With a sound reminiscent of Circa Waves and The Vaccines, an outdoor festival on a sunny afternoon felt like home for The Pale White. You could feel in the air that this was a proud moment for the Newcastle locals. But despite opening for big names like You Me At Six and Foals, the alternative trio by no means disappeared.
The band were energetic throughout, as were the group of people I assumed the bandmates’ friends who were going nuts in the middle of the crowd (they might have been fans. Either way it was pure). Despite this energy, however, the vocals were on point. There wasn’t one particular frontman, with both singers sharing the parts and creating smooth harmonies throughout. The overall tightness of the set showed their experience as performers; every member was in sync while still putting on a fun and engaging show.
The standout song for me was “Panic Attack”. Don’t be misled by the depressingly relatable title as this song gave me all the summery indie goodness that I wanted. Their newest song “Medicine” was grungier and added a bit of diversity to a setlist that was largely made up of indie songs. The band closed with “That Dress”, their most streamed song that is, as I wrote in the notes app of my phone, “a tune”. It’s the kind of song you could imagine hearing on Radio One and jamming to, and its memorable hook made it perfect to sing along to life.
It’s the kind of song you could imagine hearing on Radio One and jamming to...
With this set, The Pale White not only showed why they’re one of the most popular local bands in Newcastle but proved that there’s space for them on many festival stages in the future.