PVRIS became one of the biggest names within the music scene after the release of their phenomenal debut ‘White Noise’ in late 2014. Slots at festivals such as Reading and Leeds, Download and Slam Dunk came in thick and fast; headline shows sold out within the blink of an eye; and the views on their incredibly beautiful and visual videos crept ever higher.
So when they announced two London headline shows towards the end of the ‘White Noise’ era, a year after their last UK headline tour, it’s no surprise that both shows sold out within minutes. It’s not just PVRIS that are getting ready to say goodbye to ‘White Noise’ and welcome in their upcoming album ‘All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell’ – their fan base want the chance to bid adieu to such a heart-felt album.
But first up, Glasgow’s Prides provide huge dollops of indie-pop goodness at its finest. Quirky riffs and huge slabs of melodic energy come together in the form of ‘Out of the Blue’ and catchy new single ‘Are You Ready?’. Combining superb vocals from Stewart Brock with beautiful harmonies and sunny energy, this lot know how to get the crowd ready for tonight’s headliners. As they sign off with the massive ‘Messiah’, here’s to hoping that it won’t be too long until Prides grace London with their presence again.
Diving straight in with ‘You and I’, PVRIS set the tone for what becomes an emotionally-charged evening. Tracks such as ‘Holy’ and ‘Eyelids’ are dark and haunting, and create an ethereal atmosphere while blaring guitars make up the powerful ‘Fire.’ The band also know how to do soft and gentle, and demonstrate so by stripping back ‘White Noise’ and ‘Ghosts’. By doing this, front-woman Lynn Gunn shows off her impressive vocal range; from ferocious and biting to smooth and stellar, she’s a truly talented individual.
PVRIS not only showcase brand new single ‘Heaven’ but they also debut new track ‘Half’. The synths that pulse through both of these tracks are electrifying, and show a new, slightly more mature side to the trio. Emotional lyrics are layered on top of guitar tones that veer from angelic to passive-aggressive, and are tied up with neat, shiny harmonies.
As the final chords of ‘My House’ ring out over Shepherd’s Bush Empire, there’s no question that PVRIS just continue to get better and better. Now that ‘White Noise’ has run its course, PVRIS and their fans are looking to the future and ‘All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell’ – and it looks very, very bright indeed.
JESS TAGLIANI
