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the swimmer
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1602 Posts |
 Posted - 04/02/2003 : 08:31:18
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I hear a lot in articles and what not about the fact that the current tour is being sold out left and right and the tickets and show are the most hotly anticipated gigs in a while and blah blah blah...
BUT
It is always insinuated that the reason is because of what Frank Black aka Black Francis did with the Pixies.
Well, has it ever occured to any of these people that his shows lately are doing this well because of the albums he is producing now and the word of mouth about the live shows are creating an overwhelming "buzz" if you will and people all over the place know that they will get some solid rock and roll from amazingly talented players when they do get these "hot" tickets?
I would think with the proliferation of talk on the internet and sites such as this one, that THIS plays a more important role than aging hipsters who haven't listened to the Pixies since Doolittle?
Granted, the popularity of that album may be higher now than it ever was, but don't you think that the work they have done touring and releasing, touring and releasing these past few years are now starting to pay off and synchronistically, the band is tighter and more ass-kicking then they have ever been?
Discuss..... |
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ramona
"FB Quote Mistress"
USA
3988 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2003 : 09:03:25
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quote:
Originally posted by the swimmer
but don't you think that the work they have done touring and releasing, touring and releasing these past few years are now starting to pay off and synchronistically, the band is tighter and more ass-kicking then they have ever been?
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thePLASTIC
- FB Fan -
11 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2003 : 13:34:10
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i think what you have said is true. i know that the show in Indianapolis sold out simply because of the fact that he's never played here before. i think this tour is also so popular because a large portion of his setlists include Pixies songs. this was not the case when he was touring for cult of ray or even pistolero.
-Chris
The Brand Plastic
www.thebrandplastic.com |
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Omer
= Cult of Ray =
275 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2003 : 16:17:54
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| Although ofcourse FB and the Cs kick major, major ass, I still think most people go there for the Pixies songs. Although there usually is a group of fantatic FB fans, as well as some people who are familiar with the earlier FB stuff inly (usually 'Los Angeles', 'Headache' and sometimes 'Men in Black') |
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Itchload
= Cult of Ray =
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2003 : 17:31:40
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| Yeah, I mean, Frank Black is basically a legend, like Lou Reed. People will go to a Lou Reed show even if they haven't bought a Lou Reed album since the '70s. It also helps that The Catholics are so awesome live. I brought a friend who only had Doolittle, he's not a major CD collector, just wanted to see Frank Black and in his words, he "enjoyed every damn minute of it". I mean, Frank has a ton of albums out, and very few people love an artist's whole career (save for the hardcore fans). Frank's playing stuff from his whole career, so everyone's happy (the people who love his Catholics, his Pixies, his early solo, ext). |
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the swimmer
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1602 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2003 : 18:00:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Itchload
Frank's playing stuff from his whole career, so everyone's happy (the people who love his Catholics, his Pixies, his early solo, ext).
Excellent point.
"Winter blows through my coat"
the what four http://www.mp3.com/phelan |
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Steak n Sabre
* Dog in the Sand *
Uzbekistan
1013 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2003 : 11:59:51
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| Once you're in a group that has success, you'll always be known as "ex-......." Thats just the music industry's version of Brand Recognition. In FB's case, I think he doing a great job of featuring his current stuff while mixing in fresh versions of older faves. 5 years ago, folks were yelling out for Pixies songs at shows. Now they are yelling out for Catholics material. And that, my friends, is a beautiful thing..... |
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Radcliffe
- FB Fan -
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2003 : 14:48:39
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| It has always seemed to me that people that actually listen to Frank Black with or without The Catholics like him more on his own than when he was in The Pixies. Its the can't leave the 80's people, and the ones that are more prone to the crap on the radio who have just gotten into his music that seem to shun his new stuff. I don't know if anyone else is like me, and this might come out sounding really weird, but I never like a Frank Black album the first time I hear it. I have come to understand this, and I play it again immediately after I listen to it the first time. Every time I listen to it, I love it more. After about the 5th time listening to it, I can't listen to anything else for at least a month. This has been consistent for me since his first solo album. So I guess what I am saying for at least myself, is that it takes more effort to get into Frank than any other band that I ever have listened to. Its almost like his musical genius is too much for my fragile little mind to comprehend at first. I have always thought that this is why he isn’t huge, the fact that his music is so complex that the normal person really isn’t going to invest enough effort into his material to really appreciate it. The Pixies on the other hand have his charisma without all of the depth that he has grown into in his solo career. |
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the swimmer
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1602 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2003 : 15:23:10
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| ANOTHER excellent point. |
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Bartholomew
= Cult of Ray =
USA
344 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2003 : 08:44:03
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I agree that the difference in crowd size the last couple tours is "buzz". Buzz about how great the live show is, AND buzz about how the big man's playing Pixie songs -- in that order. This is a very cool development, because for a while there, it was definitely in the reverse. People would go ape-shit every time a Pixie song would play and talk during Frank's solo stuff. Don't no how many times I wanted to punch one of the offenders right in his sinning face. Now, it's much more about his solo stuff. The crowd going nuts hearing the opening to Bullet. Course there's still a louder roar for LA and Headache and certain Pixie songs, but the disparity is much less. And (I believe) it's mainly because of the power of their live shows. Frankie and the boys are converting them. One by one, show after show, those old (and new) Pixie heads are stepping out of the past (however tentatively) and joining us here in present 2003. And it's about fucking time. Makes you wonder if these people so hesitant to move forward and embrace change wear the same underwear from 1989.
Can I get a witness? |
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the swimmer
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1602 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2003 : 09:03:45
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HALLELUJAH!!!! Preach it Brother Bartholemew!!!
"Winter blows through my coat"
the what four http://www.mp3.com/phelan |
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frankblackphx
= Cult of Ray =
USA
287 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2003 : 13:03:18
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A great point Radcliffe. That is exactly how I am with Frank's music. People are starting to wise up to Frank's Solo material but I do think the majority of the people are still there for The Pixies tunes.
I got me so down I got me a headache. |
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NimrodsSon
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1938 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2003 : 13:23:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Radcliffe
. I don't know if anyone else is like me, and this might come out sounding really weird, but I never like a Frank Black album the first time I hear it. I have come to understand this, and I play it again immediately after I listen to it the first time. Every time I listen to it, I love it more. After about the 5th time listening to it, I can't listen to anything else for at least a month.
That's exactly how I am except i do like it the first time I hear it but I like it better every time. I remember the first pixies album I got about a year ago when I was just the "teanager of the year" pretty much because the only reason I got it was because I liked Nirvana (who I don't even like at all now). Anyways it was Doolittle and the first time I listened to it i couldn't stand it but I kind-of forced myself to like it because I liked Nirvana so much back then. After about a week I put it up and didn't listen to it for a while, but then a couple of months later I listened to it again and was just blown away and they soon became my favorite band. Now it doesn't really seem like whole albums that I feel that way about but mostly just songs, like the 1st time I heard I Gotta Move I didn't like it but now I love it and also the same thing for 1826. |
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Bartholomew
= Cult of Ray =
USA
344 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2003 : 08:12:00
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quote:
Originally posted by the swimmer
HALLELUJAH!!!! Preach it Brother Bartholemew!!!
"Winter blows through my coat"
the what four http://www.mp3.com/phelan
Thanks, Swimmer. Boy that feels good! By the way, I remember you from a couple years back on that other message board (can't remember the name of it now, but twas a place with a bunch of message boards for a bunch of different artists. Keep on postin' on. |
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Stuart
- The Clopser -
China
2291 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2003 : 02:34:28
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Good points all round folks.....
Ive heard ex Pixies fans harping on that they wouldn't listen to Frank Blacks new stuff as he sold out when he split up the Pixies and decided to go solo..... thats gotta be the biggest bunch of shit that Ive heard since another mate of mind (and some of the British music media also) claimed that Kim Deal was the driving force behind the Pixies.
When I first saw Frank Black back in 2001, I was hoping that he wouldn't play any Pixies tunes, as I thought that he should only be playing those songs with the Pixies. But since hearing Gouge Away et al in the live sets Ive changed my mind. As Frank wrote all of the songs he should play whatever the fuck he likes.... I think most fans who go along to a FB&C gig appreciate his solo material equally to his Pixies material. I'm glad to hear that he's selling out shows as he deserves the recognition as a no bullshit musician who makes great records.
I think it was NME who claimed that Frank Black was trying unsuccessfully to get his name up there with the likes of Neil Young, and Lou Reed..... bullshit.... He's up there with them, and has been for a long time. I just hope he keeps churning out records as frequently as he's doing at the moment..... cos I'll always buy them regardless of the reviews.
International Air Guitar Hitman |
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the swimmer
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1602 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2003 : 09:22:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Stuart
Ive heard since another mate of mind (and some of the British music media also) claimed that Kim Deal was the driving force behind the Pixies.
Excuse me while I bwahaha for a moment....
BWAHAHAHAHAH BWAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA
Yes, I love the pixies....however NO BLACK FRANCIS, NO PIXIES
NADA, NOTHING, ZILCH
Frank's a skeleton man....the pixies were the skin. |
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greg
- FB Fan -
Canada
159 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2003 : 14:35:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Radcliffe
I don't know if anyone else is like me, and this might come out sounding really weird, but I never like a Frank Black album the first time I hear it. I have come to understand this, and I play it again immediately after I listen to it the first time. Every time I listen to it, I love it more. After about the 5th time listening to it, I can't listen to anything else for at least a month. This has been consistent for me since his first solo album. So I guess what I am saying for at least myself, is that it takes more effort to get into Frank than any other band that I ever have listened to. I have always thought that this is why he isn’t huge, the fact that his music is so complex that the normal person really isn’t going to invest enough effort into his material to really appreciate it. The Pixies on the other hand have his charisma without all of the depth that he has grown into in his solo career.
Very well said indeed! I enjoy spending time fostering an understanding of Franks material. It is a wonderful thing to have a musician/artist with that kind of depth. |
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greg
- FB Fan -
Canada
159 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2003 : 14:53:21
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quote:
Originally posted by Stuart
Good points all round folks.....
As Frank wrote all of the songs he should play whatever the fuck he likes.... I think most fans who go along to a FB&C gig appreciate his solo material equally to his Pixies material. I'm glad to hear that he's selling out shows as he deserves the recognition as a no bullshit musician who makes great records.
Now here is another great post. Once again extremely well said. I am and will remain happy too see Frank Black play anthing he has a mind too. I have also mentioned that not only do we get a great musician with Frank, we also get a fantastic band playing with him. Also, where else in this age of manufactured music(I use the word music with a disgusted scowl on my face) do you get too go to a show, enjoy yourself and then get too meet the man and his band??
I am a little bit older than the average F.B.and the C fan I suspect, and it was through the pixies that I came to have Frank Black become a bright spot in my life. Never having a chance too see the Pixies perform anywhere near me it is a great pleasure too hear these songs as well.
I have listened to all of Franks stuff and I just really, really like it all. 'Nuff Said.
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