Could a new Pixies classic be on the way? Joey Santiago wants to get into that ‘frame of mind'

If you were to ask what Joey Santiago and the Pixies were like a generation ago, you'd be met with an array of different answers. According to a 1991 account from The Times, the band descended upon the Hollywood Palladium one December evening, hot on the heels of its latest album 'Trompe Le Monde,' in dramatic fashion.
'The Pixies — anchored by David Lovering's hard-driving drumming and Kim Deal's booming bass, and marked by Joey Santiago's distorted guitar crunches — have become a terrific live band, almost able to match the sonic rewards of their albums,' Steve Hochman wrote of the occasion.
'What counts is that the combinations of music and words and yelps strike nerves,' he added. 'And, in truth, there's more to many Pixies songs than that.'
Indeed, there was and is. But unfortunately for fans of the Boston foursome, 'Trompe Le Monde' would be the last album they heard from the group before its untimely demise just two years later, or so they thought.
Shockingly, the band would get back together more than a decade later, swapping bassist Kim Deal for Emma Richardson. Fans were greeted with a reunion tour that saw them featured in both Coachella and Lollapalooza, leaving them excited for what was to come. But, it would be another exhausting wait of 10 years until they got their hands on 'Indie City,' the group's fifth studio album released in 2014.
It's now an additional 10 years later, and the band has come full circle. They will once again play the Palladium on June 20 and 21 — the former will see them perform 'Trompe Le Monde' in its entirety, just as they did 34 years ago.
'It's great because there are songs in it that we hardly play,' Santiago says of the album. 'So those are going to go back in rotation, and it gives us more songs to choose from.'
'The only problem is switching guitars. There's a lot of switching guitars around,' he says with a laugh.
He's sat comfortably in what appears to be an office space. Atop his head is a green and white hat, with 'LA' embroidered on its front. He's got a white beard , which makes sense for the 60-year-old father of two.
It's a story all too familiar to the '90s greats — his bandmate, Frank Black, also has two kids, and so does drummer Dave Lovering.
'After our third year, pre-breakup, it became where it [touring] was just exhausting,' Santiago says, via Zoom. 'No matter what age you are, it's exhausting. … I took my kids [to shows] just for three days in the same damn time zone, they were exhausted.'
The key to keeping up between all the touring and album releases, according to him, is to listen to new music.
'You gotta feed the kitty or whatever,' he jokes.
He considers discovering music to be 'part of the work,' and a crucial step to generating new ideas for the group. He says he's been frequenting Wet Leg radio recently: 'It's new, it's fresh and it doesn't suck.'
It's been an important factor when it comes to their latest releases, such as their newest project, 'The Night the Zombies Came,' which was released in October 2024. Unlike other post-breakup albums, this one allowed Santiago much more freedom when it came to laying down tracks. It shows between his 'long solos' and extra guitar work, which he says felt like he had returned to playing as he did when he was a kid.
'It's what I would have done if I were still in middle school or high school,' he says. 'That kind of thing.'
And yet, fans have still been critical of the band's style since their reunion, fearful that they may never return to the sound that once shot them to fame on albums like 'Surfer Rosa' and 'Doolittle.' It seems to put the group in a tricky spot, constantly trying to evolve while also drawing upon their roots.
'It does sound different, and hey, we're different people,' Santiago says.
He seemingly takes it all in stride, noting that while he is trying to 'get back in that frame of mind' seen on those aforementioned albums. 'Everyone's got to be on the same page,' he said.
'In the grand scheme of things, it's damned if you do, damned if you don't,' he continues. 'If we're too different, we're gonna get flack for it. If we make 'Doolittle' part two, we're gonna get flack for it.'
As for the future, the band simply plans on continuing to do what it has always done best: making rock music. The members don't look likely to make any dramatic transitions into any other genres, and don't pay much mind to ongoing trends within the music industry. They're your classic 'Buddy Holly setup' with an 'occasional splash of keyboards.'
'If you want guitar music, you can go to a few bands that will provide it, and we're one of them,' he notes.
And perhaps it is this very approach that has helped them to maintain their early fans while still appealing to younger audiences. That, or social media, where songs like 'Where Is My Mind?' and 'Monkey Gone to Heaven' are reposted hundreds of thousands of times across various platforms. Though it also may be worth giving a nod to that final scene in 'Fight Club.'
'It feels good,' Santiago says. 'We're lucky.'
It's even been so infectious that at home, he can no longer shy away from his alter ego comfortably.
'They're starting to get what I'm doing,' he says of his kids, with a smile. 'They started getting at me two years ago.'
'They're of that age, where they'll go places and hear the Pixies. Their friends will say, 'hey, have you ever heard of the Pixies? They're really good.' Professors are mentioning the Pixies. Parents are mentioning the Pixies. So they know, and they like it.'

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Los Angeles Times

2 hours ago

• Los Angeles Times

Why this author wrote about creative women as they aged: ‘They made much of less'

In this week's newsletter, we have a chat with Susan Gubar, whose new book, 'Grand Finales: The Creative Longevity of Women Artists,' profiles seven creators who found a second wind in their advancing years. We also look at recent releases reviewed in The Times. And a local bookseller tells us what's selling right now. Seventeen years ago, Susan Gubar was handed a death sentence. A distinguished professor emerita of English and women's studies at Indiana University and the co-author (with Sandra M. Gilbert) of 1979's 'The Madwoman in the Attic,' a groundbreaking work of feminist literary theory, Gubar in 2008 was staring down a terminal cancer diagnosis. A clinical trial involving an experimental drug prolonged her life and gave her the impetus to tackle a new project about seven artists — George Eliot, Colette, Georgia O'Keeffe, Isak Dinesen, Marianne Moore, Louise Bourgeois, Mary Lou Williams, Gwendolyn Brooks and Katherine Dunham — who entered a new phase of creative ferment and productivity as they grew older. I talked to Gubar about her new book, the myth of old age and the persistent stereotypes attached to female artists who may be perceived as having outlived their usefulness as creators. (Please note: The Times may earn a commission through links to whose fees support independent bookstores.) Can you talk about how the book came about? In 2008, I was told that I had 3-5 years to live with late-stage ovarian cancer. The standard treatment was ineffectual. But then in 2012, my oncologist encouraged me to enroll in a clinical trial that was experimenting with a new drug. After nine years in the trial, she then urged me to take 'a drug holiday' since long-term use of the medication could cause leukemia. I am still on that holiday. An unanticipated old age made me appreciate the wonderful gifts longevity can bestow. In researching your subjects, what do they all share in common? All of my subjects are artists who experienced the losses of aging. They needed canes and wheelchairs and helpers while they suffered the pains of various diseases and regimens. One coped with blindness, another with deafness and still others with the loss of intimates. Yet in the face of such deficits, they used their art to exhibit their audacity, mojo, chutzpah, bravado. They're exemplars of Geezer Machismo. All of your subjects are women, who have a much tougher time in terms of earning respect and attention as they age. Can you speak to the obstacles they had to overcome as they reinvented themselves as artists in their advanced years? The stereotypical old lady is invisible or risible, but we know that many elderly women thrive. My old ladies did not approach their life stories as prime-and-decline narratives. Instead they reinvented themselves. In part, they managed to do this by changing their objectives as artists. They moved from the stage to the page or from elite to popular forms. Some of them underwent religious or political conversions that energized their last years. They fully understood the losses of old age, but they did not settle for less. Instead, they made much of less. What's interesting about these artists is that — contrary, I must admit, to what I thought would have been the case — these women were supported by men who became their benefactors, and helped them to negotiate their careers. Quite a few of the women that I write about were helped by much younger men in their lives, who became facilitators. This is true for George Eliot, Colette, Georgia O'Keeffe, Louise Bourgeoise, Mary Lou Williams and others. Williams, the great jazz pianist, was helped by a Jesuit named Father O'Brien, who helped her get control of her copyrights. Georgia O'Keeffe, in contrast, has been championed by photographer Alfred Stieglitz, but she had to leave him in her midlife to establish her autonomy late in life. He was very controlling, even though he definitely established her reputation. She was aided in her later years by a man young enough to be her grandson. You are an octogenarian, and writing a book isn't easy, as you know. Where do you find the inspiration and the strength to keep going as a creator? What keeps me going is what kept my subjects flourishing in their seventies, eighties or nineties. Any sort of creative activity involves expression, which is a great antidote to depression. 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Joan Didion and bell hooks are reliable customer favorites as well. As an indie shop, though, we love the deeper cuts too — whether that's 'Água Viva,' literally any Yoko Ogawa work or something from our zine collection. Are you seeing more young people buying books? Despite all the reports about declining literacy rates among young folk, our children's section makes up a quarter of our sales. We really try to carve out a space for the next generation of readers with programs like storytime, a middle-grade book club and summer-reading punch cards. To us, messy shelves are annoying everywhere except the kids' section!

Cosmopolitan

4 hours ago

• Cosmopolitan

15 ways to wear gingham outfits, as the picnic print becomes everyone's favourite summer staple

It's official: summer is fully in bloom. What does that mean? Well, apart from setting out to find the perfect nostalgic pair of jelly shoes and strategising ways to make denim work in this heatwave, we're also thinking a lot about how to integrate gingham into our wardrobes. And when we say 'gingham', no, we're not meaning just any old check print (nor are we referring to houndstooth, tartan, or plaid, thank you very much). We're very specifically talking about g-i-n-g-h-a-m: the picnic tablecloth print, turned beloved summer wardrobe pattern. Lately, gingham has been everywhere: from Bella Hadid x Frankies Bikinis prairecore bikinis and midi dresses to Copenhagen fashion influencer-style gingham blouses and scrunchies. But there are also plenty of other ways to style the trend if you want to branch out from swimwear and Copenhagen street style: whether it's festival-friendly bloomer shorts (y'know, the ones that have been soooo popular this szn), a voluminous bubble skirt, Sabrina Carpenter-esque retro capris, or even tailoring. Below, we've rounded up a whopping 15 ways to wear gingham, complete with shopping recs hand-picked by our fashion team. And, yep, we tracked down the perfect gingham bandana for ya... Thank us later! Behold: gingham bloomer shorts. Bloomies proved to be one of the dominant trends at Coachella this year, and the micro shorts with lacy fringing are undeniably comfy and generally easy to wash, making them a winner on practicality alone. Style with a peasant blouse or crop top and stick on a pair of cowboy hoots and, congrats, you've ticked the gingham, bloomie and western trends all in one... If you're anything like us, you're always looking for a summer staple that can take you from work meetings, to dinner, to a nice ol' winebar. And voilà: the gingham midi dress has got your back. Despite the summery pattern, the longer hem length is a bit more formal (dare we say...'grown up'?) and can work for all manner of occasions depending on your choice of accessories. We'd opt for heeled flip flops or kitten heels for a date/drinks, loafers for work, and jelly shoes for a summery casual day out. If you are looking to prolong the indie sleaze trend, well, we don't blame you! The late 2000s and early 2010s are a treasure trove of under-explored nostalgia, and a bubble skirt is an easy way to tap into this time period and the era's love affair with maximalist silhouettes (à la the peplum). The trick here is to let the skirt take centre stage, so try your gingham bubble skirt with a short-sleeved tee or a plain tank top. Product Details There's a reason that 'jeans and a nice top' was a generation's guiding motto for assembling an outfit: it just works! With a gingham top, you can easily summer-ify a pair of jeans, and bring a bit of sunshine to your outfit even if the British weather necessitates a more sensible fit. However, you can also go full gingham and try a pair of gingham trousers in a contrasting colour, styled with some sandals. This blouse features tie straps and a crinkled taffeta material with a red and white check pattern. We love a good shirt. You can style your gingham shirt over a pair of matching gingham boxer shorts (see below!) or use it as an eye-catching top to go with linen shorts or trousers, and a simple pair of trainers. Depending on your work vibes, you can also wear a gingham shirt with a pair of light trousers to the office: the sky's the limit. The Classic: Linen, Green Gingham. Our mid-length, flattering fit shirt meets lightweight linen in this cool-but-cute shirt. Pair with the matching boxer shorts for a co-ord look or throw over a white t-shirt and jeans. Designed in London, made in Turkey Product Details Slightly dropped shoulder Single buttoned, regular cuff Two pleats across the yoke Materials 100% Linen with Shell buttons. Made in Turkey. Fit Advice Take your normal size, intended for a slightly loose fit The model in image 1 is 177cm/ 5'9" and wears a UK10 The model in image 2 is 179cm/ 5'10.5" and wears a UK10 The back length of a UK10 is 71cm/ 28" Find out more about our Shirt Shapes and Sizing Product Care Machine wash at 30°C or below, on a regular cycle with similar colours. Hang to air dry after a quick shake, and to ease the ironing effort, always hang on a hanger. If possible, avoid direct sunlight unless the fabric is white, and never tumble dry. Ironing is optional due to the relaxed nature of the shirt but is recommended for a pressed finish. It's an easy fabric to iron: make sure the shirt is reversed, use low-medium heat, and finish by steaming. We would always recommend rolling instead of folding to help reduce wrinkles. Personalisation Whether it's for yourself or a gift, our monogramming service is the perfect personal touch to add to your WNU shirt. For inspiration and to learn more, take a look at our Monogramming Page As mentioned above, a pair of gingham boxer shorts can work well in a co-ord with a matching (or contrasting, if you're feeling wild) gingham shirt for a nice lunch date or a cute day out. You can also style with a baseball cap, t-shirt and trainers for a more low-key, comfy look (FYI, it works v well as an airport fit). If you're meeting friends or a date for an al fresco dinner or cocktails, a gingham mini dress can be a great option. There are so many different variations, from a more structured, strappy gingham dress to a short and sweet cutesy, gingham, mini dress with a peter pan collar. Regardless of the style, you can tap into a western/prairiecore vibe with a pair of cowboy boots or go more preppy with a pair of ballet flats or Mary Janes. If you're looking for a statement summer wardrobe piece, look no further. On holiday, everyone needs a lightweight pair of trousers, and selecting a gingham pair in an eye-catching colour is a great outfit hack. Dress up with statement jewellery and a strappy top and sandals, dress down with a pair of Birkenstocks, a denim jacket and a simple tee. This product has a smaller fit than usual. The easy pull-on style of these green and white gingham wide-leg trousers makes them perfect for pairing with dressed up or down outfits, made from a comfortable cotton blend with an adjustable elasticated waistband and side pockets. Regular fit Elasticated waistband Wide leg Cotton-blend Side pockets Short to fit inside leg 27" x 69cm. Regular to fit inside leg 29" x 74cm. Long to fit inside leg 31" x 79cm. XL Tall to fit inside leg 33" x 84cm. 65% Recycled polyester, 35% Cotton. Items with the curve logo are available in sizes 18 and above., Our tall collection is designed to fit women 5'10" and above. This has been proportionally increased through the body, leg and sleeve to achieve the perfect fit. Available in sizes 8-20. Midi skirts are a staple of two major summer trends: westerncore and boho chic. With gingham, you're taking things well up a notch. Wear with a peasant blouse and boots for the former, and a long tank top and a medallion belt (yep, those are back) for the latter, during festival season. You can also rock a more structured, contrasting top in a neutral like black or white and put on a pair of smart sandals and you've got the ideal look for a garden party, dinner at a friend's house, or a particularly trend BBQ engagement. 'Gingham' and 'tailoring' aren't words that immediately seem to go together but, like with peanut butter and jelly and other unlikely yet iconic duos, they work together perfectly. From blazers to waistcoats or smart trousers, there are a number of gingham tailoring options out there, which tend to work well when styled with smart sandals, loafers or ballet flats (the latter in leather/pleather, not mesh or jelly, if you're going into the office). We recommend opting for either a larger check and/or darker colours to make this one work appropriate, if that's your aim. Heading on a beach holiday this summer? An easy way to tap into the gingham trend is with gingham swimwear, either a one-piece or a bikini. Despite obviously having a purpose by the beach or pool, depending on the level of support required, bikini tops can also double up as a tiny crop top in a pinch (specifically in a laidback club or bar, or for a relaxed day of mooching). Level up your poolside look with a pair of heeled flip flops and a straw sunhat. Composition & Care While it's summer, we still need a cover-up from time to time. A gingham jacket works perfectly for chillier days when styled with regular capri pants and a t-shirt, or with a full gingham look (bonus points for contrasting colours). This one's great for the weekends or for nippy evenings on holidays. Gingham can serve major retro vibes and nowhere is this truer than when applied to gingham capri pants. Capri pants have had a major resurgence this summer for their 90s-chic energy, but a pair in gingham throws it back even further, channelling a Sabrina Carpenter 1960s nostalgia. Rock yours with with some matching headgear (see below), a crop top, and some espadrilles for a party-perfect, TikTok-ready look for when you're bopping around to Sabrina's latest single on the dance floor. House of CB is a leading British womenswear brand, internationally acclaimed for its feminine, luxury and versatile pieces. Scruncies are a fave for a reason, a way of delivering a fun hair look even when you're between washes. When it comes to the gingham trend, a fun hair accessory in the pattern can be an easy way to dip your toe in and see if the look works for you. Try it in a bright colour to inject some boldness into an otherwise lowkey look. Our red bandana scrunchie features a gingham edge trim. We suggest pairing it with our Macy tote bag, available in the same print. More about me Bandanas, particularly in gingham, are going to be a major hair look this summer. They work well with festival attire like handkerchief tops and short-shorts, or with a more westerncore look like denim shorts and cowboy boots, or even your bikini. Megan Wallace (they/them) is Cosmopolitan UK's Former Sex and Relationships Editor covering sexual pleasure, sex toys, LGBTQIA+ identity, dating and romance. They have covered sexuality and relationships for over five years and are the founder of the PULP zine, which publishes essays on culture and sex. In their spare time, they can be found exploring the London kink scene and planning dates on Feeld.

Los Angeles Times

19 hours ago

• Los Angeles Times

Fat Joe accused of coercion, intimidation, sex with minors in ex-hype man's lawsuit

Terrance 'T.A.' Dixon, once a hype man to rapper Fat Joe, has sued his former employer for $20 million, making some allegations that might blend right in at Sean 'Diddy' Combs' RICO and sex-trafficking trial. The federal lawsuit, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York and reviewed by The Times, alleges that the rapper underpaid Dixon, cut him out of promised pay for contributing to album tracks, defrauded authorities about his income, ditched Dixon in foreign countries without money or transportation home and is running a criminal organization built on intimidation and violence. The lawsuit alleges that Fat Joe forced the hype man — a sort of backing vocalist who pumps up the audience — into approximately 4,000 sex acts with women in front of him and his crew. The 54-year-old rapper, born Joseph Antonio Cartagena, is also accused of having sexual relationships with girls who were 15 and 16. The allegations go back to when the rapper was in his late 30s, the lawsuit says. Fat Joe's song 'She's My Mama,' which has graphically sexual lyrics, was based on what is alleged to have happened with him and one of the girls in real life, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit states that Dixon's role over about 16 years was more than that of the usual hype man. He 'consistently' had duties that included co-writing lyrics, structuring hooks, recording background vocals, performing at more than 200 live shows as Fat Joe's primary onstage counterpart and managing travel logistics, including equipment transport, security and emergency arrangements. The complaint alleges that Dixon also acted as Joe's bodyguard and handler during tours. According to the filing, Dixon wrote or co-wrote tracks including 'Congratulations,' 'Money Over Bitches,' 'Ice Cream,' 'Cupcake,' 'Blackout,' 'Dirty Diana,' 'Porn Star,' 'Okay Okay,''No Problems,' a version of 'All the Way Up,' '300 Brolic,' 'All I Do Is Win (Remix verse),' 'Red Café (Remix),' 'Winding on Me,' 'Cocababy' and 'Get It for Life.' The complaint alleges that Dixon was not properly paid for his efforts, even though he says he was promised certain ownership percentages and documented credit on songs that Fat Joe released commercially. Dixon, who left Fat Joe's team in 2020, was unable to obtain certain evidence of wrongdoing until a person named as 'Accountant Doe' came forward last year with information, the lawsuit says. Fat Joe 'exercised sole control over contracts, budgets, tour management, licensing, and credit attribution and intentionally omitted Plaintiff's name from liner notes, publishing registrations, and royalty structures, despite Plaintiff's direct contributions to these works' creative and commercial success,' the complaint says. Joe Tacopina, an attorney for Fat Joe, called the lawsuit 'a blatant attack of retaliation' and labeled the allegations 'complete fabrications' that his client denies in a statement to Variety. Retaliation referred to the slander lawsuit that the rapper filed against Dixon in April after the former hype man accused him on social media of flying a 16-year-old across state lines for sex. Dixon's attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, is also representing producer Lil Rod (Rodney Jones) in his $30-million federal lawsuit filed last year against Sean 'Diddy' Combs and others in Combs' orbit, in which Lil Rod alleged sexual harassment and sexual assault. A judge tossed out a majority of Lil Rod's allegations against Combs in late March. Both lawsuits include trigger warnings in bright red type ahead of the allegations — something not often seen in such documents. 'Fat Joe is Sean Combs minus the Tusi [pink cocaine],' Blackburn said in a statement to the Independent. 'He learned nothing from his 2013 federal conviction,' the attorney added, referencing Fat Joe's four-month sentence and $15,000 fine in a plea deal for failure to file a tax return in multiple years on more than $3.3 million in income. In addition to Fat Joe, defendants in the new lawsuit include Peter 'Pistol Pete' Torres, Richard 'Rich Player' Jospitre, Erica Juliana Moreira and several companies —including Roc Nation — that are affiliated with the rapper. Dixon is asking for a jury trial.