Pixies: Live Review

There are many things you can guarantee with a Pixies concert.

Whether it's the ferocious crunching guitar work of Joey Santiago, the punishingly deep rhythms of drummer David Lovering, the primordial scream amd the snapping, snarling vocals of Black Francis or the bass work of new addition Emma Richardson, there's a well-oiled machine that's been pumping out music on the college rock scene for decades.

Credit: Tom Grut

But what's truly unexpected in the first concert of their New Zealand tour which stretches over two-night residencies in Auckland and Wellington is to hear the dulcet tones of Black Francis speaking to the crowd, which is mainly comprised of older-end middle-aged members and youngsters not born when the albums were first released.

Clocking up some ten studio albums during their time since their formation some 40 years ago, the band's back catalogue is not in doubt, and their aloof on-stage presence only added to the mystique.

But sauntering onto the stage, dressed in the traditional black troubadour outfit and sunglasses along with his bandmates, and supping from what suspiciously looks like a mug of something normal, he opens by thanking the crowd for coming along, having given them a friendly wave. It's a positively seismic moment for the group and fans who seem collectively taken aback.

And throughout the 100 minute swathe through the entirety of the brilliant Bossanova with its surf-rock anthems and UFO medleys and the more rockier Trompe Le Monde, Francis is keen to assume the role of a narrator, telling the audience where the group ended up in certain moments on the albums, joking that some songs are their silly ones (how he introduces the ever brilliant Dig for Fire, a live and session favourite for decades - and rightly so) and relating the fall of the college rock era. It's the most the audience has ever heard him speak outside of rare interviews.

1990's Bossanova and 1991's Trompe Le Monde were the group's last records of the decade, but lacked none of the edge of the band, and showcased their penchant for harmonies, as well as the deepening of a back catalogue that would become session favourites with DJs such as the UK's John Peel and live-set essentials. It's an intriguing premise in Bossanova's case to do the whole thing live as it relies more on a melody and ear for harmony than Surfer Rosa and Come On Pilgrim brought - but it showcased a welcome maturity and an ear for medley that coursed through their career.

Credit: Tom Grut

As the first of a two-night residency in both Auckland and Wellington, those 1990s stone-cold classics got an airing in their entirety, with a polite moment of Francis telling the audience after some background, "Blabbity, blah - here comes Bossanova."

It's an intriguing prospect to do a live rendition of an album. It leaves little room for manouevre, thanks to a tight structure and an expected setlist. Even the lead singer noted how short their songs were at one point.

In truth, Bossanova has always been a superlative album and what follows is an excellent reminder of why. Bathed in blues, oranges and delivering their live renditions with calm and accurate precision, Pixies unleashed some of the best tracks of the 1990s once again in 2025, with every single one sounding as fresh, urgent and as occasionally dirty as they did back then. (Though early vocals seemed lost in the mix, something that was quickly corrected.)

As the blue lights surrounded the band during Velouria, phones went aloft from the audience to catch the song and the moment; the growing cacophony of Is She Weird saw selfies from various audience members keen to capture the song's urgency and harmony. But the continual punch of the All Over The World, Dig for Fire, Down To the Well and The Happening (one of the best-ever songs Pixies made) showcased the group's contrast and appeal.

Soulful harmonies, melodies and Francis' guttural roar all sound as fresh now as they did then, a reminder of the power of the anguish and vocal range he's always been able to call on. Yet as a group, Pixies' power has always come from the fact each member of the group cohesively gels, creating the wall of sound they've become synonymous for - and which, 40 years on, shows no sign of abating.

There's even time for frivolity as Trompe Le Monde's opening track is messed up by Francis and he laughs, exhorting Joey to "go one more time". There's a looseness to the dynamic between the group even though the set is tightly structured and controlled, a comfort that comes from decades of knowing each other's ins and outs and the respect for the tunes they deliver.

Credit: Tom Grut

The one-two punch of Planet of Sound and Alec Eiffel pushes the Auckland crowd into a pogoing and moshing frenzy, and a fond recollection of how "the sun was lower in the sky and shone less bright" intros nicely how the group found their love for the Jesus & Mary Chain's Head On. 

Yet, in truth, it's just great to hear songs like The Happening, Palace of the Brine and Stormy Weather dispatched to audiences and in the context of a live album being played, it may feel like there's no surprises as you know the track order, but collectively, these songs still sound as cohesive, intense and as exceptional as they did in the 1990s, delivered by a group that's consistently and constantly on form.

While the stage set-up may have lacked some of the creativity of their overseas shows (no sign of the Trompe Le Monde eyes that graced Manchester), the simple P of their name held court aloft the Auckland Town Hall, changing into different hues as the songs played out. Every single light choice bathed the band in their glory and added much wherever in the room you were.

Credit: Tom Grut

An extra three-punch finale of Wave of Mutilation's surf version, Where is My Mind and Everlong may have closed off proceedings, but despite the crowd's ecstasy at those final numbers, this is a show that worked well as a whole, improved the idea of simply putting on the album and listening to it, and which really demonstrated that when they're on the top of their game, there's no one better than Pixies to make the college rock era live on forever.

(Make sure to get there early to see support act Elliot & Vincent, an incredible powerhouse duo that more than hold their own as openers to Pixies and who won over plenty of new fans with an incredibly assured performance as openers.)

Pixies play Auckland Town Hall on Monday November 24 with a classic set of hits, before heading to Wellington for a 2-night residency of Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde live, and a night of classic hits.