Pale Waves – Live in Mexico City – Recorded at The Corona Capital Festival – November 17, 2018
Pale Waves to start the week – recorded in concert at the Corona Capital Festival in Mexico City on November 17, 2018. Like pretty much every band and artist, 2020 was a rotten year. But perhaps worse for Pale Waves because it almost proved to be a fatal one. The Drummer, guitarist and bass were involved in a tour bus accident on the road between Sweden and Germany in February last year. Icy conditions caught the bus sliding off the highway and rolling into a ditch. The band members, minus Heather who flew ahead, along with the crew narrowly escaped serious injury. And coming just prior to the Great Lockdown and the Pandemic, was just one more indication 2020 was going to be a forgettable year. The only plus side was the outbreak of COVID and the quarantine made it possible for the band to recover from injuries; physical as well as emotional and prepare for the release of their latest album “Who Am I?” which was released in February of this year.
The band’s second album, Who Am I? was announced on 10 November 2020 along with its lead single “Change”, which was named as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record in the World. With both Heather Baron-Gracie and drummer Ciara Doran being members of the LQBTQ+ community, they both aimed for the album to reflect that, with Baron-Gracie stating in an interview with DIY that she wanted to be “a voice for LGBTQ+ people”. The album was partially recorded in Los Angeles with Rich Costey though COVID-19 restrictions forced the band to return to the U.K. and finish the remainder of the album remotely. Of making an album during the pandemic, Baron-Gracie confessed that “for me, music and art is for people not to feel so alone and isolated. I want to be that person my fans look up to and find comfort in.” Who Am I? was released on 12 February 2021 and reached number 3 on UK Albums Chart.
In case you missed it, here is a very spirited performance matched by an equally ecstatic audience from Mexico City on November 17, 2018. It’s also a reminder of what we’re in store for when touring and playing gigs returns.
Holding breath.
