“Wembley Arena! I have waited since I was 16 years old to say that!” exclaimed Remington Leith, and you can’t help but share in the genuine excitement. Having watched Palaye Royale’s steady climb from clubs through theatres and now to Wembley Arena, tonight feels less like a surprise and more like a natural progression for a band that’s paid their dues.
The brothers have always understood the theatre of rock and roll, and tonight they dial it up appropriately for the legendary venue. Fire, sparks, and well-timed confetti create moments of spectacle without overwhelming the music—a balance many bands struggle to strike in their transition to larger venues.
Touring in support of their fifth album Death or Glory, the new material sits comfortably alongside their established catalog. “Showbiz” and “Dark Side of the Silver Spoon” particularly stand out, offering glimpses into the band’s relationship with the music industry, though never descending into self-indulgence. Seven songs in all from the latest record, bucking a trend where most bands can barely squeeze in more than two new songs without sending their fans to the loo breaks and back to the bar.
Leith’s distinctive vocals, which have become increasingly confident over the years, fill the arena with the same intensity they once brought to smaller rooms. The fan favorites were there too—”No Love in LA,” “Dying in a Hot Tub,” “Broken,” and “Fever Dream.” Notably absent was “Get Higher,” their ready-made arena anthem that seemed tailor-made for a venue of this size.
What’s striking is how the band has maintained their art-rock foundations while refining their sound. The influences are clear—T.Rex’s glam swagger, Faces’ loose energy, touches of New York Dolls’ attitude—but they’ve shaped these references into something distinctly their own. Having caught them five or six times over the past decade, it’s evident how their songwriting has sharpened without sacrificing the hooks that initially drew audiences in.
The band’s journey to Wembley feels organic, earned through years of adapting their theatrical rock show to progressively larger venues. Tonight at Wembley, they looked completely at home—no small feat for any band, but especially one that’s helped spearhead the current rock revival movement. The band operates at the height of their powers, comfortable with who they are and what they deliver. While other acts strain to prove rock’s relevance in 2024, Palaye Royale simply get on with the business of being a proper rock band. Sometimes, that’s more than enough.
