Two of the most important beloved bands of their era- ’80s and ’90s alt rock trailblazers Pixes and ’90s and ’00s indie rock fixture Modest Mouse– are set to bring their co-headlining tour to Ascend Amphitheater tonight, June 2, along with the one-and-only Cat Power, an absolutely stacked bill and one of the coolest rock tours of the summer. Any one of those artists is a must-see whenever they come to town, but all three together is truly essential, and you can still get tickets right here and read more about the lineup below!
PIXIES
For millennials, like myself, who came of age during the 11 year period where alt rock icons the Pixies had split up, from 1993 to 2004, or even for Gen Xers dialed in during their seminal, original run from 1986 to 1993, the band will always exist in two chapters, but I’m sure that to younger listeners and newcomers, who discovered the famed group in the 20 years since their 2004 reunion (meaning they’ve been back together much longer than their split or the initial run at this point), there’s less of a distinction- they’re simply a classic act continuing to tour and make music, releasing four late-period full-lengths over the last decade. Hailing from Boston, the band’s core lineup is made up of frontman Black Francis, drummer David Lovering, and guitarist Joey Santiago, with Kim Deal notably serving as bassist and co-vocalist until 2013 (new touring member Emma Richardson currently fills that role, replacing Paz Lenchantin). Though their first five albums mark perhaps one of the greatest discographies in alt, indie, and punk rock history, the Pixies were only modestly famous in the ’80s and early ’90s, somewhat ahead of their time, arriving as hair metal still ruled the land, but hugely influencing what would usurp it, with acts like Nirvana, Radiohead, the Smashing Pumpkins, and Weezer drawing huge influence from their sound. Following their split, and thanks to those aforementioned bands and the rise of grunge and alt rock, as well as cultural reclamation of their music through media reevaluation and placements like Fight Club, Pixies became more famous than ever in their absence, and, after finally returning in 2004, were met with more fervent popularity than ever. It would be a decade until they started making new music again, not long after Deal’s departure, but the new stuff has been great, as they continue to tour often with their fantastic live show, serving as torchbearers for an era of alt and indie rock that might not have ever existed without their influence.
MODEST MOUSE
Formed in 1993 in Washington, and now based in Portland, helmed by frontman and only constant member Isaac Brock, Modest Mouse found mostly underground recognition throughout their early years, beloved for a quirky, off-kilter, and genre-bending indie and alternative sound. Though their third LP and major label debut The Moon & Antarctica, which arrived in 2000, drew near universal acclaim, and catapulted them to fame in the indie scene, landing them on the road with a number of exciting acts and breaking through to commercial success, it was 2004 followup Good News for People Who Like Bad News, propelled by ubiquitous breakout single “Float On,” which truly made Modest Mouse a massively famous household name, arriving at a time when indie and garage rock were having a huge cultural moment, rising up in prominence behind the pop punk of the early ’00s, as perhaps the last major mainstream moment for rock music, before it began to fade from dominance at the end of aughts. Recruiting Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr as a brief member of their ever-revolving lineup ahead of 2007’s We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, Modest Mouse continued to ride a wave of critical and commercial success for a few years, before slowing down around the turn of the 2010s, beginning a cycle of many years of teasing work on a new album and making the occasional festival stop, before kicking back into gear around 2015’s Strangers to Ourselves, and remaining incredibly active since (save for a pandemic pause). Recent years have marked a seventh album, The Golden Casket, in 2021, some major anniversaries for their prominent early work, and lot of time on the road (after rarely playing Music City their first 20 years, the band have played here close to ten times post-Strangers to Ourselves), settling into their legacy as one of indie rock’s all-time greats.
CAT POWER
Chan Marshall, better known as Cat Power, grew up in Atlanta playing in bands, but has lived all over since kicking off her career as a solo artist, adopting the Cat Power moniker which had previously been used for one of her prior groups. Her early music throughout the ’90s is a fascinating mix of indie, punk, folk, alternative, and lo-fi, and earned some early buzz, but it was 1998’s fourth album Moon Pix which provided something of a breakout, and has come to be regarded not just one of her best, but one of the best albums of the ’90s in general. As her sound began to coalesce as the more somber, soulful, lush indie rock she’s known for today, Cat Power found even more widespread commercial success and critical acclaim in the 2000s, with albums like 2003’s You Are Free and 2006’s The Greatest making a mainstream breakthrough, with 2012’s electronic and dance leaning Sun and 2018’s country and blues infused Wanderer proving she still had plenty of creative energy to channel in the 2010s. Her live show is somewhat infamous and famously unpredictable, but it’s her multifaceted nature, desire to express herself deeply beyond just her songs, and the earnestness of her artistry that makes her so special, and, like the evening’s headliners, Cat Power is one of the most important artists of her era. Please show up early!
Pixies, Modest Mouse, and Cat Power will perform tonight, June 2 at Ascend Amphitheater. The show is all ages, begins at 6:30 p.m., and tickets are available for $48.65-78.25.
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