Pixies release new single “Oyster Beds”

Pixies have released the new single “Oyster Beds”, the title comes from their recently announced LP The night the zombies cameavailable from October 25th via BMG Records “Oyster Beds” is inspired by Black Francis' return to painting during the band's time at Rockfield Studios. The track reflects the artwork that now hangs in the hallway of Francis' house. He describes it as “a laundry list of things I've painted over the last few years. I started painting again when we were recording at Rockfield and I haven't stopped.” The new single follows the previous single “Chicken”

News of The Night the Zombies comes amid a busy touring schedule with 70 live shows around the world through 2024 – with even more dates announced for 2025. The band have just finished a tour of North America with Modest Mouse and Cat Power and are playing in Europe before returning to the UK in August for a run of already sold-out headline shows at Glasgow Academy and Piece Hall in Halifax, major festival appearances at London's All Points East and Victorious, as well as headline shows at Galway Airport, Custom House Square in Belfast and RDS Simmonscourt in Dublin.

The upcoming concerts mark the Pixies' second visit to the UK this year, following sold-out dates celebrating the Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde albums, including a three-night run at London's Kentish Town Form. In November, the Pixies will travel to New Zealand and Australia to play stadium shows with Pearl Jam.

The Night of the Zombies is the Pixies' tenth album, following their 1987 4AD mini-LP “Come On Pilgrim” and is the first new music since the 2022 LP “Doggerel”. 13 new songs with which the Pixies look forward to another new chapter.

The night the zombies came saw the band re-join producer Tom Dalgety, whom drummer David Lovering calls the “fifth pixie” after producing 2016's “Head Carrier,” 2019's “Beneath the Eyrie,” and 2022's “Doggerel.” Early on in the recording process at Guilford Sound Studio in Vermont, the band noticed that the new songs split into two camps: on the one hand, the “Dust Bowl Songs” – country-tinged, ballad-like numbers like “Primrose” and “Mercy Me” – and on the other, the album's angry punk numbers like “You're So Impatient” and “Oyster Beds.” Only “Jane (The Night the Zombies Came)” falls into both camps – it's reminiscent of early '60s Phil Spector, with the band hitting the sweet spot between cheesy and scratchy; it's a track that Black Francis reportedly compared to being chased by a swarm of bees.

During the recording of Night the Zombies Came, the Pixies also welcomed new bassist Emma Richardson (Band Of Skulls) into the line-up; the first British band member to join the group. Guitarist Joey Santiago also has a larger role. After contributing his very first lyrics for the Pixies on Doggerel, Santiago wrote the lyrics to “Hypnotised” for the new record, solving a kind of complex lyrical puzzle.

Elves
The night the zombies came
Tracklist

1 primrose
2 You are so impatient
3 Jane (The Night the Zombies Came)
4 chickens
5 Hypnotized
6 Johnny Good Man
7 scooters
8 I hear you, Mary
9 oyster beds
10 Have mercy on me
11 Ernest Evans
12 Kings of the Prairie
13 The Vegas Suite

Pixies live dates

AUGUST

23 All Points East, London, United Kingdom [FESTIVAL]
24 Victorious Festival, Portsmouth, UK [FESTIVAL]
25 Rock en Seine, Paris, France [FESTIVAL]
27 Galway Airport, Galway, Ireland
28 Custom House Square, Belfast, United Kingdom [SOLD OUT]
29 RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin, Ireland

2024 Auckland and New Zealand tour with Pearl Jam

NOVEMBER

8 Go Media Stadium Mt Smart, Auckland, New Zealand [SOLD OUT]
10 Go Media Stadium Mt Smart, Auckland, New Zealand
13 Heritage Bank Stadium, Gold Coast, Australia [SOLD OUT]
16 Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia [SOLD OUT]
18 Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
21 Giants Stadium, Sydney, Australia [SOLD OUT]
23 Giants Stadium, Sydney, Australia