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AUSTIN, TX- Palm Door on 6th was bustling and packed from corner to corner. The British Music Embassy showcase seemed to be on everyone’s list and was the perfect way to end a chaotic week at SXSW. The outdoor area at Palm Door was far smaller than the buzz that brought industry folks to the stage. I found a spot to watch Baby Said near the front of the stage, but it was seriously cramped. Once the group kicked off their energetic set, I could see why so many people were crammed outside waiting for them. The three sisters entered the stage in matching outfits, so fresh-faced I could’ve sworn they were still in high school. Their sound, however, felt rooted in the rock of the ’70s, mixed with the overly sweet edge of Y2K pop-rock. The group weaved between the guitar-driven, hair-tossing sounds of Heart and an underrated fave of mine, The Veronicas. This family band was enhanced by an additional lead guitarist to complete the sound.
Something Baby Said does very well is staying locked in with each other—every riff was record-perfect. Nothing was overplayed, and the sonic elements were all in their right place. The Pal sisters, Veronica and Jess, had seamlessly blended voices. So much so that it was often hard to tell where one voice started and the other began. I was shocked to find out that Jess Pal was only 18, considering the strength of her belt and the way her voice cut through the heavy distortion of their guitars. Veronica was still shockingly young for her advanced musicality at only 20. The sisters have clearly been playing together their whole lives and know how to enhance each other’s strengths. They also included their older sister on drums, although she doesn’t appear in many of their promo pictures. I searched for her name everywhere to no avail.
Singer and bassist Jess Pal announced to the enthusiastic audience that the group would be playing the famous British festival, Glastonbury—to screaming cheers. It’s an incredible feat considering how young the band is. It was clear in their arrangements that the sisters are very much inspired by classic British rock. Their songwriting was built around sweeping riffs and epic drum fills. As a whole, the group came off incredibly polished. I found it difficult to hold on to the melody or lyric of any one song, but they did a stellar job commanding the stage. Veronica Pal was especially locked in with their lead guitarist. Their youth also added a Gen Z aesthetic to the performance that really worked. Everything was color coordinated, covered in glitter, and clearly referenced an era of rock ’n’ roll in a curated way. It was obvious these budding rockstars have grown up in a world where everyone’s image is an extension of their brand.
Had the set not been as well executed, this could be a criticism, as it was clearly a performance focused on branding. But the joy on the sisters’ faces brought their performance back to the love of playing, in a way that made the whole set feel real again. You could just tell that the Pal sisters know their marketing but always come back to the music first and foremost. I got to speak to the youngest, Jess Pal, for a moment and she was beaming from ear to ear. At that point, I had seen at least 30 sets that week, and Baby Said stood out. They grabbed my attention and never let go—a huge compliment in a sea of similar glam rock-tinged acts.
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