Pixies unveil Big Apple shows

The Pixies, who recently announced plans to play their first L.A. shows since 1991, will end an equally long New York City drought with a pair of December headlining stops.

As part of its fall tour, which kicks off on Sept. 4, the group will perform at the Big Apple's Hammerstein Ballroom on Dec. 12-13, marking its first headlining dates in the city since a Nov. 23, 1991 performance at The Ritz.

Tickets for the New York concerts will go on sale on Friday (8/13) at all Ticketmaster outlets, according to a press release.

So far, the Pixies have sold out shows in a number of cities, including four consecutive nights at Chicago's Aragon Ballroom. Other sellouts include Atlanta, Vancouver, Berkeley, Orlando, Minneapolis, Toronto, Montreal and Philadelphia.

More tour dates will be announced, and the outing is expected to run until Christmas, according to the group's publicist.

Earlier this year, the original Pixies lineup--vocalist/guitarist Frank Black (a.k.a. Black Francis and Charles Thompson), guitarist Joey Santiago, bassist Kim Deal and drummer David Lovering--reunited and toured together for the first time since holding down the opening slot on U2's 1992 Zoo TV tour.

Last month, the group released via Apple's iTunes Music Store their first new song in 13 years. Deal wrote the track, titled "Bam Thwok," and handles lead vocals.