Pixies Close Out St. Paul Residency With a Doolittle-Heavy Blow

Photos by Vito Ingerto

The Pixies wrapped up their two-night residency at the Palace Theater Friday night, and if night one was for the album purists—Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde played front to back—night two was all about the hits. It flat out rocked and was straight to the point and exactly what you'd hope for from a band that helped define alternative rock.

Kicking things off was Kurt Vile and the Violators, who strolled on stage and instantly settled into their signature laid-back groove. Vile’s drawl and hypnotic guitar lines gave the packed crowd some room to breathe before the magic to come. Songs like Mount Airy Hill (Way Gone) and Wakin on a Pretty Day rolled out like a slow-motion daydream, with just enough edge to keep things grounded.

By the time the Pixies hit the stage, the Palace was a full house. I ended up standing on the stairs near the middle of the main floor just to get a clean view—and honestly, perfect decision. The sound was dialed in, the crowd was buzzing, and the Pixies let it rip.

What followed was a Doolittle-heavy set that almost felt like a greatest hits record. Debaser, Monkey Gone to Heaven, Here Comes Your Man, and Caribou all hit in classic style with crowd singing along to every word. They even threw in a handful of newer songs from their latest record, which held their own just fine alongside the classics.

One of my personal favorites from the night was their cover of Neil Young’s Winterlong. It was driving, powerful and flat out rocked.  And let’s talk about Joey Santiago for a second. His guitar tone felt warm, inviting and downright moving. Every squawk, squeal, and bend sounded like it was echoing straight out of a college basement show in 1989—in the best possible way.

Night two of the Pixies’ St. Paul run was one for the books: no-frills, all guts, and just the right amount of nostalgia. For longtime fans, it felt like a victory lap. For newer ones, a crash course in what made the band so influential to begin with.

Paired with Kurt Vile’s easygoing set and a charged-up crowd, the whole night had that rare “yep, this is why we go to shows” kind of magic. Standing on those Palace stairs with the guitars buzzing and the crowd singing along—it just felt right.