ASBURY PARK REVIEW: The Pixies do much with ‘Doolittle’

ASBURY PARK, N.J. — The Pixies could sing from the dictionary and the band would probably sell out a venue and have quite a few heads banging along to their infectious beats. Thankfully, they strive for more than mere recitation in their artistic output.

On their recently kicked off Doolittle reboot tour, which pulled into Convention Hall in Asbury Park, N.J., on Friday, Oct. 28, the alt-rockers offered many great renditions of their classic tunes. Besides running through every track on Doolittle, their most popular album, they also offered rare B-sides and a few fan favorites as encores.

There weren’t too many solos during the show, and many of the songs sounded just like they do on the album. But that assessment doesn’t take into account the enthusiasm that pours over from the crowd at a Pixies show. Whether it’s “Debaser” or “Here Comes Your Man,” the audience members sing along, bob along and jump along to the lyrics that have proved memorable throughout the years.

If there had to be highlights from the Doolittle set, it would have to be “Tame,” which continues to showcase Frank Black’s unbelievable vocal range, and “Monkey Gone to Heaven,” the definition of a catchy tune. “La La Love You,” performed with a Beatles-esque simplicity by drummer Dave Lovering, was a nice respite from the heavier tracks.

“Debaser” was surprisingly subdued, while “Wave of Mutilation” wafted over the audience like noxious gas. “Gouge Way” was a perfect capstone to the main set, offering an entrancing exclamation point on the night.

The band performed in front of a dizzying back screen that broadcast carefully timed videos to accompany each song. Enormous ornament-looking balls, which changed color throughout the night, dangled above the performers.

For their first encore, The Pixies pulled out the best song of the night. “Into the White,” featuring Kim Deal’s simply effective singing, was coupled with billowing smoke that completely disguised the band. It was mysterious and frightening, which seemed apropos for the pre-Halloween concert.

The second encore featured “Nimrod’s Son” and “Caribou,” before the final song of the concert, “Where Is My Mind,” which the audience ate up with a spoon. It was a fitting conclusion to a one-hour-45-minute set that served as a perfect historical snapshot of an influential album and the creators who gave birth to its rhythms and lyrics.

Surfer Blood opened the night at 8 p.m., and The Pixies took the stage at 9:15 p.m. It was right before 11 p.m. when the crowds were unleashed once again on the cold boardwalk planks of Asbury Park. They walked to their cars, fulfilled with the spirit of a bygone alt-rock era.

• Setlist: Dancing the Manta Ray, Weird at My School, Bailey’s Walk, Manta Ray, Debaser, Tame, Wave of Mutilation, I Bleed, Here Comes Your Man, Dead, Monkey Gone to Heaven, Mr. Grieves, Crackity Jones, La La Love You, No. 13 Baby, There Goes My Gun, Hey, Silver and Gouge Away.

• Encore: Wave of Mutilation (surf edition), Into the White, Isla de Encanta, Nimrod’s Son, Caribou and Where Is My Mind?