LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: PVRIS AT ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER 08/07/25
Full photo gallery here
Tuesday night at Manchester’s majestic Albert Hall saw PVRIS return to the UK for a highly charged stop on their White Noise 10th‑anniversary tour. Frontwoman Lynn Gunn swept across the stage for a performance that would balance nostalgia with new‑era energy, in front of a sold-out crowd ready to be swept away by the band’s blend of atmospheric synths, grunge-soaked guitar, and anthemic choruses.
Julia Wolf proved to be a powerful opening act - a bold blend of vulnerability and raw energy that set the tone for the evening. Her set leaned heavily into tracks from her most recent record Pressure, like the frantic opener ‘Loser,’ ‘FYP’ (written by Lynn Gunn), ‘Wishbone’ and the whirlwind of ‘Jennifer’s Body’. These songs showcased her ability to shift seamlessly between clean, emotive vocals and crushing breakdowns. In just 30 minutes, she transformed the Albert Hall’s atmosphere, giving the audience a taste of her genre-bending arsenal: pop, metal, emo, and indie, all wrapped in polished production and heartfelt delivery. By the time she closed with ‘In My Room,’ the crowd was primed and energized - perfectly warmed up for PVRIS.
PVRIS - the project by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Lynn Gunn - emerged from the shadows moments later, opening the night with ‘Smoke’, the first track from their debut album White Noise, released over 10 years ago. The performance was elevated by slick production and vibrant lighting, accompanying a lineup featuring Brian Macdonald (bass), and Denny Agosto (drums). The venue itself, with its soaring arches, near-perfect acoustics, and era-specific antique stage décor suspended above - a chair, a frame and a light, each nodding to the White Noise aesthetic - provided the perfect backdrop.
The set was divided into two halves. The first half featured White Noise performed in full, track by track. Despite the nostalgia-heavy return to their 2014 debut, PVRIS underscored just how far they’ve come. The fast-paced ‘St. Patrick’, bathed in green light, and ‘My House’ kept the energy high, while the haunting ‘Holy’ and reflective ‘Mirrors’ slowed things down, amping up the ethereal atmosphere that had the crowd swaying in time.
Midway through, Gunn paused to address the audience, reflecting on the band’s journey: “Ten years is crazy, it’s been incredible to watch you all grow. It’s very special and really cool.” She spoke of friendships, relationships, and even breakups born at their live shows, emphasising the deep sense of community forged over the years.
Subtle live rearrangements of certain songs such as ‘Eyelids’ breathed new life into the familiar record, surprising and delighting long-time fans. The heavier cuts - ‘Fire’ and ‘Let Them In’ - sparked a mosh-worthy frenzy, as Gunn’s vocals soared with raw emotion and intensity, reaffirming the band’s power as a compelling live act.
During ‘You and I’, Gunn set down her guitar to get closer to the audience, sitting at the edge of the stage and connecting with fans in the front rows. The crowd joined in the chorus with full voice, turning the fan-favourite anthem into a massive singalong. The band then slipped offstage for a brief interlude, soundtracked by the crackle of what sounded like waiting room music playing from a gramophone - a symbolic pause marking the transition from one era to the next - before returning to kick off the second half.
Launching with ‘BURN THE WITCH’, PVRIS unleashed a new wave of intensity. The latter portion highlighted newer material from Use Me (2020) (‘Dead Weight’), Evergreen (2023) (‘ANIMAL’, ‘GOOD ENEMY’), and F.I.L.T.H. (2024) (‘Oil & Water’), alongside the standalone track ‘SNAKES’, created for the ARCANE universe.
Their signature blend of electronic pulses, searing guitar riffs, and dancefloor-ready beats felt both fresh and commanding. Gunn’s charismatic stage presence was magnetic, and her musicianship took centre stage throughout the set as she commanded the guitar with effortless skill. As for the crowd, fans were loving every second - every chorus from every song was met with arms raised and voices in unison.
As the night built to its final act, explosive live renditions of ‘Monster’ and ‘Hallucinations’ sent energy levels soaring. The show closed with ‘GODDESS’ - a powerful finale that honoured their past while boldly embracing their present and future.
PVRIS’s return to Manchester was a triumphant showcase of evolution, reflection and nostalgia. The venue’s ambiance amplified both the sonic crescendos and moments of intimacy, as the band moved effortlessly between beloved early tracks and their daring newer material. For both long-time fans and fresh faces, it was an unforgettable celebration of a band that’s never stopped growing - and one that continues to own its legacy.
Words and photos by Florelle Servageon.
Full setlist below:
Smoke
St Patrick
My House
Holy
White Noise
Fire
Eyelids
Mirrors
Ghosts
Let Them In
You and I
BURN THE WITCH
Snakes
GOOD ENEMY
ANIMAL
Dead Weight
Oil & Water
Monster
Hallucinations
GODDESS
