The Line for Pixies Tickets Was So Long, So Long

Mike and Allison Ostrowski were the first people in line to buy Pixies tickets when they went on sale Thursday at 2 p.m. They arrived to claim the pole position at 7:30 a.m. / Photo by Garrett Quinn

Hundreds of music fans formed a long orderly line outside the Orpheum box office Thursday. It snaked around Suffolk Law School and all the way into Downtown Crossing, as fans waited for a mere chance of being able to purchase tickets to see the Pixies play a surprise show at the soon-to-be closed T.T. the Bear’s Place in Cambridge.

Of the hundreds in line, only 300 ultimately received tickets to see the legendary western Massachusetts rockers at the tiny Central Square venue. Recipients of the prized ducats were given red wristbands to eliminate the possibility of scalping.

Mike and Allison Ostrowski, both 33, were the first two people in line to buy tickets. Mike arrived at 7:30 a.m. to hold down a spot while the line outside the Orpheum grew. The lucky Cambridge couple says they would never sell the tickets, even though a man was offering people in line $1,000 cash.

“It’s a special place for me because I’ve played there before,” said Mike, a bass player.

Deeper in the line stood Anthony Listo, 28, of Dorchester. Listo took his spot in line at 11:30 and said that he had to be there. “I’ve blown too many chances to see the Pixies,” said Listo.

At the corner of the alley leading to the Orpheum and Tremont Street stood Dustin Watson, 27 of Allston, and Maraide Kelly, 23, of Canton. The pair were so far away from the entrance to the Orpheum box office that it was hard to see the door. Still, they were optimistic.

“You can’t pass up the Pixies. I would wait in this line to see them at any venue,” said Kelly, though she added that T.T. the Bear’s Place is a special club.

Watson saw it both ways.

“I’ve seen the Pixies a handful of times but never somewhere this small. I’ve been to T.T’s a bunch of times but never seen a band there this big,” said Watson.

The Pixies are playing T.T. the Bear’s Place in Central Square at 9 p.m tonight. Tickets are sold out.