Pixies Take New York City Fans To ‘Heaven’ [Exclusive Photos]

Seeing the Pixies play live is a treat in and of itself, but seeing them at a venue as intimate as New York City's Bowery Ballroom makes for an unforgettable experience. Last night (Sept. 20), the seminal alt-rock band played the last of four consecutive NYC shows, three of which were held at Bowery.

Amid shadowy lighting, the band took to the stage and opened with the U.K. surf version of 'Wave of Mutilation.' Frontman Black Francis' voice sounded as fresh as ever, and while the absence of founding and longtime bassist Kim Deal -- who left the band in June -- was a bit odd at first,  newcomer Kim Shattuck handled backing vocals and the low-end with skill and grace.

The night progressed with a nice mix of songs from throughout the band's storied career, including favorites like 'Hey,' 'Here Comes Your Man' and 'Monkey Gone to Heaven,' off the band's classic 'Doolittle' album. For old-school fans, the band tore through some early tracks like the epic 'Where Is My Mind?' and the manic 'Broken Face,' off 'Surfer Rosa,' as well as 'Nimrod's Son' and 'I've Been Tired,' off their 1987 mini-LP 'Come on Pilgrim.'

But the night was also a showcase of the new, as earlier this month, the band released 'EP1,' their first collection of new material in more than 20 years. The EP followed the separate single 'Bagboy,' which surfaced at the beginning of the summer. The Pixies performed all four tracks off the EP, as well as 'Bagboy,' with the new tunes fitting nicely within the setlist.

The band sounded tight throughout the night, with guitarist Joey Santiago offering up his signature Pixies sound and drummer Dave Lovering pounding away at his kit with aplomb. The night ended very much like it started, with the Pixies playing the 'Doolittle' version of 'Wave of Mutilation.' It served as a fitting bookend, showcasing a new chapter in the career of one of alt-rock's all-time greatest bands.

Check Out Our Exclusive Photos of the Pixies at Bowery Ballroom: