Concert Review - Pixies - Auckland - 23rd November 2025
Presented by Live Nation
Pixies Live in Auckland - Photo Credit Azrie Azizii
Review By - Sarah Kidd
Artist/Band - Pixies supported by Elliot & Vincent
Venue/City - Auckland Town Hall, Auckland, New Zealand
Date of Event - Sunday 23rd November 2025
Kiwi favourites the Pixies were back in town last night as part of their ‘two night residency in each city’ tour, which will see them play in both Tāmaki Makaurau and Wellington.
Diehard fans were chomping at the bit as they filed into the Town Hall; many bands will often throw in a deep cut here and there on a set list, but the Pixies always take it one step further. This current world tour sees them play 1990’s Bossanova and 1991’s Trompe le Monde albums in full.
Having formed in 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts, the Pixies are one of the seminal bands that soundtracked the ‘90s. Cleverly blending elements of punk and surf rock with dashes of alternative (as well as a few other secret ingredients), they soon became the favourites of many a fan, and though they never gained star status in their home country, Europe and the UK couldn’t get enough.
During this period in their career, they released – in many a listener’s opinion – some of their best work. Albums such as Surfer Rosa and Doolittle produced tracks that are still played regularly on radio stations today. However, that all came to a grinding halt when in 1993 vocalist Black Francis announced that the Pixies were ‘finished’. The band members went their separate ways and began working on various other musical endeavours. Fast forward a few years, and in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Pixies appeared on stage at the Fine Line Music Café, and the rest as they say, is history.
Wasting no time, the Pixies arrived on the Auckland Town Hall stage to raucous applause and cheers, their latest bass player Emma Richardson (Band of Skulls) in tow, having joined the band last year, replacing the incomparable Paz Lenchantin.
As they say, you can only start at the beginning and that is exactly what Francis did following a succinct introduction to the evening. Cecilia Ann, an instrumental piece that appears first on the Bossanova album, is a track with a bravado to it which set the tone perfectly for Francis to dive straight into the grungier Rock Music, that saw those in the general admission section jumping up and down on the spot, while others preferred to just headbang. Francis may be 60 now, but his vocals on Rock Music were just as visceral as they were back in the ‘90s, proving that he is still a force to be reckoned with.
A simple backdrop that very cleverly used the impressive lighting allowed many of the tracks to slip seamlessly in and out of the mood of the song, from battle cries to laments about a sad punk. Just off to the right hung a stunning light that was the iconic winged P, it too shifting hues to accompany the music being played at its feet.
Velouria was next and prompted the first of a few singalongs, as one of the more recognisable songs for casual fans. The chorus, simple yet endearing, was somewhat of an earworm in the best way, and many were heard to still be humming it at the end of the night while exiting the building.
‘We’re not really a surf band, but we like surf music.’ Francis went on to say that while they can’t be categorised as a particular genre, they are nevertheless admirers of all the music they are often described as.
Throughout Bossanova, the tracks shifted from chugging momentum to delightful drifts through musical whimsy. Allison, and Dig for Fire were particular standouts, those in attendance obviously having their own personal favourites, but each track delivered with aplomb. Hang Wire had a particular ferocity that was emboldened by both guitarist Joey Santiago and David Lovering on drums, before Stormy Weather set off another jaunty singalong.
‘We’ll call this the deepest cut,’ Francis informed the room, before the rather pretty Havalina signalled the end of the Bossanova album. The Pixies had barely taken a breath before Francis declared that he was ready to go, before laughing and stating that they would try that ‘one more time’, as the title track of Trompe le Monde suffered from a little hiccup.
While a continuation of that college sound, there is quite a definitive shift change to the tempo and overall feel of Trompe le Monde, as Planet of Sound quite clearly demonstrated, with its undulating bass lines and straight-out rock star guitar solo, as Francis destroyed the vocals, had the Town Hall shaking its money makers. Alec Eiffel only stoked the fire more.
‘There is a song called The Lonely Surfer by Jack Nitzsche. It is a great song and if you have the chance, you should check it out,’ Francis advised the audience, before informing them that the next song, The Sad Punk, is their version. It is full of peaks and troughs and was an absolute treat to listen to live.
Describing how the sun was a little low in the sky and shone a little less bright on the college scene, Francis made a quip about Head On, which of course is a cover of The Jesus and Mary Chain – again a very popular track amongst the audience and delivered impeccably.
U-Mass followed it up, Francis’ vocals only getting better as the night wore on. While Richardson would also periodically provide back-up vocals, there were times where hers were just not coming through. This could have been down to some minor technical difficulties, which seemed to right themselves again towards the end of the show.
‘In 1991 we got to work with Jef, spelled with one F,’ Francis declared, as the slightly off-kilter notes of Space (I Believe In) began to dance across the room. Subbacultcha, with its lyricism that makes one grin from ear to ear and raunchy, dive-bar swagger, slapped everyone in the face to ensure they understood who was in charge.
The deepest cut from Trompe le Monde was declared by Francis to be Motorway to Roswell, The Navajo Know bringing to a close an epic performance of 29 songs.
But why stop there? ‘The sky had fallen on the era of college rock. No fun looking forward – so let’s look back for a little longer.’ The fans cheered in approval.
There would be no encore, or quick pit stop, the Pixies once again moving straight into a sublime rendition of Wave of Mutilation from the 1989 album Doolittle before the instantly recognisable Where is My Mind? from 1988’s Surfer Rosa appeared, Francis giving the impression ever so slightly that he is well and truly done with playing it live any more, but knowing that there is an expectation and longing for it. The Pixies drew out the outro, much to the joy of many.
To bring this incredible evening of live music to a close, a cover of Neil Young’s Winterlong, which seemed fitting, the band moving away from their instruments to stand arm and arm to take a few bows as everyone enthusiastically applauded.
Having just released their latest album, The Night the Zombies Came, the second show promises to be an extravaganza for any fan of the Pixies, as it lays down a ‘classics Pixies set’ spanning their discography, with a few tracks from their latest offering peppered throughout.
The sun may have gone down on college music, according to Black Francis, but it certainly has not gone down on the Pixies, who continue to be an integral part and definitive influencer of the musical landscape.
