Words by Audra Tracy | Photos by Jeremy Smith
Pixies and Modest Mouse kicked off their co-headlining tour with a stellar sold-out show on August 20 at the Stone Pony Summerstage in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The Sunday Funday began with a set from supporting act Cat Power, with fans pouring into the seaside venue at a steady pace.
At 7:00 on the dot, Modest Mouse emerged, standing before a pink sky as they opened with ‘Dramamine’. Pixelated stage lights dotted the backdrop of the setting sun, while frontman Isaac Brock and his crew gave Ocean Ave. a taste of their trademark Portland sound. Old favorites like ‘Lampshades on Fire’ and ‘Bukowski’ made appearances, in addition to songs from the band’s most recent release, 2021’s Golden Casket (‘F*ck Your Acid Trip’ and ‘Wooden Soldiers’).
The timeless radio hit ,’Float On’ soon followed, and it felt even more special when paired with an August ocean breeze. The crowd was all smiles, soaking it all up before set break.
Pixies took the stage after dark. Frontman Black Francis kept his sunglasses on. Billed as “seventy-five minutes of the band playing anything they want”, the alt-rock pioneers started strong with the Doolittle classic, ‘Gouge Away’. Fans of the band’s “loudquietloud” approach were treated to a twenty-five song set that included treasures like ‘Wave of Mutilation’, ‘Who’s More Sorry Now?’, ‘Here Comes Your Man’, ‘Caribou’, ‘Bone Machine’, and ‘Debaser’.
After delivering a knock-out performance, Pixies closed out the night with their most well-known anthem. Featured in Fight Club, The Leftovers, and forever embedded in our angst-ridden hearts, ‘Where Is My Mind?’ sent fans home, sunburnt and starry-eyed…
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TheWaster.com | Asbury Park
8.21.23
