The Pale White are making big waves in the UK music scene right now. The Newcastle based rock trio known for their gritty indie rock sound and catchy riff driven tunes are going from strength to strength and are quickly becoming the hot ticket for the Indie kids and rock lovers alike. And when they graced the stage at the uber cool Oslo in Hackney with support from the incredible Lizzie Esau and Hot Stamp they were on fire!
The Pale White @ Oslo
First to the stage were Hot Stamp. Fronted by sisters Jasmine and Poppy, the dynamic duo had a catchy punk sound and tore their way through a kick arse set of power punk pop. Certainly one to watch.
Next on the bill was the incredible Newcastle based singer-songwriter Lizzie Esau. Lizzie’s voice was absolutely stunning and she captivated the crowd with her hypnotic performance and stunning vocals. Her beautifully crafted lyrics spoke from the heart and mesmerised the audience. Her voice had raw punk energy that left the audience spellbound. Her opening track Wait Too Late, with its pulsating beats and Lizzie’s rage fuelled vocals was incredible, she is a true original, with a sound that’s refreshingly authentic and unapologetically real. Impossible + Strange was haunting and showcased the singer\s beautiful voice before opening up to a catchy chorus, another killer track. Her final track of the night had more of an electro beat and a hedonistic feel to it. Lizzie is a star in making and surely on the way to very big things.
By the time The Pale White took to the stage, the audience were well and truly up warmed up and to say the venue was packed was an understatement. It was absolutely heaving! The moment they took to the stage with their opening track Validate Me the crowd erupted into excited applause, The Pale White take cool to a whole new level, with their pulsating melodic raw sound evocative of late 90s indie rock, the sort of music that will still be a timeless classic twenty years from now. But even though the Newcastle trio’s music is top notch on every level, what puts them head and shoulders above the rest is the incredible dynamic that they have with their audience, they somehow have this incredible ability to make them feel like they’re the only one in the room, a kind of magnetism that draws the crowd in.
Medicine, with Jack’s driving drums and Adam’s mesmerising vocals and guitar, is sheer perfection on every level. It’s no surprise that Pixies man Frank Black chose them to support him at his recent sell out show at The London Palladium, they are on the cutting edge of the new wave of indie rock. The dynamic within this incredible band is hardly surprising considering that it consists of two brothers – Jack and Adam Hope – and their best friend Dave Barrow. When a band love to play together this really bleeds through into their performance and this was never move clear than when they played their latest single, the breathtaking Lost In The Moment.
Adam’s vocals were absolutely captivating and Jack’s pounding drums elevated this track to a whole new level. Absolutely superb! A special mention has to go to Jack. Not only is he an incredible drummer whose quirky antics were loved by the crowd, whether it was the end of set stage diving or appearing to play pretty much horizontal, but his personality and cheeky persona made this band even more likeable if that’s even possible.
Nostradamus was pinch yourself fabulous and just about as radio friendly as it gets, with enormous singalong potential. It was first rate, catchy as hell and just brilliant. Pure musical escapism, the kind of track that would make any sunny afternoon just perfect.
So, in conclusion, The Pale White won’t be playing in venues of this size for much longer, so catch them while you can because the trio are on the way to very big things!
The Pale White’s new album The Big Sad is due for release on 18th April and I for one can’t wait to hear it, because if tonight’s stunning performance is anything to go by, it’s going to be mind-blowingly good!
Live review and photography of Hot Stamp, Lizzie Esau & The Pale White at Oslo, London on 14th March 2025 by Louise Phillips.
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