In October, Rock City was graced by indie-rock stars Pale Waves on the third date of their Smitten tour. Supported by rising trio Swim School, it was a captivating night...
Swim School brought their dreamy, shoegaze-infused indie rock to the Rock City stage, blending shimmering guitars with lead singer Alice Johnson’s unreal vocals. Their sound is reminiscent of early Wolf Alice or Beabadoobee, but with a distinctive edge of their own. Tracks such as Anyway and Let Me Inside Your Head set a moody yet energetic tone for the night.
Alice's comment that the band were once called "S***e Pale Waves" and are touring with them was telling as to how far the trio have come. Despite being relatively new to the national UK scene, Swim School performed with confidence and a stage presence that’s bound to take them much further.
As the lights dimmed for Pale Waves, anticipation built throughout Rock City. The Manchester quartet, led by frontwoman Heather Baron-Gracie, stormed onto the stage, opening with the debut single from the smitten era, perfume, then into a classic pale waves tune, There's a Honey. The crowd responded with enthusiastic singalongs, fully immersed in the infectious melodies and angsty lyrics that have defined Pale Waves’ rise in recent years.
The stage setup added to the immersive experience, featuring two massive chandeliers, statues and leaves—an aesthetic nod to the visuals of their latest album Smitten.
Heather gave the crowd the choice between Unwanted and Red, which was met with a resounding yes to the second option, which is one of my favourite of their tunes. I was on the balcony for the gig, for my first time at Rock City; for Pale Waves, this was the best seat in the house, as you could see everything that was happening.
Thinking About You was dedicated to a couple on the front row who couldn't decide who liked the band. Gifts were thrown onto the stage in the form of a pink cowboy hat, sunglasses and a pink scarf, which was "not Heather's aesthetic," but it was absolutely for her dog!
The band’s tight musicianship was evident, with drummer Ciara Doran’s precise beats driving the energy, while guitarist Hugo Silvani and bassist Charlie Wood added layers of lush sound that filled the room. Pale Waves’ blend of emo lyrics with shimmering pop melodies worked perfectly in the live setting, creating a bittersweet yet uplifting vibe. Heather spoke openly about her sexuality and how she felt there was not a lot of representation in the media when she was growing up. Before playing their hit She's My Religion, she commented, "Releasing this song was the first time I felt comfortable being open."
They left the stage picture black, with the only source of light being the chandeliers. And of course they came back to play Jealousy which caused the crowd to erupt.
There is no other band quite like Pale Waves; their shows feel more like a performance than a gig, due to their stage design and unmissable presence.
Pale Waves performed at Rock City on 6th October 2024. We interviewed Pale Waves ahead of their tour - you can catch up here.
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