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Reel world: loudQUIETloud
loudQUIETloud spotlights Pixies' schtick
By Nicholas Dewart
dewart@mscd.edu

loudQUIETloud Not rated 85 minutes Opens Nov. 3

The documentary loudQUIETloud catches the Pixies as they sell out.

Directed by Steven Cantor and Matthew Galkin, the film is a straightforward depiction of the band’s 2004 Sell Out reunion tour.

The directors approached the film by simply turning the cameras on, sitting back and letting the Pixies’ story unfold. The documentary candidly catches moments both emotional and quirky as it reveals the band members’ personalities.

In one scene, bassist Kim Deal holds up a black T-shirt with white lettering that reads “Pixies Sellout,” saying that guitarist Joey Santiago named the tour. She then asks Santiago where he got the inspiration for the name.

“Because we sold out in minutes,” Santiago quickly responds.

The humor is appropriate, considering that this is a band that broke up 12 years before the tour.

As a documentary, loudQUIETloud succeeds because it asks important questions and gets the band members themselves to answer them. For example: Why did they break up in the first place?

“It definitely revolved around Kim and Charles,” Santiago says, referring to Deal and bandleader Frank Black. “I can’t speak for Charles, but I’m sure he must have felt a little weird when Kim turned all of a sudden into this darling, big darling. It must have crimped his ego.”

One might assume that a documentary focusing on such a seminal band would uncover bombastic personalities, mirroring the band’s status.

Instead, the film depicts four middle-aged musicians who are both insecure and mundane.

In one scene, singer and guitarist Frank Black, aka Charles Thompson, boards the tour bus, puts on some headphones and climbs into his bed, where he recites a Stuart Smalley-esque mantra.

“I’m a good person,” Thompson says. “I have a positive mental attitude. I can do it. People like me. I’m cute.”

Deal is not a novice to the music industry, having launched a successful band, The Breeders, alongside her work with the Pixies. But the film even captures her getting pre-stage jitters.

“I’m horrified I’m going to spaz and forget, like, ‘Gouge Away.’” Deal says just before their first sold out tour show. “I’m going to think it’s in G.”

She finally mocks her own fear by impersonating a disgruntled patron.

“ It’s a lot of people and it’s sold out, you’d think the bitch would have learned the song,’” she says.
Along with its acclaim and financial success, the tour had its share of pitfalls.

While on tour, drummer David Lovering’s father died of cancer. Lovering turned to alcohol and Valium to subdue his emotional distress, and eventually his drug use started to interfere with his performance. In one show, he continued to drum long after the song had ended.

According to the film, “In deference to the wishes of his band mates, David has vowed to curtail his substance abuse.”

Lovering describes the Pixies as a “dysfunctional family.” Nothing makes this more apparent than their inability to communicate with one another.

“We don’t talk to each other that much,” Thompson says. “And it’s not because we don’t like each other. It’s just the kind of people that we are.”

Kelly Deal, Kim’s sister, who was brought on the tour to support Kim, backs up this idea.

“I’ve never seen four people not be able to talk to each other,” Kelly says to Kim. “You guys are the worst four communicators ever.”

For all their poor communication skills, the Pixies are incredibly lucid in telling their remarkable story.