The Pale White have well and truly nailed their sound—refined, tight, and full of energy. The Newcastle boys brought a riot to Brighton; they’ve carved out their space in the scene, and it showed in every moment of their set at Green Door Store.
When they tore into Swim For Your Life, the venue practically shook. It’s my personal favourite, and judging by the reaction, the crowd agreed—perhaps second only to That Dress, which has now racked up over 13 million streams on Spotify.
The Pale White are already making serious waves, but don’t be surprised if they skyrocket even further. A standout moment came with Validate Me, the opening track from their 2023 EP A New Breed. Their subtle harmonies made you want to tear your shirt open.
And as a special treat, they debuted some fresh 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 going to be something special.
Lizzie Esau: The Indie Star You Need to Know
And let’s talk about Lizzie Esau, who opened the night. Lizzie Esau was nothing short of totally ethereal. Every track felt like it should be played loud, speeding down a dark road with headlights cutting through the night. My only gripe? The sound engineer should’ve turned her vocals up because her voice was utterly spellbinding.
Killer carried the same moody allure as Wolf Alice, and it deserves to be the feature track on the score for the next indie film to blow up- think Bones and All or Aftersun. If I were putting together a late-night drive playlist, her entire set would be on it.
It would be criminal not to mention the drum solo that hit like a freight train towards the end of The Pale White’s set. It was pure, unfiltered energy—tight, relentless, and completely unhinged in the best way. The drummer didn’t just keep the beat; he took the whole set and sent it into overdrive.
Whatever fuelled that performance—I’ll have what he’s having. Anyone who was there will know exactly what I mean.
What’s Next for The Pale White? New Album, New Horizons
Their upcoming album The Big Sad is poised to build on their already impressive momentum. If this gig was any sign of what’s coming, The Pale White aren’t just rising—they’re about to blow the doors off- and Lizzie Esau’s right behind them.
