PIXIES/MODEST MOUSE/CAT POWER - BUDWEISER STAGE, 06/08/2024

An impressive triple bill of Pixies, Modest Mouse and opener Cat Power hit the Budweiser
Stage in Toronto recently and all of them impressed in their unique and distinct ways.
Headliners Pixies, who know enough not to reinvent the wheel, brought out everything their
fans wanted to hear. Could have been deeper cuts like my personal favourites ‘Planet of
Sound’ and ‘Subbacultcha’ from Trompe Le Monde or set staples ‘Monkey Gone to Heaven’
and ‘Gouge Away’ from Doolittle, either way, the sell out crowd was happy and not left wanting
from another crushing set from the Boston bred band. Modest Mouse was no less impressive
and in all of the times that I have seen them, they have never sounded better. Like Pixies, the
Modest Mouse setlist was very generous and not burdened by the disappointing tracks off of
the most recent Golden Casket LP. Older cuts like the always crushing ‘Cowboy Dan’ and
“Teeth Like God’s Shoeshine’ were as fresh as ever, while the radio hits ‘Float On’ and
‘Dashboard’ were played with vigour and an energy that was matched by the enthusiastic
crowd hearing them. Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power) was also sounding renewed and refreshed and a more than capable opening act. Playing nine songs in fairly dramatic reinventions of them, Marshall was a revelation. In good voice and in good mood, this was a Cat Power that I had not previously witnessed. Marshall’s set included songs from her entire catalogue including a notable ‘Cross Bones Style’/ ‘Nude as the News’ mashup and set staples ‘The Greatest’ and ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’. All and all, an Incredible evening of music performed by three of the most noted acts of their respective generations.

-Johnny Hooper