Emma opens up the second show of the Waves current UK tour with a really lively, upbeat, 30 or so minute performance.  With poppy hooks Emma is the perfect tease for one of the UK’s most interesting Pop-Rock-Indie outfits who turn up to the sold out show at bang on 9pm with opener “Kiss Me again”.  Filled with interesting musical hooks, clever melodies lines, and the type of lyrics which are slightly knowing, slightly optimistic and slightly cynical the Pales deliver a solid performance tonight demonstrating, if anything, that their songs sparkle more in a raw’er live setting than they can do when recorded. 

Small, but hugely charismatic, the show falls under the full spell of frontperson Heather Baron-Gracie who, in her current gothic-witch-meets-Betty-Boop styling, is perfect when delivering emotionally charmed pop.  Confident, deliberate and engaging Gracie sits nicely in the mode of a pop star who knows there’s interesting things to say, but isn’t here because she needs you to listen; creating a playful push and pull in her stage craft.  Slightly frosty, slightly warm, she’s magnificent. 

Highlights tonight include “There’s a honey”, “She’s my religion” and “Glasgow” all of which build into perfect pop – filled with jangly guitars, well produced hooks and infectious melody lines. They’re so good at times tonight it’s obscene.