The Pale White have truly perfected their sound—tight, refined, and packed with energy. The Newcastle-based band brought an electrifying atmosphere to Brighton, firmly establishing their presence in the scene, as evidenced by every moment of their performance at Green Door Store.
When they launched into Swim For Your Life, the venue practically trembled. It’s my personal favorite, and judging by the crowd’s reaction, they seemed to agree. The track was perhaps only outshone by That Dress, which has amassed over 13 million streams on Spotify.
The Pale White are already making a significant impact, but don’t be surprised if they rise even higher. A standout moment came with Validate Me, the opening track from their 2023 EP A New Breed. The subtle harmonies in this song were so powerful they could make you want to rip your shirt off in excitement.
As a special treat, the band debuted new tracks from their upcoming album, The Big Sad, set for release next month. If the new material is anything like what we heard live, this album is sure to be something extraordinary.
Opening the night was Lizzie Esau, whose performance was nothing short of ethereal. Every track felt like it belonged in a soundtrack for a late-night drive, headlights slicing through the darkness. My only critique? The sound engineer could have cranked up her vocals a bit more—her voice was mesmerizing.
Her song Killer exuded the same moody charm as Wolf Alice, and it deserves to be the feature track in the next indie film to make waves—think Bones and All or Aftersun. If I were crafting a late-night driving playlist, her entire set would make the cut.
And we can’t overlook the drum solo towards the end of The Pale White’s set. It hit like a freight train—pure, unrelenting energy that pushed the entire performance into overdrive. The drummer didn’t just keep the rhythm; he took the whole set and sent it into an explosive frenzy.
Whatever fueled that performance—I’d love to know where I can get some. Anyone who was there knows exactly what I mean.
With their upcoming album The Big Sad on the horizon, The Pale White are poised to take their already impressive momentum even further. If this gig is any indication, they’re not just rising—they’re about to take over. And Lizzie Esau is right behind them, ready to make her mark.
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