Pixies fans

Originally posted by Rupert Pupkin:
Constitution Hall is easily one of the worst places ever to see a rock concert. Why the hell aren't the Pixies coming to 9:30? This news blows.

Why do you hate DAR so much? It's pretty obvious why they're not playing 9:30. It's way too small.

The only show I ever saw at DAR was Adam Ant and Wall of Voodoo in probably 1985 or 1986. I barely remember the place. Anyone been recently. How is it really?

The only show I've enjoyed at DAR was Ibrahim Ferrer a few years ago. It just doesn't fit rock bands because it's so cavernous and echoey. It's just a bad layout for a show (maybe because it's so square shaped). Now, this is probably better than seeing them in an arena like MCI or Patriot Center (unless the floor was GA with no seats).

Aragon Ballroom in Chicago is just as cavernous and maybe more echoey…but it's all GA on the floor with no seats, which I'd much prefer for rock. There's always more energy at a show where you're standing shoulder to shoulder with other fans.

In the end, though…since this is the pixies there's probably not much you can do to ruin it. The Wilco/Sonic Youth show was ok at DAR (although it was kind of depressing to see SY opening for someone…).

Originally posted by Skeeter:

Originally posted by Rupert Pupkin:
Constitution Hall is easily one of the worst places ever to see a rock concert. Why the hell aren't the Pixies coming to 9:30? This news blows.

Why do you hate DAR so much? It's pretty obvious why they're not playing 9:30. It's way too small.

hmm…it posted twice.

I've been to one show at DAR. It was an anti-landmines benefit with Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, STeve Earle, Emmylou Harris, and Sheryl Crow. No complaints from me, I thought it was a good place to see a show.

Yeah…that's the kind of stuff DAR is good for. It seems to take the roll out of rock for me. Whatever that means.

Originally posted by Sacktastic Bag O' Nuts:
I've been to one show at DAR. It was an anti-landmines benefit with Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, STeve Earle, Emmylou Harris, and Sheryl Crow. No complaints from me, I thought it was a good place to see a show.

I completely agree. DAR sucks the life out of rock bands, but is a very nice place to see more low key or refined acts.

I saw the Belle & Sebastian / Sleater-Kinney show at DAR. It's the only time I've seen SK less than amazing live– the space just killed them (that and it was an odd billing, don't you think?) The place was great for the B&S light show, but we weren't allowed to leave out seats. In fact, some of the ushers yelled at us for standing up! When everyone rushed down the aisle and toward the stage when B&S came on, burly security guards forced us back to the seats. There was little dancing to be done and it made me sad. It SUCKED!

Originally posted by Barcelona:

Originally posted by Dupek Chopra:

What am I supposed to celebrate on May 5th? Isn't that the Mexican National Day? relationship with traveling from Bolivia to Brasil to see the Pixies?

today is the day that a rag-tag army of mexican's whooped up on the french at the battle of puebla, that led to eventual removal of the french-supported government of maximillian, and the return of benito juarez as president of mexico.

it's one of two days celebrated in mexico to signify an independence day, this one being the larger because it was the last. . .the other date is september 16 when the mexico united to defeat the spanish in 1810 - although full defeat of the spanish came in 1821.

I agree, Chip. I was there for Belle and Sebastian and Sleater-Kinney. It BLEW for Sleater-Kinney, which is all rock n roll energy, and was great for Belle and Sebastion, which was more chamber-y with a huge light production out of a high end 70s variety show.

-edit-
oops, chimbly, hadn't gotten to your post. We generally agree, though I didn't need to dance for B&S, so I was fine. They were brutal with y'all trying to come down and share the B&S love….

Originally posted by Chip Chanko:
Yeah…that's the kind of stuff DAR is good for. It seems to take the roll out of rock for me. Whatever that means.

Originally posted by Sacktastic Bag O' Nuts:
I've been to one show at DAR. It was an anti-landmines benefit with Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, STeve Earle, Emmylou Harris, and Sheryl Crow. No complaints from me, I thought it was a good place to see a show.

I didn't go to that show because I thought it would be sad to see S-K there. Missing Belle and Sebastian was both there and at 9:30 was stupid, though. I haven't seen them since their black cat show a few years ago and didn't realize that I miss them until too late.

Anyway…it's weird what ends up coming to DAR. Didn't the Breeders play there last year? Maybe Kim loved it so much she persuaded them that it was THE premier venue in DC. I bet the Pixies break up again after playing there with Frank Black Francis chasing Kim down 19th St. yelling "i said you fucking die!!" He was into field hockey players…

Originally posted by Macktastic Bag O' Flash:
I agree, Chip. I was there for Belle and Sebastian and Sleater-Kinney. It BLEW for Sleater-Kinney, which is all rock n roll energy, and was great for Belle and Sebastion, which was more chamber-y with a huge light production out of a high end 70s variety show.

here's the dealâ?¦

Constitution Hall was the only venue available this far out

Smith Center/Bender won't release dates this early - they need to wait for their sports schedules

Patriot Center was available, but I didn't think it was the right vibe for this show

besides 930â?¦where would you most like to see this show?

8:15 Club?

Originally posted by Seth Hurwitz:
…besides 930…where would you most like to see this show?

Originally posted by Seth Hurwitz:
besides 930â?¦where would you most like to see this show?

The Warner? Or would that still be way too small?

I don't really have much of an opinion about DAR. I've seen a few shows there. Not great. Not terrible.

Originally posted by Chip Chanko:
Didn't the Breeders play there last year?

They played at Nations.

Thanks for the info Seth.
I prefer DAR to a gym anyday. The sound has to be a little better, no?
I haven't been to DAR since long ago, back then, the employees would jump on you, ask you a bunch of questions as to where you were headed and usher you back to your seat if you even dared to leave your row. I don't know if that is the case now. I do understand the need to keep areas clear and people in the seat they paid for, any venue with seats will do this. I'd ask if there was a chance for an area to "rock out", but I dunno if that would work. An experience at DAR did end up being comical, my friend, tired of being sent back to her seat when only a foot from it, kept trying anyway. It's a funny sport to watch. She ended up taking off for a couple of hours.

I'm glad it's not at the Smith Center. Sound there is terrible. Never been to Bender but I doubt it's much better.

The next big question is when do tix go on sale?

Seth, a personal thank you from the world's biggest Pixies fan for not going for the Patriot Center. That would have been a very wrong choice, even though I'm sure they could have come close to selling it out. But for people like me, it would have GREATLY diminished the enjoyment of seeing my favorite band in the world. I can deal with Constitution Hall, as long as I can get tickets! :) I managed to get tickets for the shows at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago (a bigger venue, but also a bigger city), so I am keeping my fingers crossed for the Pixies. Any chance for a presale? (ducks head from things being hurled by Wilco fans)

There's a lot of good things about DAR and its very nice physically, and all that matters is that the Pixies are coming to DC. Plus they played there in '90 and apparently people were happy with the show. To put it in relevant terms, I'd say DAR is Bossanova. Its fine, but lacking in spark, energy etc. I can't think of a legitimate option that's Doolittle (let's say 9:30 is Surfer Rosa, which would be sweet, but the scale is now too big). I find gyms like Bender and Smith Center preferable because although the sound is worse, it provides the opportunity for some energy. Like the White Stripes could be the White Stripes at Smith Center, but may have been stifled at DAR. And Dylan could have a loose rocking show at Bender. But DAR is nice respectable venue for these venerable purveyors of the genre formerly known as college rock.

What is so wrong with the patriot center? Especially is the floor is open (no seats). I would much prefer that to sitting down for a band like the pixies.