Never saw the Pixies, should have seen them when they got back together in 2004, now I’ll have to settle for DVD I guess. With that remorse in hand I quickly jumped at the opportunity to see Frank Black at the High Noon Saloon last night. The minute Frank appeared on stage I was already confused. I expected him to be angry and not talkative. Instead he was smiling and conversing with fans in the front row. I also expected him to be much larger in physical appearance than he actually was. I guess that’s what happens when your only connection is through magazine photos and the lawn section of Alpine Valley two nights in a row when he and his band, The Catholics opened for Pearl Jam in 1998. So, while I definitely didn’t peg Frank Black the person and appearance to be correct, I was correct in my assumption that his live performance would be unforgettable.

Playing just five minutes shy of two hours and without an encore, Black provided a blistering performance that will be forever remembered by those in attendance. The three musicians backed him up nicely as he played tracks off his previous albums as well as a handful of songs off his latest and fantastic double album Fast Man Raider Man. I also really enjoyed the song selection from last years Honeycomb as well.

Two instances stand out for me during this performance. First, the rousing and energetic version of “666″ gets the award for best single moment of the show. Second, we were treated to the song “I’m Not Dead (I’m In Pittsburgh)” twice during last night’s performance. The first time during opener Reid Paley’s impressive opening set, who co-wrote the song with Black and appears on the aforementioned Fast Man Raider Man, and again later when Frank Black and company gave it their own touch.

Frank has made it pretty clear that there won’t be a Pixies reunion anytime soon, and I guess I’m ok with that as long as he comes back to town and plays like he did last night.

Unfortunately, I must add that the crowd at the High Noon Saloon was once again disrupted by two drunken individuals who single handedly disrupted the majority of people’s concert experience around them. As much as I hate to see security at places like this, the amount of disruption and drunkenness certainly and sadly warrants its need to be addressed.

Myspace: Reid Paley
Myspace: Frank Black
Related: Frank Black WOXY Lounge Acts Performance