at Triple Door

The artist formerly known as Black Francis then Frank Black and now Black Francis recently made a stop at the most gracious venue in all of Seattle. Actually, I was worried that I'd be too comfortable in my cush booth seat and refreshing climate controlled room and therefore, unable to fully bask in all that is dark, confrontational, and sinister in my long beloved Sir Black.

As I sipped on my fancy infused cocktail(s) and admired my table of spiffed up friends around the beautifully (and extremely flatteringly) lit table, I wondered if this could possibly compare to the first time I heard Black Francis (then Frank Black) break into "Wave of Mutilation" two feet from my squashed-up-front self at the Showbox. It turned out to be one of those bliss-filled moments I have cemented in my memory as one of the few times I thought I would faint from delirious euphoria. Tonight, as I looked around, the crowd was all calm, cool and collected (as well as orderly and well-dressed). How could the communal level excitement possibly peak to the level deserving of "Holiday Song" and "Where Is My Mind?".

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I am sure I'm not the only one who has set every alarm clock in her home to go off at 10a on Saturday, which is when tickets go on sale for the two Pixies dates at the Paramount (the all ages shows take place November 12 and 13).

But the nice thing about being in Seattle this weekend (besides the temperatures in the 90s), is that we get a shot of Black Francis live and in person this Sunday night (August 2) in the lovely AIR CONDITIONED Triple Door.

Since finding out that Mr. Francis is playing Boise, ID with Doug Martsch, I'm wondering if there will be any surprise Seattle friends taking the stage with him for a song? Hmm... I bet Kurt Bloch would be a great side kick for "Where Is My Mind." What other pairings would float your cruise boat?

This isn't a duet, but it is the video for the wonderful (easy to sing along to) song "I Sent Away" from SVN FNGRS. He's so cute in a hoodie!

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I know I'm not the only imaginary that is getting excited for Black Francis' show at the Triple Door next month and I'm trying to fit in time to see Grand Duchy (Frank Black's project with his wife) during my upcoming weekend trip to Chicago in less than two weeks, but now I have another item to add to the calendar. Pixies are playing their brilliant album Doolittle from beginning to end on a tour, and that tour will include a stop in Seattle.

Spin reports:

Frontman Frank Black tells SPIN.com that the Boston-born quartet will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their groundbreaking release, Doolittle, by playing the album in its entirety in Oakland, Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Boston, Washington DC, New York City, and "maybe Montreal" this fall.

There are no dates/places set yet, but I'll post it here when there are.

Just last weekend I was interviewing Art Brut's Eddie Argos and we were talking about the band working with Pixies frontman Frank Black, who produced Art Brut's excellent album Art Brut vs. Satan. In the interview, Argos recommended I check out Black's project with his wife, Grand Duchy, who just put out their debut record earlier in the year.

Now Grand Duchy is going on tour, with some dates of Grand Duchy and others are for Black Francis, the name Black used when he was in Pixies and released a few solo records under. This tour will include a stop at the Triple Door on August 2 and will be a Black Francis show.

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NME is reporting that there will be NO new Pixies album. Kim Deal apparently sees no need for new recorded Pixies material, and Black Francis/Frank Black says that's that.

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Don't get me wrong. I still look forward to Frank Black coming back and I am still going to go in there with the giddy excitement. But, next time I'll be better hydrated.

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