PIXIES SURGE THROUGH THE HOLLYWOOD PALLADIUM LIKE A LIVE WIRE TO THE HEART
As the second night of Pixies’ two-show residency at The Hollywood Palladium wrapped up, it became clear why their place in the alt-rock pantheon remains untouchable. Touring North America once again, the band proved they haven’t lost an ounce of edge or urgency, delivering a no-frills, high-impact set that dug deep into their catalog while still feeling immediate and raw.
This week has been an emotional whirlwind in Los Angeles—headlines have been heavy and the city’s energy a bit unsettled—but stepping into the Palladium for this performance felt like taking a collective breath. It was a reminder of what live music can still offer: connection, catharsis, and pure electricity.
The band kept the stage setup minimal, letting the music do the heavy lifting. Black Francis’ vocals were as gritty and haunting as ever, slicing through tracks with the same strange, glorious fury fans have loved for decades. Joey Santiago’s guitar work—angular, unpredictable, and sharp—was a masterclass in controlled chaos. Paz Lenchantin and David Lovering held down a rhythm section that was locked in all night, giving the songs both drive and texture.
Photographically, the Palladium’s lighting setup was moody and dynamic—perfect for capturing Pixies’ trademark blend of menace and melody. From icy blues to pulsing reds, the visuals played beautifully against the band’s shifting tempos and tones. I focused my shots on those in-between moments: the silhouettes, the backlit head tosses, the quiet tension between eruptions.
What stood out most about this particular night wasn’t just the band’s precision or the sheer volume of iconic tracks—it was the way the crowd responded. From longtime fans mouthing every lyric to younger faces soaking it all in for the first time, there was a shared reverence in the room. The Palladium became a time capsule and a proving ground all at once, as generations of Pixies fans converged to experience something that felt both nostalgic and urgent.
Without needing grand gestures or overstated farewells, Pixies closed night two with the same understated cool they’ve carried since their earliest days. No gimmicks, no pandering—just pure, unrelenting sound. For a band that helped shape the DNA of alternative rock, it was a performance that reminded everyone in the room that influence alone means nothing without fire. And on this night in Los Angeles, Pixies still burned bright.
