When rumblings of a Pixies reunion tour surfaced last year, most fans were cautiously optomistic. Hopes were tempered by stories of Frank Black and Kim Deal's mutual hatred. After all, Black did break up via fax.

When the tour actually began to take shape, many wondered if the band could ever live up to their legend. The Pixies are highly revered for taking indie music on a new path. Their soft-loud-soft songwriting inspired bands like Radiohead and was a virtual template for Nirvana. The influence of this band on the indie music of the 90s and today can not be overstated. No one wanted to see the Pixies go the way of the Stones and tarnish their legacy by cranking out mediocre tours every few years with astronomical ticket prices. I, for one, would have preferred that they stay pissed off at each other rather than risk a fall from grace.

At the Constitution Hall that night, the Pixies were on a mission to prove themselves up to the task. They came out blazing with "Ed is Dead" and "Gouge Away" then peeled through about 20 more favorites including "Velouria," "Caribou," "Gigantic" and "Monkey Gone to Heaven." They had undeniable chemistry and an incredibly tight sound.

Black amazed with his ability to scream like a banshee and then immediately switch over to sweet crooning, then whispering, then screaming again. Deal's voice was slightly worse for the wear, but not lacking any of her former energy. Her bass playing was flawless. Deal's picked out eighth note lines are the glue that binds the frenzied elements of the rest of the band. Santiago and Lovering had a moment during "Vamos;" where Lovering tossed a drum stick to Santiago while playing, which Santiago then incorporated into a theatrical guitar solo. All in all, it was a roller coaster ride through songs that reminded all in attendance how much fun it was to be a Pixies fan.

So what's next? The band will take at least six months off and then reconvene in the studio. If they're happy with what happens we may see a new CD and another tour in the fall. My fingers are crossed. With my renewed faith, I know whatever is yet to come will not disappoint.

Be sure to mark you calendars for the January 29, PBS airing of the Pixies on Austin City Limits. More info can be found here.