Jun 26

Jun 26 Review: Pixies + Franz Ferdinand + Bully at Rabbit Rabbit

Can you believe it's already been 20 years since the Pixies reunited?

On that initial 2003 tour, tickets to big venues sold out in a flash, sparking a frenzy among fans. Since then, the beloved Kim Deal has left the band, with Paz Lenchantin officially taking over bass duties in 2014. Though the group has released an additional four albums since then, they've failed to match the high standards set by their classic 1986-1993 era.

While I wasn't quite as excited for the Pixies reunion as I was almost two decades ago, as soon as they opened with "Cactus" at Rabbit Rabbit on June 17, the euphoria took hold of me just as potently. The group’s setlist drew heavily from timeless classics off of Doolittle and Come On Pilgrim, with the ecstatic crowd singing along to staples like "Debaser," "Gouge Away," "Here Comes Your Man," and "Hey." Newer songs, such as"The Lord Has Come Back Today" and "Haunted House," may not have elicited the same response, but they held up better than expected.

And while some headliners at Rabbit Rabbit have overstayed their welcome in the past, when Frank Black, Joey Santiago, David Lovering, and Lenchantin wrapped up the night with "Where Is My Mind?" and a cover of Neil Young’s "Winterlong," I could have easily watched them play for another hour.

Asheville not only got to witness one of the most important rock bands of all time play an impressive greatest hits set, but also experienced memorable performances from openers Bully and co-headliners Franz Ferdinand. Clocking in at just under 30 minutes, Bully's set was short but intense, with the Nashville-based project of Alicia Bognanno delivering invigorating punk-influenced rock off of their latest album Lucky For You. With the emotional angst and distorted guitars evoking Pixies’ peers Throwing Muses, it was a great fit to start the evening.

Franz Ferdinand, possibly just as big a draw as the Pixies, played the middle of the three acts, delivering a set loaded with tracks off its 2004 debut self-titled album, including the smash hit "Take Me Out," which can still catch a crowd off guard with its unusual tempo shift. Delivering the disco-infused post-punk songs with an energetic stage presence, frontman Alex Kapranos and his bandmates charmed the audience straight through to the set-closing all-percussion jam on “This Fire.”

Representing three generations of indie rock, each act delivered exactly what the crowd wanted. And for that, I'm grateful.

(Photos by Jonny Leather)