Pale Waves closed out the Irish segment of their ‘Still Smitten’ tour (their planned final Cork gig unfortunately had to be cancelled due to illness) by transforming the intimate Limelight 1 into a vibrant cathedral of alt-pop nostalgia and raw emotion.
Happily I managed to catch some of Emmma’s set promoting her latest EP ‘Wednesdays Child’. Well from what I saw, if this is a debut disc, we’re dealing with an accomplished performer and damn decent songwriter. This is a future star. Reminiscent of the ‘new folk’ scene of the late eighties, but that doesn’t do her justice. Sadly I arrived after her set had already started so didn’t get any photos (venues/bands really should post stage times) but she is definitely one to watch. I’m sure you’ll be hearing a lot more from her in the near future.
Then came Pale Waves. Following the release of their acclaimed fourth album, Smitten, the Manchester quartet proved that their blend of ’80s-inspired hooks and confessional lyrics remains as potent as ever.
The stage, adorned with the striking aesthetic of their new album featuring elegant chandeliers flanking Ciara Doran’s drum kit perfectly set the tone: dark, romantic, and theatrical. Front-woman Heather Baron-Gracie commanded the room with her magnetic, effortlessly cool stage presence, opening the set with the infectious energy of new tracks like “Perfume” and the deep-cut new fan favourite, “Not A Love Song.”
The setlist was expertly crafted to satisfy fans across their sonic journey, seamlessly weaving together the polished, synth-heavy pop of Smitten with the grungier, pop-punk energy of earlier hits. Crowd favorites like “There’s A Honey,” with its irresistible bassline, and in a strange turn of events, after the band finished “There’s a Honey” they were about to start “Change” when they realised it had been crossed off the set list for some undisclosed reason, so instead performed “There’s a Honey” a second time. Despite this glitch in the matrix, every chorus was returned by the audience with evangelical fervor, and seemed to have even more energy the second time.
A standout moment came, as expected, with their powerful cover of The Cranberries’ “Zombie.” Heather’s voice, often compared to that of Dolores O’Riordan, lent a genuine urgency and heart to the 90s anthem, offering a poignant and unforgettable tribute.
The band finished the main set with the deeply personal “Glasgow” before returning for a blistering encore that included the high-octane fan staple, “Jealousy.” Pale Waves delivered a charismatic and tight performance that reaffirmed their place as one of the UK’s most compelling live acts. Belfast got the full, passionate ‘Still Smitten’ experience and it was truly something special.
Pale Waves photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Perfume
Not a Love Song
Eighteen
Lies
You’re So Vain
Zombie (The Cranberries cover)
There’s a Honey
There’s a Honey – Played for a second time due to technical issues readying Change
Change
Red
My Obsession
Kiss Me Again
Television Romance
Glasgow
_____________________
She’s My Religion
Jealousy
Photos & Words – David McEneaney @experimentzero
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