PALAYE ROYALE – OVO ARENA, WEMBLEY 9TH NOVEMBER 2024
Palaye Royale is gearing up for their biggest European headline show tonight at the Ovo Arena Wembley in London, and it could be a night fans will never forget. This glam rock trio made up of brothers Remington Leith (vocals), Sebastian Danzig (guitar), and Emerson Barrett (drums), has been wowing audiences all over the world with their high-energy sound and over-the-top stage shows. They have a killer mix of rock, punk, and fashion that sets them apart.
Originally hailing from Toronto, these guys have been on a roll since their debut album, Boom Boom Room (Side A), dropped in 2016. Their early stuff was packed with raw glam-rock vibes, and they’ve only continued to evolve with albums like Boom Boom Room (Side B), The Bastards, Fever Dream, and their latest, Death or Glory.
Tonight could have been a step too far. The outcome might have been very different. Could Palaye Royale make the leap to headlining arenas? The answer is a resounding yes. This was the third time I had seen their live show, having previously caught them at the Roundhouse in Camden and last year at the Hammersmith Apollo. However, nothing could have prepared me for the experience that awaited me tonight. When they took the stage, the arena felt charged with electricity. Opening with Nightmares, the band dives headlong into the set amidst an eruption of sparks and pyrotechnics, with flames almost scorching the arena roof.
The song’s thundering percussion and ominous riffs pump through the packed arena, setting an exhilarating tone. As they launch into Death or Glory from their latest album, the energy is relentless, with Remington and Sebastian darting across the stage, firing up the crowd as they charge down the extended catwalk. The stage has two levels; drummer Emerson Barrett is elevated stage left with tour guitarist Dave Green.
Meanwhile, bassist Logan Baudean remains on the lower level and stage left, and these members stay pretty much static throughout the performance. The set comprises many tracks from the new album, with oldies peppered through the set. Little Bastards slows the pace until Leith heckles the crowd to open up a circle pit, and on the refrain’ run run run you, little bastards,’ the crowd duly obliged by smashing into each other, and again, pyros fill the stage. Highlights are plentiful, including a superb run-through of Dark Side of the Silver Spoon, a playful romp reminiscent of Queen with a cheeky nod to Mott The Hoople during the refrain.
One unforgettable moment arrives when Remington, not content to stay confined to the stage, hops into a rubber dinghy that floats over the outstretched hands of fans. During “Oblivion,” the arena becomes a constellation of smartphone lights as Remington holds centre stage under a lone spotlight—a visually arresting contrast to the night’s earlier chaos.
Dying in a Hot Tub and Fucking With My Head are greeted like long-lost friends, and the crowd’s enthusiasm never lets up for a moment. The main set ends with an amazing Fever Dream as confetti canons fill the venue with confetti fired high above the stage, falling like multicoloured snow on the fans and stage. Sebastian Danzig raises his guitar triumphantly, we get more pyros, and the band leaves the stage.
The encore brings it all home with three more tracks, including Dead To Me and a tender Lonely, where Remington starts on piano, showing a more introspective side. The final number, Mr Medicine Man, is a rock ‘n’ roll tour de force, with Remington traversing the arena, diving from the first floor into the awaiting dinghy, then sprinting through a parted crowd and crowd-surfing back to the stage in a daring finale.
The song finishes with more confetti canons, pyros, and sparks lighting the arena again. With every pyrotechnic flourish, circle pit, and sing-along chorus, Palaye Royale cements their place as rock showmen for a new generation. This show at Wembley Arena, their first arena headliner, is an undeniable triumph. The UK has taken these Canadian natives to heart, whether it’s the British feel to the music or how they blend 70s glam, Oasis, Queen and The Libertines into a sound all of their own. Their music pays homage to their heroes while creating something fresh and truly exciting. I cannot wait to see where these three young brothers go next, as tonight’s performance will be difficult to surpass!
Palaye Royale – full gallery from the Ovo Arena, Wembley
