PVRIS at O2 Academy Bristol Review
Posted on: 2017-11-24
Our rating:
This will definitely be a night I will remember, one because my daughter fainted earlier on in the evening and was carried out by paramedics, and two because Pvris are a band to watch, and I for one will be looking out for their next tour.
I was first introduced to this band by my 16 year old daughter, every time we get in the car out comes the latest CD, All We Know of Heaven, All we Need of Hell, but being force fed for many months I must say this band began to grow on me.
The Band consisting of Lyndsey Gunnulfsen(singer, and multiple instrument player), Alex Babinski(guitars) and Brian MacDonald(bass) are a tight 3 piece, on tour they also use a drummer to accompany them.
The Band hail from Boston, Massachusetts and started in 2013. They have played many high profile gigs including Reading and Leeds Warped tour, and more recently supported Muse and 30 Seconds to Mars. But this tour they are the main act supported by two great bands from the UK and America.
The first act to grace the stage is a 3 piece outfit called Tyne, they are keyboard based with synth drummer, and the young girl singing has a beautiful voice, and the audience lap it up, they seem to have a small following in the crowd, and after a short set they leave the stage to good applause.
The second act of the night are called Coin, also hailing from a similar area to our main band Pvris. The young lead singer plays keyboard in-between leaping about the stage and seems to have endless energy and passion. The rest of the band consist of bass, synth/guitar, and a powerful drummer thrashing out the back beat. The build ups and come downs are exceptional, and coin put on a great performance, this is one to watch, and my daughter liked them so praise indeed.
I have been hanging around since 5pm as Pvris had a meet and greet for their die hard fans, and yes you’ve guessed it, my daughter had secured her place in the queue after a hefty fee was paid before hand. It seemed pricy to me as back in my day, if you hung around the back door of the venue, you could sometimes get lucky and meet the band for nothing! But it wasn’t actually bad for the price, you get a photo, exclusive t shirt, signed poster and lots of other goodies, and obviously the main bit which was to meet the band. Although my daughter informed me that Lyndsey wasn’t actually allowed to speak to her fans, as she had to save her voice... very dramatic. But it was later explained that she has recently been struggling with her voice, and was told by her management team to rest before each gig.
The lights dim and an air of anticipation overwhelms the O2, the band appear on stage and smash out Heaven as their first number. There is clever lighting behind, and visions come and go on boards behind the band, with dramatic effect. Lyndsey belts out the songs, and looks incredible in long black coat with flowing blonde hair. She swaps between singing, keyboards, and on several songs even sits on the empty drum kit to thrash out the beat along with the drummer, she can play well, and even takes up guitar and bass on several songs in the set. I recognise some more of the set, as I hear Same Soul and Winter, she can thrash it out and bring the tempo down just as quickly, and she knows her audience well. The crowd sing along with every song, and know all the lyrics and she doesn’t even need to sing at times. She swoops around the stage, and Alex and Brian add a visual presence and can certainly play note for note. They finish the set with My House and leave the stage to a massive applause and crys of more!
We are not disappointed when they reappear for an encore and play a favourite No Mercy to a frenzied crowd. Lyndsay has the audience eating out the palm of her hand, and as the temp builds she takes herself into the crowd as they hold her aloft she sings her heart out. Returning her to the stage, the band finish the set, and take time to pass out gifts, and Lyndsay received some gifts of her own from some of the fans.
This will definitely be a night I will remember, one because my daughter fainted earlier on in the evening and was carried out by paramedics, and two because Pvris are a band to watch, and I for one will be looking out for their next tour.
Article by:
Andrea was born and raised in Bristol but moved to Weston-super-Mare as a teenager, around the same time the punk scene hit Britain and was right in the thick of it. Embracing the music and bands of that time, she has been a regular at most of the Bristol gigs ever since. Music, especially live, is in her veins and after performing in bands of her own over the years she continues to sing in a local choir. “Music has and always will be a massive part of my life, and I will be a party girl ‘til the day I die.”
