Concert Review: Pixies Live at Festival Hall Melbourne (19/11/25)
Summary: ... wow
4.8
Flawless music!
Last night I finally got to see the Pixies live at Festival Hall in Melbourne, and honestly, it was everything I hoped for. I’ve loved this band for about 30 years, and this was my first time seeing them in the flesh, so walking into Festival Hall already felt huge. The venue means a lot to me — it’s where I first saw Run-DMC when I was around the age of 14 (53 now) — so coming back for a bucket-list band made the whole night feel special from the start.
The crowd was mostly people around my age, with a few younger fans mixed in. You could tell everyone was here for the same reason: to hear these albums played properly, start to finish, no messing around. The albums were none other than Bossanova and Trompe Le Mond.
The support act was Elliot & Vincent, a two-piece from Auckland. They came out swinging with a simple but tight setup — drums, guitar, strong vocals. They were a good warm-up, and by the time they walked off, the room was ready.
Then the Pixies walked on and didn’t waste a second. They went straight into Bossanova and played it exactly the way fans have always wanted to hear it — from the first track right through to the last. Hearing those songs live after so many years of listening to them at home or in the car hit me harder than I expected. The pit was moving, the edges of the crowd were cheering, and you could feel the anticipation breaking open track by track.
Frank Black owned the stage. He didn’t need to do much — just his presence and voice were enough — but he gave a few comments here and there about how Bossanova came together. Those little insights were great to hear and added a layer to songs I already knew inside out.
When they finished the first album and kicked into Trompe Le Monde, the energy stayed high. The band smashed through the songs one after another. If I’m being honest, this part of the show felt a bit rushed. The playing was spot-on, but they didn’t share much about the album itself. I would’ve loved a bit of that same behind-the-scenes talk they gave during Bossanova. But musically, they didn’t miss a thing.
Festival Hall did what Festival Hall does — loud, gritty, and full of character. The sound carried well, and being back in that space reminded me why I love live music. It’s one thing to listen to the Pixies on a record; it’s another to hear Frank Black’s voice hitting you in real time, with the crowd reacting to every song the same way you are.
Walking out at the end of the night, I felt genuinely grateful. It’s not often in life you get to tick off something that’s been on your bucket list for decades and have it actually live up to the moment. Seeing the Pixies play both Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde in full, at a venue that already means a lot to me, was something I won’t forget.
If they come back again, I’ll be there in a heartbeat — and next time I’ll hope for just a little more chatter between songs. But honestly, I can’t complain. They showed up, they delivered, and after 30 years of waiting, I finally got my night.
I would like to extend a massive thank you to the venue and marketing team who invited impulsegamer – It was a dream come true to see this amazing band for the first time after being a fan for decades. The venue delivered the goods with great lighting and acoustics. I was beyond grateful to have had this experience.
Related Posts
FIRST HIGHLIGHTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2026 MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL →
FALLOUT™ COLLABORATES WITH BLACKMILK FOR AUSTRALIAN-BRANDED FASHION COLLECTION →
Harry Potter™: The Exhibition Introduces New After Hours Event for 18+ crowd →
