The Pixies / The Jezabels @ Barrowlands, 22 November

In a Glaswegian musical weekend boasting The Pixies, Shellac and noise-rock throw-backs Metz, you could be forgiven for thinking that you had tumbled, ripped-jeans-first, into some early 90s wormhole.

In fact, this evening's openers, The Jezebels, apparently kept on tumbling all the way back to the mid-80s. Intermittently channelling the voices of Chrissie Hynde, Annie Lennox, Kate Bush and Pat Benatar, front-woman Hayley Mary is a gifted singer and a slight but salient presence. With their richly-melodic – if slightly corny – sparkling electronic indie swimming pleasantly around a busying room, there are enough engaging choruses on display to ensure wider appeal and no edges whatsoever to cause offence.

As preparations commence for one of modern music's most hyperbolically blessed bands, even the simple act of placing a (huge) set-list next to a microphone prompts many craned necks, strained eyes and excited mutterings. When The Pixies do eventually walk on stage it is with characteristic lack of fuss. No words are exchanged, just song after song.

Noticeably absent are the compositions of Kim Deal, the bassist having departed the band this year. Thankfully her current replacement, Kim Shattuck of 90s indie punk outfit The Muffs, ably fills that Kim-shaped gap in enthusiastic style. Amidst the many high points of tonight's breathless set are the ragged howls of Tame, the rapturously received Debaser and the sardonic lyrical wit of Holiday Song.

A playful bit of miming prior to encore and some extended anti-solo-ing from the normally sedate Joey Santiago reflects the warm vibes radiated from an adoring audience. As the venue rather blatantly turns up the house lights with two songs still remaining the band are amused but unflustered and finish when they are good and ready. Sadly it's still too soon for a capacity Glaswegian crowd who would probably still be in that room right now.