sundayclub at The Grove

It’s not often a band you’ve been raving about on record lives up to the hype in a small room, but on a Tuesday night at The Grove, sundayclub did exactly that, and then some.

The Winnipeg duo of Courtney Carmichael and Nikki St. Pierre arrived in Nottingham on the back of their self-titled debut album. Fleshed out by their live band, they sounded bigger and bolder than the record, without losing any of the dreamy haze that makes it so special. Carmichael’s vocals floated effortlessly above walls of shimmering guitar, while the rhythm section gave the songs a muscle and drive that only really comes alive on stage.

“They can cut it on record and back it up with a brilliant live show.”
— Marq Sutton, NottsRocks

The band were tight and blasted through the hits. ‘Sad Summer’ and ‘Camera Shy’ had the crowd singing along, each song landing every bit of its gut punch, and ‘Corydon Ave (To Meet You)’ was a highlight. Its swirling, crescendoing outro built and built before letting the room float gently back down. Closing the set with a welcome cover of The Cure’s ‘Just Like Heaven’ was the perfect send-off, a nod to the older influences they’re now soaking up.

What struck me most was their professionalism. This is their biggest tour yet, but you’d never know it: they have the confidence and polish of a band who’ve been doing this for years. sundayclub can cut it on record and back it up with a brilliant live show. They’re a band to watch, and if they come back through Nottingham, don’t miss them.

Before the show, I grabbed a quick chat with Courtney and Nikki about everything from origins and influences to touring and aspirations.

Welcome to Nottingham! First, let me ask you: what was the first instrument you learnt to play, and does that have any bearing on how you met?

Courtney: I started out singing, but really it was piano, then guitar.

Nikki: Guitar. I found one in my grandma’s closet and taught myself how to play.

Courtney: We met at university and started writing almost straight away, and during the pandemic we just dove right into it.

There seems to be a natural progression from your EP to the album. Was that the sound you wanted to make, or did it change during recording?

Nikki: It was less about a particular sound we were going for. We just wanted to be satisfied with what we made.

Courtney: I don’t think we could have predicted it at the start. Listening to some of our early demos, we’d never have expected to arrive where we did, but we’re very happy with what we ended up with. It did take a lot of iterations to get there.

I can hear what I think your influences are, but let’s hear it from you.

Nikki: At the start, we listened to Alvvays, Snail Mail and Day Wave.

Courtney: We still listen to Day Wave, but I don’t think we’ll draw from that for where we go next. Right now, we’re listening to a lot more shoegaze and older stuff. What we get compared to now is more what we’re listening to now than what we were listening to at the start.

Let’s talk about touring. Is this your first time in the UK?

Courtney: It’s our third time. We first played London with our label at a kind of showcase, then we played The Great Escape, and then we did a show at the O2 in Birmingham. This is our biggest tour, though.

I’ve been recommending your record to friends. What are you listening to at the moment, or what would you recommend?

Courtney: feeble little horse and Fanclubwallet.

Nikki: I’ve been diving back into a lot of old stuff. We’ve had The Smiths on repeat on this tour. Newer bands, In Color, but a lot of pop-rock.

Courtney: Swim School and Apple Bloom.

I’m not going to ask who you’d invite to a dinner party. Instead, if you could have anyone famous, or anyone you admire, in the audience at one of your shows, who would it be?

Nikki: OK, I’ve got three: Morrissey, Liam Gallagher and Matty Healy, because I want to hear them bicker the whole time. (laughs)

Courtney: You just want them miserable! For me, Rachel Goswell from Slowdive, because I’d want to pick her brains afterwards. Maybe Shania Twain, and Molly Rankin from Alvvays.

Finally, describe the band in three words.

Courtney: Dreamy gut-punch pop.

sundayclub’s self-titled debut album is out now.