The iconic alternative rock band the Pixies made their first stop ever in Tulsa after being together since 1986. Though the band took a hiatus in 1993 and did not reunite until 2004 with all the original members, the Pixies have proven they have a “cult” following with sold out shows across the board, one of them being right here at the Brady Theater.  After experiencing what I just saw; the simplest of words says it best……WOW.

The show opener was one of the oddest performances I have ever witnessed. To keep it clean for all to read, the “F Buttons” started the night off with two guys standing on a dark stage, each at a synthesizer. And that was it. They played techno music in the dark with a psychedelic laser show for about 35-40 minutes. Nothing was said at all until the end of their set when they introduced who they were. This is something that would probably go over well at a Rave Club or something similar in nature. And I have to say, there were a few here and there standing in front of their seats dancing a bit to the music. But for the most part, we all just sat there through that bizarre experience.  It seemed as if we had all jumped in a time machine and went back to 1986. Now that I know what this band is all about, it’s probably not all that bad. It just felt like something was about to happen; but nothing ever did.

When the Pixies were about to take the stage, everyone rose to their feet and starting screaming in anticipation of the show. Black Francis (lead singer) is vocally in a league of his own. He has an incredibly distinctive hollowing voice that grips you at your core and pulls you in; making you feel a part of the show. Francis also is a striking resemblance (at least from halfway across the room) to Andrew Zimmerman. The “Foodies” will know who that is.

The whole band was just oozing with energy as they started off with playing the “B- Side” tracks.  With the Brady Theater being nostalgic itself; being built in 1914, and with the movie screen behind the band playing such odd images, it reminded me a lot of turn of the century Freak Shows with the “Bearded Lady” and Fire-eating Man type stuff.  There were also these large balls hanging from the ceiling that would change color and move up and down. Along with the laser lights again, it was quite a production.

 The Pixies went on to play the entire “Doolittle” album that was released in 1989. This has been a continuation of their 20 year reunion of that record. The crowd was amazing; singing along to every song, they were just as energetic as the band was which seemed to really surprise the Pixies. It was evident they were taken aback by the adoring fans.
Some of the songs that really seemed to stand out were “Here Comes Your Man”, “Monkey Gone to Heaven”, “Crackity Jones” and “Hey”.  Honestly, they all seemed to stand out because every song was played like it was there last. The Pixies gave a stellar performance throughout the entire night.

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Photos by: Kevin Pyle

As we were waiting for the encore, everyone was chanting in unison; Pixies! Pixies! They returned moments later to play two songs. Kim Deal (bass guitar and vocals) ended with signing “Into the White”. People were going nuts during that song! As the lights did not come back on, the crowd knew they were in store for more and started with the chant once again. The Pixies gave their fans all they had with 5 more songs. They ended the night with “Gigantic” to which concert goer, Aaron Stephenson said “that was how probably every person felt” after that amazing show.

The Pixies still got it. Apparently they are stuck in some kind of time warp, because they do sound just as good now if not better than they did 20 years ago. If you have never given the Pixies a listen, do yourself the favor…..you will walk away a fan.

RUSH; Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart will bring their "Time Machine Tour" to the BOK Center tomorrow; Tuesday, September 21, 2010.  Billed as an evening with Rush, they will perform their classic tunes as well as reveal some new music, and for the first time ever, feature their  Moving Pictures album live in its entirety.

Released in 1981, Moving Pictures was their most successful album, certified four-times Platinum and features some of Rush’s most well known songs and perennial radio favorites Tom Sawyer, Limelight and the Grammy-nominated instrumental YYZ.

The band is currently working on it’s 20th studio album and in addition to their classics plan to showcase a few new tunes live during this tour.

With a cameo in the hit comedy I Love You, Man, a recently unveiled star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the release of an award-winning documentary about their history, Beyond a Lighted Stage, Rush has been caught in the camera eye a lot lately. After playing together for nearly 40 years, the famed Canadian power trio is making a trip back into the public consciousness.

Rush has always been a crowd pleaser and this show will no doubt meet and surpass all expectation.  Rumor has it that "The Holy Triumvirate" will be playing new music and some classics, then taking a short intermission and coming back to the stage to showcase Moving Pictures.  It will be like getting a double dose of them that would make Peter Klavin and Sydney Fife squeal like little school girls.

Do not miss this show, you will hate yourself in the morning, and the day after that, and the day after…well you get the point.

Rush

Tuesday, September 10, 2010 at BOK Center

Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 8:00 pm

Ticket Info

Comedian Lewis Black took to the stage Friday night and had the crowd in tears most of the night.  Black, best known for his take on politics and life as he sees it shared his hour and a half set at Osage Million Dollar Elm Event Center and did not disappoint the packed auditorium. 

With material ranging from the places he has been recently to opening for Vince Gill to his generation leaving their mark on society, he mixed hilarious stories with his trademark mental breakdown moments and never missed a beat.  Black even had a showdown with a couple of moths that were buzzing around his head for most of the show.

Lewis manages to stay relevant and current even with a constant touring schedule.  He is one of those rare comics that has a flare to go from the mundane to the issues in the forefront of American culture and back again and never lose his crowd.  He can literally talk about anything and make it funny.

Lewis Black joked about his being Jewish and him playing a casino on Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement.  That this was the one day that God would forgive all their sins and write their name in the Book of Life.  He went on is his typical rant, "one day, we only get one day to get rid of all this sh*$, don’t you think we could stretch this out for a week!"  Then quickly shifted into his attack on different holidays that he takes issue with.  "Valentines Day is a joke.  Why do we have this in February?  I just gave you a bunch of crap 6 weeks ago at Christmas and now you want more crap! This holiday should be moved out of February to a warmer time of year, since parts of the country are so cold you can’t feel you ba*&$ anyway.  If you want to have a romantic holiday, those may come in handy!"  His rip on his hatred of Labor day was classic, having been out of school now for years, but still feeling the pressure around Labor day to get his binders and folders and pencils ready to go back to school. 

His story about opening for Vince Gill in St. Louis was another that had us crying with laughter.  "Here is a guy who is good looking, can sing like a bird, and is funny.  I am screwed!"  Then tells of Gill bringing his wife, Amy Grant onstage with an embrace and a kiss and her singing  like an angel.  "Here is all this love, and happiness, and positive attitude that dripped over the crowd like honey.  They sing and and laugh and then float offstage on the wings of angels.  Then, okay here is Lewis Black!"  It was hilarious to see his facial expression and get his take on the direct contrast that this evening was about to take.

Black’s political rant was surprisingly short, but to the point and poignant.  He spoke of how each political party has stated that they will be the ones to protect us from terrorism, that they have teams of people who are thinking up every possible scenario and yet, "a bomber boarded a plane on Christmas a couple years back, with a bomb wrapped around his [penis] and was going to blow up Detroit.  There is no way that anyone but a terrorist could have dreamed that one up!"

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Photos by: Kevin Pyle

He closed with talking about how his generation was the greatest ever at hanging out.  That they had managed to do absolutely nothing but cause problems in their time on Earth and needed to find a way to leave a legacy to be spoken of after they were gone.  "We need to legalize pot!"  He went into his story about how in his younger days he partook of the herb and how a friend of his offered it to him and said, "it has gotten better."  Lewis then added, " I took a puff and I lost my feet, I felt like me feet had disappeared."  He went on to add that the economy was nonexistent and there was a need to generate income, legalizing it was a way to pump money into the struggling economy and that it was something that could be made in the USA.

The night overall was one of thought and hilarious stand up that truly must be seen and heard to appreciate.  I am sure I have not done him the justice that he deserves.  Lewis Black, an incredibly funny, everyman that you don’t want to miss.