Pixies: Unconventional and Uncompromising at Leeds O2 Academy [Photos]

Alternative icons Pixies returned to Leeds in support of their latest album, The Night the Zombies Came, which is yet another magnum opus in the band’s legendary history of iconic albums.

The Academy bore witness to the legendary alt-rock pioneers once again proving why their raw, weird and unrelenting music continues to resonate across multiple generations, with many of those in attendance having the torch passed to them by their parents who lived through it the first time.

They were all treated to a 30+ song set that covered the entirety of their career and offered a chance to sing, dance, and wipe away the years for many. A healthy number of tracks from the new album and a ‘normal bands’ full set worth of all-time classics made for a truly bumper show.

The off-kilter guitars and instantly recognisable voice of Black Francis letting you know there’s a boxcar waitin’ outside, or the primal howl of “Debaser” are all you need to be instantly transported back to your youth – because it meant so much to you back then.

With Dave Lovering and Emma Richardson providing a base for Joey Santiago to layer his unique and engaging guitars over, it’s clear that they still have that thing that most bands only ever strive for – effortless cool. “Hey” sums that up with its sparseness and vulnerability and is always a standout.

There’s no time wasted on pomp or conversation which is how they can give you such a value for money set, which only adds to the fever dream feeling for the older diehard fans and creates, to jaw-dropping effect, a night the newer ones will remember forever.

The flying P logo at the back of the stage is a wonderful sight to see and is really the only nod to any kind of stage presence. There’s not much in the way of light and not much in the way of interaction – but there doesn’t need to be – the quiet/loud/quiet/loud flow of the set is enough. Pixies don’t rely on spectacle – they are the spectacle.

They stand apart from any other band. Head and shoulders above many. Uncompromising and unmistakable — raw and weird and still, 4 decades into it — wholly essential.

Our photographer, Frank Ralph Photography, headed down to the show, and you can check out his gallery of images here:

Pixies @ O2 Academy (Leeds, UK) on May 19th, 2025

24 photos