Last night Pixies played a secret gig at Village Underground in Shoreditch to support the launch of the Minotaur box set. It was an invite-only affair and there were only about 300 lucky people allowed to witness the event. Hecklerspray was invited to attend, and we took a few readers with us. Our collective ears are still buzzing.

It started with individual Pixies wandering around the venue prior to the show. This surpassed the already high expectations for the intimate gig: pressing the flesh is one thing, but crowdsourcing a setlist is quite another. Yet that’s what Pixies did: they invited the audience to request their favourite songs, and we met them all in the process.

Naturally we threw a curve ball at Kim Deal, having requested ‘Ana’: “But we don’t know how to play it! Seriously. You could put a gun to Joey’s head and he still wouldn’t know his way around that one…”

So instead, we opted for the best Pixies song out there: No. 13 Baby, which they played early on, followed by classics like Hey, Tame, Debaser and Bone Machine. Kim was cajoled by Black Francis into performing Into The White and Gigantic, despite telling us that she wanted a lazy night (giving us an impromptu performance of the River Euphrates backing vocals in the process – her reason for wanting to dodge that song in the set). It goes without saying that it was an awesome performance, and great to see Pixies at close quarters.

The band remains a powerhouse, and is very tight, despite one or two slips, notably the UK Surf version of Wave of Mutilation, which they had to restart after Kim forgot her way around it. The audience, which included Kevin ‘My Bloody Valentine’ Shields, helped her out: “It starts in F!”

All in all we’re honoured to have been invited to what was essentially a private party (replete with free bar) for Vaughan Oliver’s stunning artwork, where Pixies showed up and did their friend a favour by playing an on-demand set.

They really seem to be enjoying themselves these days. David Lovering showed us a trick involving rubber bands and talked to us about John Bonham. Joey Santiago made our spines shiver when he played that note in Hey. Black Francis kept us amused with tales of Kim being kicked off RockBand when playing Pixies songs. And Kim grinned from ear to ear the whole night.

It was a blast.

Check out a fan’s video of Gigantic:

You can also check out David Emery’s Flickr slideshow of Pixies at Village Underground.

We’ve been getting all hot under the collar about the new Pixies box set, called Minotaur.

It’s being released on Monday and there is a very special party taking place in Shoreditch, London.

We’ve bagged a couple of tickets to give away… details below.

Compiled by Artists in Residence – which has also produced box sets for the likes of Sigur Ros and Beck - Minotaur comes in two different beastly forms. There’s the $175 Deluxe Edition or a $500 Limited Collector’s edition.

The Deluxe Edition will include all five Pixies studio albums - Come On Pilgrim (1987), Surfer Rosa (1988), Doolittle (1989), Bossanova (1990), and Trompe le Monde (1991) – on 24k layered CD and Blu-ray (five discs total), as well as a DVD of a Pixies 1991 performance at the Brixton Academy in London, the group’s videos (including our favourite music video ever, for Velouria), some bonus tracks, and a 54-page book, all housed in a custom slipcase.

The more expensive version also includes a 96-page hardcover book and vinyl versions of every Pixies release. That’s 180 gram vinyl, folks. It will also include a Giclee print of Oliver’s artwork, and a 72-page hardcover book.

This Limited Edition is housed in an oversized clamshell case and is hand-signed by every member of the Pixies and Oliver. Weighs approximately 26 pounds and ships via Federal Express worldwide. Limited to 3,000 units. Available for $500.00, plus shipping and handling.

Both versions will feature reinterpreted versions of 4AD’s legendary artwork, by graphic designer Vaughan Oliver. Sidenote: Hecklerspray’s local pub for many years was right next to the 4AD office and, to our delight, we discovered that the front cover of Surfer Rosa had been shot right where we were drinking. Oh the joy.

This video explains more:

WIN WIN WIN

So you might have heard about the Pixies Party on Monday. Or maybe you haven’t, but here’s the lowdown: if you’re a Pixies fan you don’t want to miss it. Presumably Minotaur will be played from start to end, and at full volume. There will be beer. And who knows what else?

We have TWO tickets to give away. TWO tickets. Get some…

To enter, simply TWEET “@hecklerspray, I should win a Pixies Party ticket because…” and then INSERT RANDOM PIXIES LYRIC. For example:

“@hecklerspray, I should win because THIS MONKEY’S GONE TO HEAVEN”

What can be easier? Alternatively just send a begging letter to hecklerspray@gmail.com.

Winners will be notified by Sunday evening, just in time to dust of your party outfit.

Good luck.

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