Pale Waves @ SWG3, Glasgow, 13 Oct

“Let’s go, Lesbians!” goes the rebel yell that rings out from a portion of the crowd as Pale Waves take to the stage. Following a very queer-coded pre-stage playlist, featuring the likes of Chappell Roan, Madonna and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, the energy is palpable in the sold out Galvanizers room at SWG3. The simple but elegant setup sees two chandeliers adorned against a large red draped curtain. As the band walk out, a voiceover from frontwoman Heather Baron-Gracie chimes out: “I saw her standing there, and I was smitten,” signalling the start of the Glasgow leg of their Smitten tour. Opening with two songs from the album of the title (Perfume and Not a Love Song), the reception doesn't quite match the “classic” songs, as Baron-Gracie calls them.

There’s a Honey from their 2018 debut album My Mind Makes Noises sees the crowd starting to bounce as they get a feel for a more familiar tune. The overall and overarching subjects of the night, when Baron-Gracie speaks to the crowd, is about how much she loves two things: Scotland and being “fucking gay”. Having a platform to proclaim her love for these things is something that feels important to not only her, but the crowd, too. Tonight is a celebration of queer love, queer joy and queer heartbreak. These themes are chronicled throughout and are deeply woven into the fabric of Pale Waves’ back catalogue. Punchier songs like You’re So Vain and Change channel more angst-heartbreak, while songs like Easy and She’s My Religion flourish in their feelings of love and joy.

The highlight of the night goes to the first song of the encore, the title of the city itself: Glasgow. Lit under blue lights, not dissimilar to the blue on Smitten's album cover, the room roars as Baron-Gracie returns to the stage in a Scotland jersey. With flags, bras, even friendship bracelets thrown on stage, the love is given right back to the Mancunian band. The feverous Jealousy ends the night, and we leave, hopefully, not crying on the way home.