.png)
The Pixies’ lead guitarist Joey Santiago has a soft spot for “stupid gambling.”
“I’ve bet on the Jets to win the Super Bowl for the past few years now,” he tells the Weekly. “I know I’m throwing my money away, but when you do something it’s like, what if? What if this is the year and they actually won it?”
Those same what ifs that drive Santiago could also be applied to the iconic alt-rock band. What if Santiago and frontman Black Francis never met? What if game-changers like Surfer Rosa and Doolittle didn’t exist? What if the Pixies had never reunited?
Unlike Santiago’s longshot bet, all the right choices were made—and the Pixies have returned more popular than ever. As part of its North American tour, the band will present two different sets at Encore Theater on June 13-14. Night one features complete performances of Bossanova and Trompe le Monde, while night two covers 2024’s The Night the Zombies Came and other classics.
Bossanova and Trompe le Monde are so iconic and influential. Is there anything you’d go back and change if you could?
I’m proud of them. But after every record, I just go, could I have done better? I always call the producer Gil Norton, and it’s like, geez, did I do all right? There’s that, not buyer’s remorse, but recording remorse. But now that I do revisit it, it’s like, whoa. This stuff is like, what the f**k was I thinking?
Those were the last albums before you broke up. Now, you’ve been together for 20-plus years. It almost feels like breaking up was weirdly a good thing.
Breaking up was a good thing because I think right now we’re just so grateful. Whereas before we were just little f**king snotty brats. It was like, Oh yeah, hey, everyone loves us. But who gives a f**k, you know? We’re unhappy, I want to go home. It [was] so petulant.
The Pixies pioneered this sound of alt-rock, punk and other elements. How do you think that sound has evolved in current music? Are there things you wish bands did more of or less?
I wish they sucked less. That’s about it. I’m hoping that the next band is in the garage, practicing their little hearts off and gonna come out there.
With every album, the Pixies seem to move the sound forward. You once told Mojo magazine you didn’t want to become “a Pixies cover band.” How does a band like yours avoid that?
The first record we did post-breakup was Indie Cindy. And in my mind, I was thinking we’re gonna be damned if we do or damned if we don’t. We’re gonna be damned if we sound like the quote, unquote Pixies, like on the nose. They’re gonna go, “Eh, they didn’t innovate.” Or we can go forward, as we have done from Surfer Rosa to Trompe le Monde. There’s growth there. Or we can keep exploring and taking risks and get panned that way. I’d rather get the knife that way.
Emma Richardson is the newest member of the band. How was it working with her on The Night the Zombies Came? What did she bring to the table?
Obviously the bass is very good on it, but her voice just has this quality of being full and has a nice innocence to it.
Your guitar playing is very recognizable. What are some of your favorite guitar tricks you’ve used to shape the band’s sound?
I do that bending thing. Got that from [Jimi] Hendrix and “Savoy Truffle” in particular, the Beatles song. When I listened to music back when I was a kid, I was listening for sonics and melody too, and riffs. But I was more impressed with sounds, squawks and things, even when I listened to vocals. I do like the lyrics and stuff, but I like it when they go, ahhh! like James Brown. I like the little grunts and little things in there. That gets me going. I guess, subconsciously, I’m probably trying to James Brown it a little bit.
Does it ever get old playing “Here Comes Your Man?”
When we’re gonna play that, that opening chord, I pretty much know that the crowd’s gonna go crazy. It’s like me pulling the pin out of a grenade, and then when I strike that chord, it’s gonna be like, oh, there it goes. There they go again. So no, I don’t get sick of it. Plus, I’ve got to keep on my toes on that anyway.I look at myself like, I’m part of the audience. I go to a show and I want to hear certain songs too.
What else keeps you on your toes?
Low self-esteem and thinking I’m gonna suck. That keeps me on my toes. The desire not to embarrass myself.
THE PIXIES June 13-14, 8 p.m., $77-$350, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.
English (US) ·