“Are you ready” yes I am

Tuesday 21st March 2017, while dancing with a family of strangers crowded in Scala, I finally saw a band I have loved since their beginning in 2014. The Scottish beauties that are Prides.

Back in 2014, before their debut album ‘The Way Back Up’ had even dropped, my sister urged me to listen to “this fit Scottish band that I know you’ll love”. And taking her advice, as all younger siblings should always do, I gave Prides a listen, and fell in love.

Their dancey, indie, pop vibe makes it incredibly hard to dislike them, but more so makes it incredibly hard to stand still at one of their concerts. Even when standing on aching feet after being stood for two and a half hours waiting for them to make their grand entrance, the energy that is put into their performance makes it impossible to not move. And if you were ever worried about looking like a dick while dancing at a gig lead vocalist, and half of Prides, Stewart Brock has you covered- I have never quite seen a man move his body around the stage and yet look so incredibly attractive, and still maintain a flawless vocal performance. Madness.

In a room of not even 300 people, in the legendary venue that is Scala, and after being away for about a year, Prides performed as if it was the Common Wealth Games all over again. They couldn’t care less if they were performing to 10 or 10,000 people, the sheer passion that went into their performance was flawless, and really showed how much they care for each other as well as the Prides family that they have made.

And after the perfect set list of their newest and oldest songs I was lucky enough to meet the band themselves. A mere hour after they had left the stage, still sweaty, but still gorgeous, Stewart embraced me first in the perfect hug- not too loose but not too tight. And after explaining to him that my sister, who started my love for the band, couldn’t make it, he agreed to make her a special video to make her feel like she was there. Such a considerate performer.

Two photos, multiple embraces, and a kiss on the cheek that made me a puddle later, and I had fully explained to both Stewart and Callum how I had loved them since their 2014 mixtape at the Old Mill Studios. They couldn’t stop saying how grateful they were and how excited they were for their new album to be released, and I have never experienced such energy and love before.

Humble, grateful, and just fucking incredible- if you need a song to dance to when you’re heartbroken or feeling down give Prides a listen.

#Prides