Why would we want anybody else? In our defense, Pale Waves are our best friends and they’ve got just the right amount of angst pop-rock to prove it. Please welcome…
PALE WAVES
Of course, bands typically choose support slots based on their genre or familiarity, yet in the case of swim school, they feel very much like an early-days Pale Waves. Staggeringly so, with their songs blurring together beautifully in melodic shoegaze. “When we first started out, we got told we were a s**t Pale Waves,” Frontwoman Alice Johnson chuckles along to the guitar weeping slide and badum tshhh! anecdotally thrown in. “Jokes on that person, they’re the nicest people ever, and talented— and now we’re on tour with them!” With the amps humming long after they’ve finished their set, they leave a charitable impression upon those who turned up early and truly set the vibe for the night ahead.
Make notes: always show up for the support act!!
The last time that Pale Waves performed a full show in Nottingham was almost two years ago, in the exact same room they’re in now. Maybe that would set off some alarm bells about ‘lack of progression’, yet they’re hardly stagnating on the musical front. Accentuating that formulaic angst with some mise en scène, the stage is adorned with carpets, chandeliers with ivy-covered stands and Greek-style sculptures for good measure. How quaint.
“Rock City, what a classic venue to celebrate Smitten! And we are just ‘smitten’ with you tonight!”
In truth, it’s not something they need. The hallmark of a Pale Waves show is always an immaculate vibe, brought about by how light and lush their pop songs can be. As a means of kicking off a new era, the opening pair of Perfume and Not A Love Song instantly capture the crowd.
Pale Waves know how to capture a crowd – and that’s exactly what they did. Wearing leather head to toe, and enough dark eyeshadow to ward off any stray parents at the show, Baron-Gracie projected a strong aura of danger and excitement that made taking your eyes off her impossible. And with enough added theatricality and performance, it was clear she had nailed the formula to being the ideal frontwoman for the modern-day indie rock band.
As Baron-Gracie drapes herself in the lesbian flag during She’s My Religion, it’s met with uproarious reaction in a room of proudly queer people sharing a human moment with an artist who isn’t a physical million miles away. For Pale Waves, populism isn’t about the sheer number of bodies in front of them; it’s about connecting with the ones there already.
PALE WAVES PERFORMED SUNDAY 6TH OCTOBER
WORDS: TALIA ROBINSON
ROCK CITY NOTTINGHAM
We’re not only Nottingham’s favourite venue and nightclub – we’re the UK’s best live venue with a rich history of performers that have played here. A massive cheers to Pale Waves!
Also while you’re at it, why not check out our gig guide and see if any other of your favourite artists like Pale Waves are playing soon! We also have our club nights on a Thursday (Tuned), Friday (Get Lucky) and Saturday (Rebel Rebel) so check those out too!
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