Frank Black’s innovative guitar-playing and songwriting
skills seem to always be one step ahead of the rest. However,
despite his major influence upon the music community, Black appears
to have a casual attitude about his musical career and seems
content to remain on the fringe.
“My solo career was just a way to continue being a
musician,” Black said, referring to his previous work with
influential alternative rock band, the Pixies. “It’s
just a different name, a different vibe.”
Of course, even after 10 years, anyone acquainted with the
combined metallic rawness and iridescent melodies of the Pixies may
have a hard time accepting the fact that all four band members are
alive and well, and yet have refused to take to the stage together
once again ““ even if only to quell the whining of their
former fans.
But it’s not reason to despair. Black still performs,
still writes songs and regardless of his name or backing band,
still continues to evolve his trademark sound in a way
today’s dime-a-dozen alternative-rock bands can’t even
pretend to imitate.
Black describes his upcoming album “Show Me Your
Tears,” due out Sept. 8, as a bit of a downer record with
hints of country and western twang. His recent divorce and
involvement in psychotherapy led the album to be influenced more by
his personal life. That’s perhaps also why the album is
lyrically stronger than his previous work.
“It’s probably a little more lush and a little more
produced-sounding than our last couple of records,” Black
said. “Every record I do is different; they’re just
kind of schizophrenic, I think.”
Black sees himself as a cult artist, or a musician who appeals
to those turned off by top 40 hits churned out by the mainstream
music industry. And he has every right to do so considering his
former band is often credited as being a major contributor in the
evolution of the underground rock scene.
“The mainstream music industry is a little soft on the
edges,” Black said. “It’s a little dull,
it’s a little mediocre. (I have) nothing against it ““
every once in a while something interesting happens ““ but, in
general, it’s passive music for passive music
listeners.”
Black’s musical tastes range mostly within the
well-established blues, folk and rock classics, such as two of his
favorites Townes Van Zandt and Leonard Cohen. However, when it
comes to contemporary music, he admits to liking the White Stripes
and Beck as examples of edgier groups that have broken into the
mainstream.
“There’s this cycle out there,” Black said.
“Cool music becomes very popular, and for a few minutes,
you’ve got a lot of music that’s real popular and
it’s pretty good. Then suddenly there’s the bandwagon
aspect of it, and everyone’s trying to cash in on it, and
then it gets pretty bland pretty fast.”
Black plays Friday night and Aug. 29 at McCabe’s Guitar
Shop, a smaller venue than what one might expect for someone who
has made such an impact with his music ““ from the Pixies to
his solo work. Mention the P-word, though, and Black turns slightly
grumpy, bored out of his mind with the historic musical conquest he
led in his earlier days. However, as a cult artist without the
comforts of being a mainstream musician, he is not quick to pass up
the publicity.
“Whatever gets me in the papers,” Black
said. “That’s the attitude I take. If people want
to talk about the Pixies, so be it. It’s beyond annoying
““ (but) I’m pleasantly aloof about it. It’d be
different if people were asking me something different about the
Pixies or something unique, but they’re not. They’re
basically asking me the same four or five questions they’ve
been asking me for the last 10 years.”
Black plays Friday, Aug. 29 and Saturday, Aug. 30 at
McCabe’s in Santa Monica. Go to
www.mccabesguitar.com/condata.html for more information.