THE PIXIES REUNITED! FUGAZI ON HIATUS!

THE PIXIES have been touring for a few weeks now, taking it day-by-day, show-by-show, from what I understand. The ‘80s alt-rock legends played the five-year-old Coachella Festival among a handful of other gigs so far, and will eventually make it up here, where that underwater guy who controlled the sea got killed by ten million pounds of sludge from New York and New Jersey. They’re playing the second day of Lollapalooza at New York’s shitty dustbowl Randall’s Island (bring a gas mask, I'm not kidding) and also at NJ’s Tweeter Center. They will return in December, according to various sources. The cool thing about these reunion shows is that you can purchase CD’s of said gigs right there at the venue after the show and also online at Disclive.com.

Image courtesy of 4AD Records.

How’s that for immediate gratification?

And speaking of live CD’s, FUGAZI bassist Joe Lally has made a bunch of live Fugazi recordings available at FugaziLiveSeries.com. I like the photo on the first page, because I was there shooting right on the stage. They let you do that. Very punk-rock.

Fugazi Live at Wash., DC's SYLVAN THEATER, photo by Pat Graham.

For those wondering what’s up with the DC post-punk quartet, Fugazi remains on hiatus while the band members work on other things. Here’s the scoop from Dischord.com:

Contrary to a flood of recent internet postings, Fugazi has not broken up. Over the years the band has circulated in and out of active recording and touring according to the ebb and flow of their personal lives. Two band members now have families with children and currently their concerns are being put above the band's. As of this moment Fugazi is not actively playing or recording but that doesn't mean the band won't become active again in a year, two or possibly never....such is life.

Members of Fugazi have always made music outside the band and will continue to do so. Ian is currently playing in a duo with Amy Farina (ex-Warmers) called the Evens, Brendan has been playing with Amy Domingues and Jerry Busher in Garland of Hours, Joe recorded an album with Black Sea (now called Decahedron) featuring ex-Frodus members Jason and Shelby, and Guy performed with members of The Ex at a jazz festival in Austria.

Dischord Records mastermind and Fugazi founder Ian MacKaye is playing with his new, more intimate group The Evens – also featuring Amy Farina (Warmers & Ted Leo & The RX) -- at Philly’s First Unitarian Church on Monday, May 10th. “The Evens' setup is reasonably spare: Ian plays baritone guitar, Amy plays drums, and both sing-- usually together. Live, the band sends their vocals through amps rather than using a P.A. creating a quiet but extremely powerful sound.”

So if you happen to be in Philly, you’d be wise to drop by. Visit Dischord.com and R5Productions.com for further info.

(originally posted 5.6.04)
- posted by Hal Miller @ 1:49 PM