Photos: Pixies brought their signature noise-rock to downtown Phoenix

Pixies brought guns and grenades to a knife fight when they crashed the alt-rock party in 1987, dropping their short but bombastic EP, "Come On Pilgrim." They crafted a blend of blistering punk, rock and surf sounds and delivered them loudly and with a reckless, unhinged nature that served as a midpoint for hardcore punks and new wavers to magnetize together. The band hasn't done much slowing down since.

The band, Black Francis/Frank Black (vocals, guitar), Joey Santiago (guitar), Emma Richardson (bass) and David Lovering (drums), kicked off a two-night stop at The Van Buren last night. Richardson is the latest bass player after Paz Lenchantin, who was recently let go by Black.

On this current tour, the band stops in cities for two nights of music. On the first, they play two classic records: "Bossanova" (1990) and "Trompe le Monde" (1991). The second night features songs from their whole catalog, including 2024's "The Night the Zombies Came."

Nearly four decades after making their debut, the band is showing no signs of letting up. Same for the fans — both nights nearly sold out. Kurt Vile & The Violators are the tour's opening act. Vile is also known for The War on Drugs.

Here's a look at both bands in action and every song the Pixies played at The Van Buren on June 16.
The Pixies' setlist:

"Bossanova":

"Cecilia Ann" (The Surftones cover)
"Rock Music"
"Velouria"
"Allison"
"Is She Weird"
"Ana"
"All Over the World"
"Dig for Fire"
"Down to the Well"
"The Happening"
"Blown Away"
"Hang Wire"
"Stormy Weather"
"Havalina"

"Trompe le Monde":

"Trompe le Monde"
"Planet of Sound"
"Alec Eiffel"
"The Sad Punk"
"Head On" (The Jesus and Mary Chain cover)
"U-Mass"
"Palace of the Brine"
"Letter to Memphis"
"Bird Dream of the Olympus Mons"
"Space (I Believe In)"
"Subbacultcha"
"Distance Equals Rate Times Time"
"Lovely Day"
"Motorway to Roswell"
"The Navajo Know"

Encore:
"The Vegas Suite"
"In Heaven" (Lady in the Radiator Song + Peter Ivers & David Lynch cover)
"Here Comes Your Man"
"Where Is My Mind?"