If you're in L.A.

[black francis]

Farewell my friends. I am leaving for a better place.

[black francis]

Oh wait you have me for a few more minutes.

[black francis]

Okay now I'm leaving. To Valhalla.

[black francis]

Pixies w/ Flea

[black francis]

Black Francis w/ David J and Kevin Haskins

[black francis]

Black Francis w/ Tenacious D

[black francis]

Pixies w/ Weird Al Yankovic

[Kounelaki]

Thanks. Do you have any photos where you can see Kevin Haskins?

[black francis]

Last night was such a great show. The musicians were all having a good time, it was for a good cause.

Me and the missus got there about 6:45 and they let us in around 7:45. The show started at 8:00 with the real BF doing a quick Pixies song solo before the first band started. They were called the 88 and I wasn't familiar with them but they were pretty good energy wise and their second and last song rocked. However I never trust a band whose keyboardist is the most animated member. He reminded me of a muppet with all the banging away he did.

The second band was Grand Duchy BF's band with his wife. As much as I liked their album I was a bit skeptical of his wife's involvement. My feeling on the matter is she hasn't paid her rock and roll dues and marrying a rock god shouldn't get you in a band. My skepticism was rewarded when she walks out and immediately asks the sound crew "Can you turn up my bass?" It took all I had not to shout "your bass is fine!" The songs with BF singing rocked and are instant BF classics. Her voice can be good but she needs to put some work into it. She goes off key frequently. But still seeing BF on stage was great in itself and he was really into every song he played.

David J came up next with his touring band. The members consisted of a violinist, a stand up bass, a guy who plays the banjo, ukelele and the mandolin, a keyboardist and a traditional drummer. He played "Jealous Guy" and the second song was a cover too but it really meant a lot to him. He really sang it passionately and it was a beautiful moment. BF joined the band and they did Monkey Gone to Heaven and a song that David J said was a traditional English ballad but I couldn't place it. Great stuff. David J looked like he hadn't aged, sounded fantastic and has charisma and charm to spare. The obvious respect he and BF share for each other was very obvious and they gave each other some good natured ribbing. Beautiful part of the evening. Loved it. The missus lit up when David J came on. Love and Rockets may be her favorite all time band. She maintains they were the greatest live band she ever saw and she's been to a few.

Some folk singer/songwriter type named Michael Penn played five songs. I normally hate that type of music and this didn't change anything.

Then Tenacious D came on and they were motherfucking HILARIOUS. Excellent stage presence, great songs and funny as fuck. BF joined them for a Pixies song "Oh My Golly" and Jack Black and KJ I think is his name did the "You fuckin' die!" bit from Surfer Rosa. Definitely a highlight of the show. Everyone in the crowd was laughing, the guys on stage were having fun. Funny shit.

If I remember correctly it was then BF with two guys he did some recent sessions with and they played songs from these sessions. This was the highlight for me. These songs were catchy, rough and tumble rock and roll. Dead Man's Curve is fantastic.

Then some band called okay go came on and played with bf. I forget the first Pixies song they did with BF but the second was a rowdy version of Debaser. Good energy.

Then the guys from She Wants Revenge came on and they did the best UK Surf version of Wave of Mutilation I have ever heard with BF. Fucking intense. Awesome.
BF left and they did "Love My Way" and it sounded fantastic too. I never liked them but they were a good live act.

Then BF came out with David J and Kevin Haskins and they performed "All In My Mind" and a FB solo song I can't remember right now. Haskins drumming never really impressed me but last night I loved it. He was so precise. Looked like a machine, like he couldn't make a mistake and he was pounding the drums. David J sounded great and prowled the stage. He is so fucking cool. The missus and I were in heaven at this point. Love and Rockets is one my first great bands and they hold a special spot in my heart.

BF did some early solo songs (he performed solo throughout the night) and then the Pixies (minus Kim Deal who was in London) and they ripped through an amazing, amazing, amazing set of songs. Lovering is a top five drummer in my book and Santiago man he's no Will but he's close. His guitar sound is what I would describe as a squall. He seems to play by feel like Will. After three songs they called in Kim from The Muffs to sing and play Bass and they did Tame and for me the highlight of the night VELOURIA!! I've seen FB/BF/Pixies over ten times and I have never , ever heard my favorite Pixies song live before. It was so rad and Santiago's guitar was so perfect at the end with his blasts like on the studio version. Then FB's wife comes on stage HISS!!! and they do Bone Machine and at the end she's all thank you. They did Levitate me which fucking rocked. I love that early classic. Then Weird Al comes on stage to do I Bleed which I love and he sang it really well. There was no joking about he was dead serious singing it. Then off he went and Flea comes on to play bass for a couple of songs and the final being Where Is My Mind. There was no encore but after five hours of music I don't know if I could have handled anymore.

They played from 8:30 and it lasted past 1:30 AM. I didn't get in bed till after 3:00 AM and I had to get up at 6:00 for work. It was a pretty special night for me and the wife and I'm not sure I can make tonight even though I have tickets. Getting old sucks.

My only complaints on the evening would be BF's wife. The mother and father were on stage explaining the struggles their child was facing and before they could go into any detail BF's wife jumps up and tells the crowd how happy she the event is taking place and taking credit for it. Then that's it. The parents at no time had a chance to tell us what is wrong with the little guy with the exception of telling us they have to fly to NY every six weeks to see a specialist. I wanted to hear more about their baby. When the show was finally over his wife tried to get up on stage and he turned her around and sent her off stage. Something about her didn't sit right with me or the wife. Maybe I feel threatened by her or something. I don't know.

Anyhoo I'm gonna take it easy here at work (would you expect anything less) and try and make tonights show.

[withahip]

Good review. Go tonight!

My skepticism was rewarded when she walks out and immediately asks the sound crew "Can you turn up my bass?" It took all I had not to shout "your bass is fine!"

She meant in the stage monitors?

Then BF came out with David J and Kevin Haskins and they performed "All In My Mind" and a FB solo song I can't remember right now. Haskins drumming never really impressed me but last night I loved it. He was so precise. Looked like a machine, like he couldn't make a mistake and he was pounding the drums.

That is how he always drums. Is it the live setting that changed your mind?

[black francis]

She asked the crowd a couple of times if we could hear her bass.

Kevin Haskins always seemed to drum coldly and precisely. Last night it was precise but with intensity.

[black francis]

Thanks. Do you have any photos where you can see Kevin Haskins?

I'll see if the wife took any. Unfortunately all we had were our camera phones and our angle for the drums wasn't so hot.

Both he and David J looked great though. Have aged very well. He was dressed in a a suit and tie and both had closely cropped hair.

[Kounelaki]

Thanks. I remember thinking that David J had aged really well when I saw Bauhaus in 2006 (?).

[black francis]

It was really cool, after the show David J came walking out of the venue guitar in hand. No entourage or anything and just quietly walked down the streets of L.A. at 2:00 AM. He must live near the venue. I should have taken a picture it was such a cool image but a couple of girls who chased him down said that while he was polite he asked that they not take his picture so I was glad I resisted the urge.

[black francis]

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