Pale Waves at the Forum
Peaking at number one across indie album charts, British rockers Pale Waves are no strangers to making waves. Tonight, though, instead of being their pale selves, they are bright, crashing down on the crowd with an amplitude that makes the entire place vibrate.
From the opening chords of Lies to the closing notes of You’re So Vain, they fire up the already heated venue, showcasing songs from their latest release, Unwanted. Despite this being one of the first times the tracks have been played live, the Forum shout along. Vocalist Heather Baron-Gracie, bassist Charlie Wood and guitarist Hugo Silvani all don black attire, almost blending into the background, coordinated with drummer, Ciara Doran, who melds into the white of the logo – but their energy is what gives them light and makes them stand apart.
This vitality drives forward You Don’t Own Me. No one may own them, but they certainly own the stage: this is a raw, powerful anthem that all women can relate to, but every one cheers and sings, regardless of gender. Fan favourite Television Romance sees Baron-Gracie pushing the point as she leads on electric guitar.
Their new track, Clean is just as relatable, with the frontwoman first addressing the crowd, asking if anyone is having one of those days when they just feel anxious. It is unclear whether they agree or not, as they continue in the same way, erupting into deafening screams. Still, the call for queer people and the band’s clear support is touching to everyone, and there’s no need to ask them to sing along loudly – that is a given. “Oo”s ring out instantaneously, almost before Baron-Gracie has even finished her speech.
Classic Noises (one for the OGs) has her twirling and dancing across the stage like it’s a runway, with Wood and Silvani on the sidelines; they mostly stand still, allowing the frontwoman to conquer the entire area, but they nonetheless give frantic exuberance in their movements, which drives the audience to move on cue.
A cover of Dove Cameron’s Boyfriend has a fan on stage, before Pale Waves announce a slow and special song that’s close to Baron-Gracie’s heart: The Hard Way doesn’t dampen the atmosphere in the room, despite being acoustic and performed only by the singer and Silvani. The raw vocal talent on display is unmatched, managing to power the entire venue. Of course, they would not close on a ballad and without the presence of the entire band. They gave more in the form of She’s My Religion and Jealousy – an aptly named closer for anyone who did not experience the show.
Regan Harle
Photos: Filippo L’Astorina
For further information and future events visit Pale Waves’s website here.
Watch the video for the single Clean here:
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