Gigantic

The Pixies were awesome last night. They've all gotten a bit crusty and plump, but lordy mercy did they bring a seismic shock to the Constant Convocation Center. I had no idea they would be so ferocious live. David Lovering and Kim Deal make for a monster rhythm section. Lovering's drumming was tight and powerful. I could feel Deal's bass rumbling in my marrow.

Kim Deal is totally hot, by the way.

Joey Santiago coaxed all sorts of scorching, abrasive goodness out of his guitar. And my man Frank Black still hollers like a furious, terrified pig. I was shocked at how well he sang, actually.

So yeah, it was a good show. Highlight of the night: "Bone Machine".

My only real complaint is that I woke up this morning feeling close to deaf in my left ear. I was maybe 20 feet from the PA speakers on the left of the stage. The music was outrageously loud, which was cool, but not for my poor little ear. I'm afraid there may be some permanent damage. Normally, following a loud show, I'll go to bed with a decent ringing in both ears, y'know? Last night, I went to bed with two distinct ringing sounds in my left ear, one a low-pitched hum, the other something akin to a whistling teapot.

There's only a mild ringing this morning, but my ear feels strangely numb, as if someone injected it with novocaine. Yikes.

Visit here for info about picking up an official limited-edition recording last night's show. Also, was I the only one who sensed a little tension between Frank and Kim during The Cigarette Incident? The whole exchange seemed to drag on a little too long. And it felt a little too, I don't know, awkward? Maybe it was just me, though.