ASBURY PARK, NJ – The Stone Pony Summer Stage has a capacity of 4,500. However, when there’s a sold-out show, fans without a ticket often congregate at one of the bars around the venue or hang out on the boardwalk.
Well, when the Pixies and Modest Mouse came to town, not only were the bars and boardwalk packed with fans, but throngs of onlookers poured out onto First Ave just to try and catch a glimpse of the action.
The Pixies have been playing since 1986, when they were formed in Boston, Massachusetts by Black Francis, Joey Santiago, David Lovering and Kim Deal. However, bassist Kim Deal left the band in 2013, and was later permanently replaced in 2016 by Paz Lenchantin.
The group has been cited as inspiration by musical icons including Nirvana, The Strokes, David Bowie, Arcade Fire, and Kings of Leon among others. A notable mention came from Nirvana frontman, Kurt Cobain.
In an interview with Rolling Stone in January of 1994, talking on the conception of the grunge-rock anthem, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Cobain divulged the effort that he put forward to emulate the Pixies on the track.
"I was trying to write the ultimate pop song. I was basically trying to rip off the Pixies. I have to admit it,” Cobain exclaimed. “When I heard the Pixies for the first time, I connected with that band so heavily I should have been in that band—or at least in a Pixies cover band. We used their sense of dynamics, being soft and quiet and then loud and hard.”
So, there was no wonder why hundreds of people might want to stand on First Ave in Asbury Park, just to listen to the band that they feel the same connection to that Kurt Cobain did so many years ago.
Let me tell you, they did not disappoint.
The night started with Cat Power, kicking things off. Putting on a powerful performance to the scenic backdrop of a setting sun adjacent to the Asbury Park beach.
After which, things began to ramp up a little bit as Modest Mouse took the stage and put on an outstanding performance, rolling through all of their biggest hits, and spanning 15 songs.
The crowd particularly lost it during the bands later end of the setlist when the group played, “Float On,” “Night On The Sun,” and “Dashboard,” before closing out the set with “Styrofoam Boots/It’s All On Ice, Alright.” Setting up the scene of the Pixies to take the stage.
There was a restlessness amongst the crowd as the stage crew began setting the stage. The energy in the venue must have been sensed by the band because they opened the show with a vengeance.
Taking the stage in a thick smoke, before the lights came on and the foursome broke into the Doolittle track, “Gouge Away” to the welcoming invitation of thousands of screaming fans.
Pixies tore through their discography performing nine songs off their debut album Doolittle, four tracks off Surfer Rosa, four more songs off their newest album Doggerel, and the remaining eight songs of their 25 song setlist coming from a mix of covers and deep cuts off of their various other albums.
The night came to a beautiful conclusion when the band played their highly anticipated hit, “Where Is My Mind?”. Whether it be inside the venue, on the boardwalk, the beach, or in the streets, thousands sang in unison, ringing out the same question, “Where is my mind?”.
Touring 37 years after the bands inception, playing 25-song setlists, and not missing a single beat, the Pixies maintain their legacy and prominence, and continue to prove why they are an inspiration to so many within the music industry.
If you get the chance to catch a show, it’s an absolute must-see.
For tickets to an upcoming show or more information on all things Pixies, you can check out their website, www.pixiesmusic.com, or follow them on Instagram @pixiesofficial.