On September 22, The Pixies will be bringing their brand new stage set to The Space at Westbury on Long Island. “We just finished a six-week tour in Europe. Hopefully, I still have the energy and everything,” he said, with a laugh. “We usually do a 90-minute show, and we do 90 minutes nonstop. We just keep going, with no break in between the songs. We don’t even speak to the audience. It’s all music. We are not being anti-social, we are just performing the music, the way it should be. We do everything without a set-list. We have hand signals about what we are going to play. Every night is always a different night, so it’s always a different show.”
Two days later, they will be playing The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York, which he noted will be similar to the Westbury show, but with different songs.
Digital transformation of the music industry
On the impact of technology in the music business, he said, “It is interesting. People have the same vehicles. I think there are a lot more bands today. People have more outlets to promote themselves, and if you are good, you are going to be noticed. The money is different for selling records, unless you are a big pop star. Lately, is a nostalgia for record players. I saw a record player going for $30,000. I guess there is a market for it now.”
In his daily routine, Lovering uses technology via his phone. “I have a lot of apps on it. In music, I use streaming. I do have a record collection, but I can get high quality sound on my device,” he said.
Regarding the key to longevity in the music industry, he said, “The Pixies are very fortunate. The songs still stand out, and they still resonate well today. A lot of people have discovered us later on from other bands. The Pixies attract fans from all ages. We call ourselves the Grateful Dead of Alternative Rock. 2004 was my first realization of that, and 13 years later, it is still the same audience, with younger kids discovering The Pixies. It is pretty amazing.”
Lovering: the Rock Magician
In addition to his music, Lovering is also an established magician. “I used to do stage shows, but lately, I do close-up magic,” he said. “It is always fun.”
Lovering remembered the late magic lecturer and philosopher Eugene Burger, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 78. “I went to Las Vegas to the Magic and Mystery School with Jeff McBride, and Eugene taught me a trick that I still use today. When he passed on, it was such a sad thing. I have all his books ,and a wonderful picture of him and I,” he recalled.
Aside from Lovering, the band is made up of Joey Santiago on guitar, Black Francis on guitar and vocals, and Paz Lenchantin on bass.
“We are not an anti-social band,” he concluded, for their New York fans. “When you come to see us, we will play for 90 minutes nonstop, song after song after song, with no banter and no theatrics. It’s an amazing show.”
To learn more about The Pixies and their touring schedule, check out their official website.
