Pixies and Modest Mouse: An Electrifying Finale at Mass MoCA’s Joe’s Field

Iconic indie rock bands Pixies and Modest Mouse are set to electrify Joe’s Field at 7 p.m. on Aug. 26, marking the climactic close to the Pixies’ 2023 North American journey, right on the grounds of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. The melodious Cat Power will also grace the stage as an esteemed guest.

The musical saga of the Pixies began in 1986 in Boston when Black Francis and Joey Santiago, both former dorm mates at UMass-Amherst, came together. The initial band ensemble consisted of Francis, Santiago, Kim Deal, and David Lovering. Their impactful music inspired the likes of Nirvana, Radiohead, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Weezer. While they parted ways in 1993, their escalating popularity saw them reunite in 2004. Following Kim Deal’s departure in 2013, Kim Shattuck served for a brief period before Paz Lenchantin joined the band as the bassist in 2016.

Dropkick Murphys will be lighting up the stage at Mass MoCA’s FreshGrass festival come September for those looking forward to other events.

A hallmark of Pixies’ gigs is their organic flow—there’s no scripted sequence. Each concert is a fresh experience, with the band choosing at the moment from a repertoire of 90–100 well-rehearsed tunes.

Pixies embarked on their 2022–23 World Tour in support of their fresh album, “Doggerel,” in March 2022. The tour was met with roaring success, with packed houses from North America to New Zealand.

The renowned Modest Mouse, hailing from Portland, is accompanying the Pixies for the tour’s finale. Established in 1993, they recently celebrated their 1997 sensation “The Lonesome Crowded West” with a sell-out 25th-anniversary tour. Fans can also relish their latest musical offering, “Golden Casket,” which dropped in 2021.