AS A teenager, seeing Pixies live for the first time was a formative, rock’n’roll experience that will always be cherished. They came, tilted the world on its axis and promptly split up. Since then, a thousand and one guitar bands have been inspired by Pixies’ incendiary mixture of metal, punk and pop, including the likes of Nirvana, who openly acknowledged their debt to the Boston-based quartet.

Now, a whole new generation of kids has been turned on by a catalogue of songs that have aged remarkably well in the 14 years since their last album, Trompe Le Monde. At least 20,000 fans filled the pitch of Ireland’s national football stadium as fresh-faced teenagers mingled happily with rheumy-eyed thirtysomethings eager to recapture the excitement of youth.

The set was made up largely of the first three albums, Come on Pilgrim, Surfer Rosa and Doolittle — there was no new material performed despite recent talk of a new album in the offing — and while it generally rattled along at customary breakneck speed, the decision to open with the slow version of Wave of Mutilation and follow it with the sublime but subdued In Heaven seemed a curious one.

That said, the latter featured the ever-adorable Kim Deal on lead vocals. Wearing a plain red top and comfortable pants, the band’s talismanic bassist beamed with a smile that said, “I can’t believe how much fun this is! And look how many people came to see us!” Deal also led the way at the finale, having been coaxed by singer Black Francis to step up to the mike for a suitably rousing Gigantic, while earlier her famous “whoo-hoo” intro to Where is my Mind? served as the signal for a mass celebratory singalong.

They deviated from their blueprint of quick, lean, no-frills rock’n’roll for Vamos, an extended workout that saw the drummer Dave Lovering throw a drumstick to the lead guitarist Joey Santiago so he could coax the squalling feedback from his six-string all the better.

Earlier, the Kings of Leon disappointed with a flat and sluggish display that didn’t do justice to their fine second album Aha Shake Heartbreak. Admittedly. The Followill clan have much to learn from Pixies about the dynamics of playing large outdoor spaces such as this. For now, they are probably best seen in smaller clubs indoors.

Carling Reading Festival, tonight; Carling Leeds Festival, Sat; Edinburgh Meadowbank Stadium, Sun; Manchester Apollo, 30; Alexandra Palace, London, Wed 31 & Thur, Sept 1