PALE WAVES - O2 Academy Birmingham 24.09.2019

It’s been just over a year since PALE WAVES released their huge debut album ‘My Mind Makes Noises’ which was met with plenty of praise. It’s no surprise that they’re already packing out medium sized venues with ease, and tonight is no exception as they headline Birmingham’s O2 Academy.

These run of UK shows look to bring an end to the ‘My Mind Makes Noises’ era for the Indie-Goth four piece, an era that will no doubt be looked back on as an important time in the bands history in years to come. There’s a real special feel of excitement in the air for this show tonight, as many adoring fans cram themselves as close to front as they can get, to be up close and personal with their idols.

The whole Academy erupts with screams when PALE WAVES finally arrive on stage, before leading straight into synth-heavy ‘Eighteen’. Right from the off it's striking how good this bands stage presence has come along, everything is so well polished. Frontwoman Heather Baron-Gracie keeps the crowd captivated with ease, as she struts about the stage without her guitar during ‘Red’, with all eyes on her.

PALE WAVES pile their way through hit after hit, with almost every word sang back right at them from the adoring crowd, particularly during hugely popular ‘Television Romance’. We are also treated to an unreleased song with ‘Tomorrow’, which boasts a more Pop-Punk sound.

The main set is brought to a close with the very emotional ‘Karl (I Wonder What It’s Like To Die)’, a tribute to Heather’s late grandfather and sees her with the whole of the stage to herself. After the encore PALE WAVES bring an end to the show with ‘Noises’ and ‘There’s A Honey’.

PALE WAVES have put on an astonishing show tonight, as they close a very important chapter for their band with an end of an era for their outstanding debut album. Bigger things are to come though, and it's anybody's guess as to how big that is!

PALE WAVES - https://www.facebook.com/palewaves/

Photos & Review - Sam Robinson Photography