Wave Of Adulation: Black Francis

Photo © 2009 J Howell

Every song was brilliant, and Francis not only performed beautifully but really worked the crowd well, interacting with the audience and chatting to the room like a seasoned pro who is still a nice, funny guy despite having fronted one of the most influential bands ever. The between-song banter was charming, with Francis jokingly dissing nearby Lawrence, Kansas, explaining the story behind “Two Reelers,” and asking the crowd if the venue used to be the Hurricane, where the Pixies had opened for the Meat Puppets 23 years prior. He self-effacingly thanked the crowd for applauding for a new song we’d never heard before, “The Water,” though honestly, new or otherwise, it was an especially great song.

He told stories that were funny and sometimes moving, as when he mentioned his friend and collaborator, the late guitarist Duane Jarvis. During one song he announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, Duane Jarvis on lead guitar” where Jarvis’ solo would’ve come in tribute. It was hilariously endearing to hear and feel the whole room chant along “You are the son of a motherfucker!” during “Nimrod’s Son.” Two songs later, long after he’d abandoned his glasses (since he was too sweaty for them to stay put), he asked a fella at the front to read him the song title written and taped to the harmonica he was going to play on the closing song, and when the guy facetiously said “Robert Onion” (which he doesn’t play harmonica on), he laughed and played it anyway before ending the set with “All My Ghosts.” After (and throughout) his set, he thanked the audience with a heartfelt humility you might not expect from someone so influential.

Despite—or maybe partially because of—the sweltering room, which added an additional element of the surreal to his songs, Francis held the audience rapt for two hours. With just his guitar and voice, the occasional harmonica, his strangely affecting songs, and his easy, charismatic demeanor, Black Francis put on one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, and I don’t say that lightly. Disregarding the Pixies, his work is wonderful and underrated, and the stripped-down versions of his recently on-again, off-again band’s songs are brilliant. If you get the chance to see Black Francis solo, I couldn’t recommend him more. You won’t be disappointed.

Photo © 2009 J Howell

Setlist: Cactus,Wave of Mutilation, I Heard Ramona Sing, The Holiday Song, The Water, I Burn Today, Los Angeles, Mr. Grieves, Horrible Day, Bullet, I’ll Be Blue, Two Reelers, Velouria, Burnt Out Rock and Roll , Angels Come to Comfort You, Tight Black Rubber, Crackity Jones, Monkey Gone to Heaven, Six Sixty Six (Larry Norman cover), She Took All the Money, When They Come To Murder Me, Headache, Where Is My Mind?, Nimrod’s Son, Lolita, Sing for Joy, Robert Onion, All My Ghosts

Black Francis will be touring with the Pixies throughout the next few months. Check his Official Site or MySpace page for more details.

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