MUSIC: An Evening with Black Francis at Symphony Space

This coming Friday, Symphony Space—2537 Broadway at 95th Street, NYC—presents an evening with Black Francis, aka Frank Black, aka Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV, founder and front man of the Pixies, one of the most influential alternative rock bands of the mid-80s and early-90s.

Fans who know Thompson mostly from the Pixies may be surprised to learn that as a solo artist he has released 19 albums since 1994. Most often recording as Frank Black, Thomspon has pursued a more melodic, country and western-influenced course, but while his music has been decidedly calmando compared to the often explosive electric guitar-based sound of the Pixies, Thompson has by no means forgotten how to rock, especially on those occasions when he has stepped out as Black Francis, either with or without the reunited Pixies.

His most recent album, 2011’s Paley and Francis, is a set of stripped down, charmingly ragged songs co-written and recorded over two days in Nashville with Brooklyn-born, blues-punk troubadour Reid Paley, who will open for Thompson on Friday.

Paley & Francis (Photo via reidpaley.com)

If recent set lists are any indication, we can expect a little bit of everything on Friday night: new takes on songs from Thompson’s Frank Black oeuvre, a sprinkling of Pixies tunes, a few covers, as well as new material.

Tix for the performance are $45; $38 for Symphony Space Members; and $15 for under-30s with valid ID.

Get tickets for this week’s gig at www.symphonyspace.org/event/7895-an-evening-with-black-francis and more information at blackfrancis.net/exclusive/