Pretty Pity Won Me Over at Kings Raleigh

I walked into Pretty Pity’s set knowing nothing about the band and left wanting to hear more, thanks to Tani Jade’s stage presence and a strong first impression from the full lineup.

I went into Pretty Pity’s set at Kings Raleigh knowing absolutely nothing about them. By the time they were finished, I was a fan. That’s probably the simplest way to explain how quickly they won me over.

Pretty Pity played second that night, after FoundiT and before headliner Royale Lynn. The crowd was small, maybe 30 or 40 people, but the people who were there were loud and clearly into it. That worked well in a room like Kings because there wasn’t much distance between the band and the audience.

The band’s lineup includes Tani Jade on vocals, David Kislik on lead guitar, Alex Gonzalez on bass, Billy DeGuzman on rhythm guitar, and Hernando Torrealba on drums.

Tani was easily the center of the performance. From the moment she stepped onto the stage, she took control of it. She wasn’t just standing behind the microphone singing. She was constantly moving, using her expressions and body language, and giving me plenty to photograph. There was something uninhibited about her performance that made it feel natural instead of overly rehearsed.

Pretty Pity’s sound pulls from several different directions. There are heavier guitar parts, pop-punk-style drums, rock bass lines, and vocals catchy enough to keep everything accessible. The set included “Punchline” and “Hate on Me” from the EP Done Waiting, along with “Sweet Tooth.”

Alex Gonzalez also caught my attention on bass. He had his own playing style and added something different without competing with Tani for the spotlight. David Kislik, Billy DeGuzman, and Hernando Torrealba were all solid and kept the performance moving, although none of them stood out to me in quite the same way.

Kings was a good setting for Pretty Pity because it’s such an intimate room. It has a nice bar, free water, and enough space to enjoy the show without feeling disconnected from the stage. The venue itself could definitely use an upgrade to its sound system, but the energy of the band and crowd still came through.

After the set, Tani worked her own merchandise table and spent time talking with people. I appreciated that because it made the entire experience feel more personal.

Overall, I’d give Pretty Pity a 7.3 out of 10. Tani’s stage presence and Alex’s bass playing were the highlights for me, and the entire band made a strong first impression. I went into Kings knowing nothing about them and left wanting to hear more. I would absolutely photograph or see them again.