The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret
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January 15 - January 22, 2014 Vol. 2 -747 NEWSSTAND PRICE: $2.00 FEATURE: The 100 Best Movies Of 20 13 PLUS: VAN DYKE Madysin Hatter PARKS: Jonatha Brooke Endless Syrens Calling Cycle Hard Working Americans Light The Melodic Of Day W.C. Lindsay Salutes Doug Paisley THE Remembering ASBURY Thomas ANGELS Chapin Million Dollar Quartet Alestorm Eureka Birds Candy Warpop Levin Minnemann Rudess Blank Realms And More! THE PIXIES $2.00 The Lost Art Of Keeping A Secret HOTO BY MICHAEL HALSBAND e r u t a e f THE PIXIES New Transmissions From The Planet Of Sound by Gregg McQueen singer/guitarist Francis, drummer David around for the long run—I think she’s a side of it,” said Lovering, a part-time to do next, and pondered if they should Black Francis famously sang, “Your Lovering and guitarist Joey Santiago are great fit,” he said. magician himself. end the act. Ultimately, they decided it head will collapse/And you’ll ask taking everything in stride. Diehard fans starved for new Pixies The fact that no fans or media even was best to persevere. yourself/Where is my mind?” “We’re just a bunch of rock musicians, material must feel they’ve hit the jackpot knew the Pixies were in the studio “The Pixies are more than just one For fans of the Pixies, the past few trying to figure it out,” Francis quipped. lately. Except for a one-off single in 2004, recording again in October 2012 is member, so we forged ahead,” stated months have definitely been enough to The band, with Lenchantin in tow, has the recent releases marked the first new something the band takes pride in. Lovering, who was instrumental in spin their heads and make them question a dense gig schedule booked through Pixies material in 22 years. Francis joked, “It wasn’t easy to do, convincing his mates to continue. their sanity. Summer 2014—a 33-date U.S. jaunt The Pixies are currently without a record especially when there are forensic fans The fact that studio time was already First there was the news in June 2013 featuring shows in Newark, NJ, Port label; therefore, they call their own shots looking at your Instagram photos, studying booked added even more incentive to that founding bassist Kim Deal had Chester, NY and Philadelphia will be and have made the EPs available only them for any type of clues to where you carry on. decided to leave the group. followed by a headlining run of overseas through their website, by download or are.” “We had to move ahead and it seemed A mere two weeks later, the band festivals such as Lollapalooza Brazil and on limited-edition vinyl. Using a cloak- For the covert sessions, the band like the perfect environment to do it,” said surprised fans with the release of “Bagboy,” Primavera Sound. and-dagger promotional strategy, all new convened in a studio secluded in the Lovering. the first new Pixies song in a decade, Like Shattuck before her, Lenchantin music has been posted suddenly on the idyllic Wales countryside, joined by The three remaining Pixies even mulled followed by the four-song EP-1 in has accepted the challenge of filling in website, without prior notice through the longtime producer Gil Norton, who also the possibility of continuing under a September. for the incredibly popular Deal, who cast press. served at the helm for Doolittle , Bossanova different name, an idea that they quickly After recruiting Muffs leader Kim a long shadow within the band. Lovering Like Radiohead before them, who have and Trompe Le Monde . thought better of. Shattuck to handle bass duties, the Pixies acknowledged that in the minds of Pixies released albums with little advance Lovering remarked, “I’ve always referred “Even if we used a different band name, played a handful of triumphant, sold-out fans, Deal will never fully be eclipsed, warning and experimented with pay- to Gil as the ‘fifth Pixie.’” it would still sound like Pixies,” remarked shows in Los Angeles and New York City, and it isn’t the group’s intention to do so. what-you-like downloads, the Pixies are Norton’s familiar presence helped ease Santiago. followed by a series of gigs in Europe. “Basically, nobody’s going to replace helping to change the script on how music the stress involved with returning to Rather than sulk or fret about the future, The band abruptly parted ways with Kim Deal,” he said. “We know that. But is marketed. the studio for the first time in nearly 10 the guys immediately put their noses Shattuck immediately after the European we’re just having fun playing with different And the group’s loyal fans have years—and the band would certainly get to the grindstone and continued working tour, a move that stunned fans and bassists recently. Paz is the next step responded. When “Bagboy” was made a heaping dose of stress soon after in the studio, bringing in Simon “Ding” seemed oddly timed since more gigs and we’re pretty excited about it.” available on iTunes last summer, it recording began. Archer (PJ Harvey/The Fall) to complete were booked right after the holiday season. After fielding the same lineup since generated more than 15,000 paid Though Deal was present when bass tracks. In December, it was announced that inception, the Pixies have endured a bit downloads, even though the track was sessions first commenced, she abruptly For a more suitable post-studio Paz Lenchantin, a talented veteran of of a whirlwind in recent months thanks available for free on the band’s website. informed her bandmates one morning replacement, there was never any doubt acts such as A Perfect Circle, Zwan and to the revolving door of bass players. Not bad for a group whose initial existence that she was leaving the Pixies. Despite that the group would seek out another The Entrance Band, would join the group “All you can really do is try it out with predated the rise of the internet. the initial shock, the three guys insisted female bassist to handle Deal’s vocal for upcoming tours in North America, someone and see how it goes,” said In today’s Twitter-centric, instant-info that they didn’t attempt to change Deal’s parts, a bedrock of the Pixies sound. South America and Europe. Francis. “This is a new situation for us. world, it seems nearly impossible to keep mind. “Our harmony vocals are meant to be If that wasn’t enough activity, the band We don’t have it all mapped out.” a secret, but somehow the Pixies are “She had already booked her flight to female,” explained Santiago. “It’s got that unveiled four additional new songs on Though Lenchantin has thus far only managing to pull it off, only revealing leave the next day,” said Santiago. “To sweetness attached to it, to juxtapose Jan. 3 with the release of EP-2. been designated as the “touring bassist,” information and new music when they me, it was over. Her mind was made up.” with the angst of Black Francis.” Never a dull moment when the Pixies Santiago put in his vote for her to be more choose to. In the three days that followed, and “That’s definitely a dynamic we’re trying are involved. than a temporary bandmate. “I like the surprises that we’ve been over several Welsh beers, Francis, to maintain,” Francis agreed. Though it’s been an eventful time, “Personally, I’m hoping Paz sticks able to throw out there—that’s the magical Lovering and Santiago discussed what Though Deal’s bombshell THE PIXIES WILL PERFORM AT THE CAPITOL THEATRE IN PORT CHESTER, NY ON JAN. 19, NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN NEWARK, NJ ON JAN. 21, AND AT ELECTRIC FACTORY IN PHILADELPHIA ON JAN. 24. EP-2 IS AVAILABLE NOW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO PIXIESMUSIC.COM. 8 ARTS WEEKLY JANUARY 15, 2014 www.theaquarian.com “Presenting fans with new music for the first time in what seemed like forever was a daunting prospect for the band, given its legendary status in the alternative rock community. Talk about pressure.” announcement could have blindsided her former classic sound, while breathing new life into the group’s bandmates, Lovering said he’s come to expect a existence. certain amount of drama within his group. On EP-2 , “Blue-Eyed Hexe” is a bare-knuckle, riff- “There’s always something that goes on with driven rock song with a driving cowbell that recalls the Pixies,” he laughed. “Even before I flew to Wales, the Pixies track “U-Mass,” if it were covered by AC/DC. in the back of mind, I’m thinking, ‘Something is gonna The tune also boasts some ear-shredding Francis happen.’” screams straight out of the Pixies’ heyday. Presenting fans with new music for the first time “Magdalena” conjures a unique soundscape, as in what seemed like forever was a daunting prospect Santiago’s use of a Moog guitar adds a spacey, for the band, given its legendary status in the alternative futuristic vibe to an otherwise blues-tinged affair. rock community. Talk about pressure. “I think we do have some blues rock in us, whether “We had a legacy going and didn’t want to screw people want to admit that or not,” commented Francis. things up,” stated Lovering. “Our filter is strong enough that it usually comes out While the Pixies had discussed making a new a little quirkier than that, but if you listen to a song album for several years, the idea was often met with like ‘Cactus,’ or even ‘Vamos,’ there’s just a little hint ambivalence within the group and ultimately fell of blues in there.” on the back burner.