Pixies played a sold-out concert at Columbiahalle (Berlin) last Sunday.

The Experience

I really like going to concerts at Columbiahalle, and I’ve had amazing experiences there like the Suede in May 2022. But I don’t think this was the best venue choice for this one specifically. It was overcrowded, consequently unpleasant and claustrophobic, even more for a gig that was notoriously going to last more than two hours. Frustrating to say the least for someone who’s waited so many years to see the band live.

However, in terms of punctuality, band presentation, support team and the quality of audio and lighting equipment, everything was impeccable! I especially love the band’s bass lines, and I could feel them pounding in my chest and mixing with my heartbeat. Exactly all that I expect from a concert like this.

The talented multi-instrumentalist Paz Lenchantin has been the band’s bassist since late 2013, replacing Kim Deal. And she is really good indeed! The other three members of the band, Black Francis (lyrics, vocals and rhythm guitar), Dave Lovering (lead guitar) and Joey Santiago (drums) need no comment. They are the same since the formation of the band in 1986.

So the balance of course was positive!

The Doggerel Tour

Now in Europe, the tour presents the new album Doggerel, the band’s eighth album released in September 2022. They practically played the entire album (eleven tracks), only missing “You’re Such a Sadducee”.

They also played tracks from every other album: eight from Doolittle (1989), five from Surfer Rosa (1988), four from Come on Pilgrim (1987), two from Bossanova (1990), two from Trompe le Monde (1991), one from Beneath the Eyrie (2019) and the single track Human Crime released in March 2022.

The concert lasted approximately 02:10 (the average is 02:25), without the right to an encore. But Black Francis warned: “we’re going to play four more tracks, including the one everyone’s been waiting for (he was referring to Where Is My Mind?) and that’s it, ok!?”

The set list (34 songs in total) can be checked on setlist.fm.

Berlin

Full of energy in a memorable performance, the band members seemed very happy with the Berlin audience, as well as their fans: people of all ages and nationalities.

I was particularly surprised to see teenagers, some very young, looking so excited to be there.

The band proves that they haven’t aged and are getting better every day!

In the photos, six albums that we have in our collection here in Berlin.

Text and photos by Lydia Himmen.