Formed in Boston, US in 1986, the band was formed by Charles Thompson (vocals, guitar), later changing his name to Black Francis, alongside Joey Santiago (lead guitar), David Lovering (drums) and Kim Deal (bass). After playing at various local venues, the Pixies gained a support slot for Throwing Muses, which attracted the attention of producer Gary Smith. Offering to record the band, the result was an 18-song demo, "The Purple Tape," which impressed Ivo Watts of the UK label, 4AD, with Pixies soon joining their roster.
Their debut album, "Surfer Rosa," was released in 1988, featuring the engineering talents of Steve Albini, who had helped pioneer the abrasive sound which set the standard for alternative rock subsequently in his band, Big Black. The Pixies' debut found critical acclaim across the board, gaining significant airplay and soon resulting in a record deal with Elektra Records.
Retunring to the studio, this time with Gil Norton as producer, the band created what was to be their classic album. Released in 1989, Doolittle favored a cleaner, pop-tinged sound, finding several Top Ten hits in the process, particularly finding success in Britain. After extensive touring, the band decided to take a break in 1990, hoping to replenish the band's enthusiasm.
Following solo escapades by Black Francis, they returned to the studio in 1991 for their third release, "Bossanova," which garnered mixed reviews, favoring a surf rock sound. Nonetheless, the album faired well in the charts, prompting further successful tours and festival appearances. Returning to a loud rock sound as to their earlier efforts, their fourth record, "Trompe le Monde" again found praise, resulting in further international tours before another hiatus ensued.
Black Francis, just as he was about to release his solo debut, announced that the band had disbanded, prior to his band member's knowledge of this. The members of the Pixies continued with their various other projects to moderate success, whilst still being big names in the indie rock scene. Several re-issues and archival recordings were released during the late '90s and early '00s, continuing to maintain the band's reputation and popularity, despite the hiatus.
It was not until 2003 that hopes for a Pixies reunion surfaced, reuniting in a series of tours in the US in 2004. A live DVD soon followed to much anticipation, with the band continuing to tour intermittently throughout the rest of the decade. Yet in 2013, new music arrived, self-releasing "EP1" in July that year. Two further EPs were released, with these new recordings later compiled as the album, "Indie Cindy," in April 2014.
All the band members Charity Rose Tielen, Chris Zasche, Kenny Hensley, Tyler Wilson, Josiah Johnson and Jonathan Russell met after a series of open mic nights in a pub in Seattle. The band name, as explained by Johnson is based on the concept that “your head is telling you to be stable and find a good job, you know in your heart that this [the band] is what you're supposed to do even if it's crazy.”
The band spent most of their formulative years touring around the Northwest region of the United States, and released their first self-titled album in 2010, and then was re-released when they signed with Sub Pop Records in 2011. Having gained a lot of popularity, the band toured the United States, as well as Europe as the supporting act for various other bands such as Vampire Weekend, Dr. Dog, Iron and Wine and Death Cab For Cutie. They even made their debut television appearance on Conan at the end of 2011.
The band’s music was also featured on various, widely popular television shows. “Rivers and Roads” was used for both Chuck as well as How I Met Your Mother, and “Down In The Valley” was used for the British television show, “Beaver Falls.” Following the success of the first album, they released their sophomore album, “Let’s Be Still” in October 2013, which was entirely produced by all members of the band with the help of Shawn Simmons.
Although the band didn't become active until 2012, Paul Janeway and Jesse Phillips actually met in the mid-2000s while both being part of another musical project. The pair reunited in 2012 in Ol' Elegante Studios in Birmingham, AL and began work on a new collaboration that would go on to be known as St. Paul and the Broken Bones. Through quite an organic movement, the two began working around Janeway's vocals before realising that the sounds created were all very soulful. After being joined by Browan Lollar, they recorded their first EP 'Greetings from St. Paul and The Broken Bones' before working out their live arrangements or gigging to crowds.
After a positive response the band quickly went on to begin recording sessions for the debut album 'Half the City'. It was at this time that keyboard player Al Gamble joined the operation and has remained a key element ever since. The production side was handled by Ben Tanner of Alabama Shakes fame.
The preceding critique of 'Half the City' was very positive and this strong recommendation along with a number of high profile television features and performances led onto good chart success. The debut album reached #3 on iTunes Top Albums charts and #56 on Billboard 200 charts. They supported the release with a worldwide tour, taking their sound to Europe where their music is lesser known.
The Pixies are just as relevant now as they were when they first started.
Black Francis is still the driving force of yesteryear and is supported by Joey Santiago (guitar), David Lovering (drums) and Paz Lenchantin (who replaced Kim Shattuck and in tun Kim Deal). While Black Francis is the focal point of any Pixies concert, the underpinning contributions of the other three are critical. This was always the case in the late 1990s and early 2000s when Black Francis was a solo artist.
Despite some good tunes he was never the same live without Joey and David to drive the sound. They are a powerful quartet with a tremendous back catalogue. The Pixies don't know how to deliver a bad concert. So go and see them and enjoy yourself.
Seeing The Head and the Heart live at New York’s Celebrate Brooklyn! absolutely changed my life.
I must have talked about that show for weeks afterwards, gushing to anyone who would listen, swearing I’d never seen anything like it—and, to this day, I still haven’t. The band is made up of six multi-talented vocalists and instrumentalists, all switching back and forth between roles for each different song. Just as I thought the violinist was just a violinist, she broke out into a roaring, breathtaking vocal solo—and so on and so forth. Though each band member is incredibly talented in their own right, it is the chemistry between the six of them that makes the group unlike any other. In a completely unplanned fit of enthusiasm during their heartbreaking “Rivers and Roads,” all six members went airborne all at once, coming off the ground just slightly, no longer able to contain the power that was driving them to perform. I have never seen anything like it, before or since. Every time The Head and the Heart performs, they make you feel like you are first falling in love, and exactly how they’ve managed to bottle this feeling, I’ll never know. The show wrapped with band member Josiah’s solo acoustic performance of “Honey Come Home,” his gentle, gravelly voice following fans out of the venue long after the performance was through.
I never knew this band existed until I saw them on CBS This Morning a few months ago. I fell in love! Looked at their website for a play schedule and found nothing close to DesMoines. THEN, lo & behold I received a heads up from Songkick that they were coming. I told about a dozen friends about them and we all went and THEY ROCKED THE HOUSE! I cant wait for their return! Thank you!
Leftover Salmon have created a solitary rare and completley indepedent sound that gathers influences from bluegrass and country, as well as ideas of thier own, creating this awesome genre they call 'Pollyethnic Cajun Slamgrass.' Now take this band and put them infront of a crowd and the crowd are left always smiling.
7 albums down and surely another to go, Leftover Salmon creation of this incrediblly unique genre makes their live performances memorable and extraordinary. Tremelo picking, 12 bar blues, from slow to fast, acoustic guitars and banjos- its a guessing game what the band are going to do live. It keeps you on your toes and tapping your toes.
Bluegrass is a powerful genre in itself, it allows people to really connect with a song but makes sure your always dancing or reaching out for the band. Leftover Salmon have taken the bluegrass and smacked its butt till its gone red-they've turned it into a naughty creature which they let loose live and its fantastic.
These guys are amazing!!! Each band member brings such a strong musical talent and I loved the free spirit flow of the whole show! Highly recommend seeing them live! Andy was awesome at connecting with the crowd! Keep rocking those bare feet dude!