Words
John Bownas
Pictures
John Bownas
3 October 2026
Now, right here, we have genuine American indie royalty… playing in sleepy Bexhill.
Who says the De La Warr Pavillion can’t slug it out with the big hitters when it comes to legendary shows?
Whoever that person is, they probably missed the Pixies gig here a few years ago.
Tonight was epic, and the setlist pristine.
The night found its perfect balance between fresh energy and nostalgic weight, seamlessly weaving material from 2026’s I Built You a Tower alongside their iconic anthems. New tracks like the kinetic Punching the Flowers, the atmospheric How Heavenly a State, and the soaring title track proved how effortlessly their recent output translates to the stage. A subtle highlight came when the band dusted off Envy the Birds—a rare live treat that had long-time fans trading astonished glances.
Yet it was the undisputed heavy hitters that anchored the evening’s emotional highs. Soul Meets Body sparked an early, electric crowd singalong, while the slow-burn bassline of I Will Possess Your Heart built a tense, hypnotic trance across the floor. Ben Gibbard then stripped the arena down to a single spotlight for an intimate, vulnerable rendition of I Will Follow You Into the Dark, leaving thundreds of quiet voices to carry the chorus before the full band returned to deliver a towering, devastatingly cathartic finale in Transatlanticism.
Opening the evening were Florida alt-rock outfit Pool Kids, who proved to be an inspired choice for support. Their sound—a dynamic fusion of intricate math-rock guitarwork, driving rhythms, and soaring, cathartic hooks—instantly won over the early crowd.
Bridging the gap between raw emo vulnerability and polished indie-rock precision, Pool Kids feel like natural torchbearers for the genre, making their spot on this UK tour a seamless fit alongside Death Cab for Cutie. Bringing them along feels like a deliberate nod to indie rock’s lineage, connecting Death Cab’s foundational influence with one of the most exciting acts in its modern wave. By the time their set reached its explosive finish, the stage was perfectly primed for the main event.
We were at