RECAP: THE PIXIES NORTH AMERICAN TOUR AT THE ORPHEUM THEATRE

Backspin Canada
Jun 26
4 min read

Updated: Jun 28

The Pixies kicked off the first of two nights at Vancouver's Orpheum Theatre on June 26, 2025, as part of their sprawling 41-date North American Tour. Dubbed a "Two Night Residency," the stop marked the band’s 18th performance in Vancouver since their first visit in 1989. For longtime fans, it was more than just another show - it was a tribute to the enduring legacy of a band that helped shape alternative rock.

Photos by Tage Stenner / Backspin Canada — Photos by **Tage Stenner** / Backspin Canada

The Orpheum, with its vintage design and rich acoustics, proved to be an ideal match for the Pixies' signature blend of surf rock textures, noisy bursts, and hypnotic melodies. As the ninth stop on the tour, Vancouver was treated to something special: the band played two of their albums in full - first 1990's Bossanova, followed by 1991's Trompe Le Monde.

Before the Pixies took the stage, Kurt Vile & The Violators warmed up the packed house with a laid-back, psych-rock set that featured highlights like "Pretty Pimpin," "Wakin on a Pretty Day," and "Back to Moon Beach." In between songs, Vile greeted the crowd, saying, "It’s been a minute Vancouver," nodding to his long-standing relationship with the city.

At 9:20 PM exactly, the lights went out and the Pixies' signature "P" logo glowed behind the stage. The crowd let out a roar as the band emerged one by one, with frontman Black Francis casually walking on last, sipping from a mug before taking his place at the mic. There was no flashy entrance, no overblown theatrics - just the Pixies being the Pixies.

Opening with the surf-rock instrumental "Cecilia Ann," the band wasted no time diving headfirst into Bossanova, playing it front-to-back. The performance moved seamlessly through tracks like "Velouria," "Is She Weird," and "Dig for Fire," capturing the album's strange, spacey mood. The crowd swayed, headbanged, and sang along throughout, visibly appreciating the rare experience of hearing an entire album performed live.

After a brief pause, they transitioned into Trompe Le Monde, blasting through fan favorites like "Planet of Sound," "U-Mass," and "Alec Eiffel." A standout moment came during their cover of The Jesus and Mary Chain's "Head On," a track that gave the crowd a jolt of adrenaline and reminded everyone just how wide the Pixies' influence spans. They held nothing back as they pushed through to the end of the set with raw precision.

Naturally, when "Where Is My Mind?" rang out near the end of the night, the room erupted. Arms shot up, voices lifted, and for a few minutes, the crowd became one giant choir echoing one of alt-rock’s most iconic refrains. By the time they closed with "Into the White," the stage bathed in feedback and distortion, fans had been taken on a ride through three decades of beautifully chaotic music.

With Night 1 now in the books, anticipation is high for what Night 2 will bring. But for those lucky enough to attend Thursday's show, they witnessed the Pixies doing what they do best: redefining what a rock show can feel like. The connection with Vancouver clearly hasn't faded, and after all these years, the band still knows how to shake a room to its foundation.

The Pixies continue their North American run through September, hitting cities like Montreal, Brooklyn, Austin, and Atlanta, before closing out at the Shaky Knees Festival. If Vancouver was any indication, the rest of the continent is in for something memorable back-to-back shows.

Upcoming North American Tour Dates

July 8 - Montreal, QC - MTELUS

July 9 - Montreal, QC - MTELUS

July 12 - Ottawa, ON - Ottawa Bluesfest

July 15 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Paramount

July 16 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Paramount

July 18 - Boston, MA - MGM Music Hall at Fenway

July 19 - Boston, MA - MGM Music Hall at Fenway

July 22 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore

July 23 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore

July 25 - Washington, DC - The Anthem

July 26 - Washington, DC - The Anthem