Senti-Mental for PVRIS at the House of Blues Chicago
PVRIS left everyone at the House of Blues Chicago feeling "senti-mental" with a performance featuring songs all the way back from their White Noise album. On 6/15/24, they performed alongside openers Sizzy Rocket and Pale Waves.
Independent powerhouse Sizzy Rocket kicked off the show. Hitting the ground running with her song “That Bitch,” Sizzy Rocket instantly won over anyone who wasn’t already a fan. I found myself dancing along to the sound of her voice without intending to, and I had no desire to stop. Something I especially admire about Sizzy Rocket is the way she owned every moment of her 30-minute set. She may have been on stage alone, but she knew that stage was hers.
All the way from Manchester, Pale Waves brought a new level of dedication to the House of Blues stage. One of their members wasn’t feeling well, but he still made the show happen. He played backstage so the band could still give the audience what they had been waiting for. If I hadn’t been told they were missing a member onstage, I never would have noticed. Pale Waves carried themselves professionally and with extreme talent, and I was blown away by what they delivered. I can also proudly say that their song “Jealousy” will be finding its way onto my future playlists.
Making an iconic entrance as always, PVRIS came onto the stage with a burst of energy that could be felt throughout the venue. Anybody who knows me knows I’ve been in love with this band since I first heard them open up for Fall Out Boy as a teenager. This was my 8th or 9th time seeing PVRIS live, and I have no eloquent way to say there were tears streaming down my face when “You and I” made its way back onto the setlist and “My House” returned as an encore. As someone who has been a fan of PVRIS throughout all four albums, it was more than my little heart could handle for the throwbacks to once again be a part of the live experience.
Of course, there is a special place in my heart for the newer songs as well. Hearing lead singer Lynn Gunn change the lyrics of “Goddess” to “from Chicago to Japan” had the crowd going crazy and had me excited like a child. Additionally, hearing her nail the verses in “Burn The Witch” that were originally sung by Tommy Genesis and Alice Longyu Gao was just one more demonstration of her range of talent. Though I was hanging out at the very back of the venue with my spouse, I felt the experience as if I was right up against the barricade like I was as a teenager. This night was one to remember, and I’ll be looking forward to seeing PVRIS live for round 10.
