How does one parlay indie cool into a 40-year career? That's the question to which Pixies and a sold-out hall of loyal fans are seeking an answer as the Boston band take to the stage in Glasgow.

The group released a string of critically adored albums in the late 1980s and early 90s before imploding amid intra-band tensions.

Reuniting in 2004 they've been touring and recording pretty much ever since, though since 2013 without original bassist Kim Deal.

The band was cited as an influence by Nirvana, with Kurt Cobain admitting 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' was his attempt at writing a Pixies song, as well as groups like Weezer, Radiohead and Slowdive.

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That is perhaps why, close to 40 years after debut Come on Pilgrim was released, there's a healthy mix of young and old in the Glasgow crowd.

Things get off to a strong start with 'Gouge Away' and 'Wave of Mutilation' from breakthrough LP Doolittle, followed by a cover of local heroes The Jesus and Mary Chain.

Things take something of a dip mid-set as the band work through three tracks from their forthcoming album The Night the Zombies came.

The new 13 song record will be released in time for Halloween, but with most of the crowd as yet unfamiliar there's some shuffling of feet for these newer numbers.

Frontman Black Francis isn't one for helping the crowd through it either, his aversion to any form of stage banter so resolute one can only admire it.

Taking to the stage at 9pm and finishing around 90 minutes later, Pixies go through 25 songs with barely a pause in between, no walking off for an encore, and not a word to the crowd.

It appears the group would rather let the music do the talking, and when the material is as strong as that given an airing in the second half of the set, why not?

'Here Comes Your Man' sparks a mass singalong, before the dark, corrosive 'Monkey Gone to Heaven' and the title track from Trompe le Monde.

More questionable, perhaps, is the decision to play 'Wave of Mutilation' again, this slowed-down 'UK surf' rendition this time, but given it's sandwiched between a raucous 'Debaser' and, of course, 'Where Is My Mind?' the indulgence can be forgiven.

The night ends with a cover of Neil Young's 'Winterlong' and the band come to the front of the stage to take the acclaim of the crowd - wordlessly, of course.