There will Leader and Scotch Plains-Fanwood Westfield concert series on June 19 with be exhibits, lectures, and author Times. “I write about the things that the appearance of one-woman band Zoe appearances. You may also purchase separate people.” Lewis at the First United Methodist ™ the newly published “Encyclopedia POPCORN of New Jersey,” published by Rutgers University Press, while the Friends CDC Ends 85th Season With Kiss Van Helsing: Lacks Bite of the Plainfield Public Library will CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20 host a book sale of previously owned in My Fashion” rationalizes her fascina- an outstanding job with marvelously tal- One Popcorn, Poor • Two Popcorns, Fair • Three Popcorns, Good • Four Popcorns, Excellent historical fiction and nonfiction tion with other men. Zilg’s flirtation, flair, ented musicians in the pit. Unfortunately, books. “Drop-In Lectures” will in- By MICHAEL S. GOLDBERGER you remember the film critic’s oath, a sworn and fancy footwork, and Fiorello’s Broad- the theater is just too small for the big 1 POPCORN clude such topics as “Landscaping way quality voice in “Bianca” are quite a sound the eight pieces produce. Their allegiance inspired by the maritime tradi- Your Historic Home,” “Doing Oral match. quality is so stellar, that one listens to the This isn’t the Van Helsing I know. My tion that asserts sea captains must go down History,” and “Caring for Histori- Inspired acting by Bobby Selig and lovely flute or sensuous saxophone in- version is an old guy, and he doesn’t look a with the ship.