Photos & review by Shannon Shumaker
Pale Waves are truly something else. That much was apparent when I first caught them live with The 1975 last spring, and it was solidified late last year when they came back through Denver to perform at the intimate Lost Lake Lounge. This week, the band stopped through Denver on their headlining tour to play to a packed crowd at the larger Larimer Lounge, and only minutes into their set, it was obvious that they’re well on their way to stardom. Hell, they’re kind of already there.
With their glittery, melodramatic brand of pop music, Pale Waves have won over listeners across the globe, and Denver is no exception. Long before opening act, the retro-sounding Inheaven took the stage at Larimer Lounge on Tuesday night, the crowd was already packed against the tiny stage, eagerly awaiting their Manchester pop darlings. The excitement in the room was palpable, and if I had to guess, this was what it felt like to be at The 1975’s first headlining tour in the states – like you were about to see something truly special that might never happen in a room that small ever again.
Surely, the next time Pale Waves return to Colorado, they’ll be forced to upgrade to a larger venue. From the moment that they finally took the stage, fans were eagerly dancing and singing along. Even with a short nine song set, the quartet captivated the crowd for forty-five minutes, even encouraging attendees to sing extra-loud for a fan’s birthday. From older songs like, “My Obsession” to the debut of a new track (vocalist Heather Baron-Gracie mentioned it would likely be their next single), Pale Waves had the full attention of everyone in the room – even those back by the bar.
The best part about the night? There was no huge production, no over the top stage antics – just the band on a small stage and their fans only mere feet away singing each word right back at them. From beginning to end, there was not only a sense of excitement, but community in the room. And when Baron-Gracie stopped singing during their final song, “There’s A Honey” to let the crowd take over lead vocals, it was obvious that we were all witnessing the beginning of something special.
View the full photo gallery from Pale Waves’ show at Larimer Lounge here.