Live Review : Sisters Doll + Midnite City @ The Waterloo Music Bar, Blackpool on Sunday 21 June 2026

For the last decade or so many of the new bands on the scene have taken their cue from the 70s, with the 80's not receiving anything close to the respect and acclaim afforded to that earlier era. But the tide seems to be turning; bands such as Chez Kane, Sam Millar, and even Wailing Banshee are all unashamedly flying the flag for the decade of decadence. Is this the start of the 80s renaissance?

Well, if Sisters Doll and Midnite City have anything to do with it, that renaissance is absolutely happening, here and now in 2026. The fact that so many have packed into the Waterloo to what feels like close to capacity, is testament to the popularity and pull of both the bands and proves the unending appeal of this style of upbeat, feelgood rock.

It’s a co-headline tour, with Midnite City getting the party started on this particular date. The band have been plying their glossy slick wares for almost a decade, keeping the fire burning for melodic rock across four albums going back to 2017's eponymous debut.

Straight out of the gate, set opener ‘Live Like Ya Mean It’ establishes the tone for the night; everything you would expect is there front and centre, big bass, sparkling keys, exquisite guitar lines and Rob Wylde’s supercharged presence exhorting the crowd to join in to greater and greater heights. ‘Live Like You Mean It’ is the first of the newer numbers from 2025’s “Bite the Bullet”, half a dozen of which get an airing tonight.  Hearing them in the live setting, they impress mightily; take ‘Heaven in this Hell’, with Shaun Charvette’s keys swooping and gliding, complementing and counter-pointing to perfection Myles Meakin’s sparking skills on lead. Then there’s the tougher ‘Lethal Dose of Love’, punchy and muscular with another eminently singalong chorus – which is precisely what the Waterloo crowd do on this song (and frankly on pretty much every song in the set).  On this - and in fact many of Midnite City’s numbers – Rob’s fine vocals are bolstered by the call and response backing vocals from Shaun, and Josh on bass, adding another layer to the musical tapestry and really adding to the band’s live sound.

And when Midnite City hit that sweet spot as they do on the velvety power ballad ‘Hardest Heart to Break’ there’s not many that can equal them in the classy, anthemic and cinematic stakes. ‘Summer of Our Lives’ meanwhile remains as wonderfully evocative as ever, still sounding as fresh as it did almost a decade ago. It’s the perfect song on the night of the summer solstice, and the crowd react accordingly; there’s dancing there’s singing, there’s a glorious abandonment as the they let go and give in to its perfect charms.  Coming full circle and acting as almost a companion piece, the newer ‘When The Summer Ends’ later in the set, matches the energy and nostalgic glow with inspired keys, na-na-na-nas and a sense of time and place redolent of all our misguided youth and optimism (no matter how long ago that was).

It’s an assured and polished set to start the show, and with their tenth anniversary in their sights, Midnite City show no signs of slowing down and look set to head into their second decade stronger and more vital than ever.

The crowd is still on a high from Midnite City, and the buzz in the room is reaching a feverish intensity as the western-themed ‘Purgatory’ intro rolls across the venue …

Sisters Doll’s rise in the UK has been nothing short of meteoric.  The release of their third album “Scars” in 2025, and subsequent support and festival slots around the country has seen them go from relative unknowns, to a name on the lips of discerning rock fans (including ROCKFLESH reviewers and photographers) everywhere. The question then becomes, is the hype justified?

Well, that can easily be answered with a massively emphatic yes. Make no mistake Sisters Doll are the real deal. They possess that indefinable something special that sets them apart, that draws you into their rock n’ roll world.  It’s pure escapism that lifts the crowd on a wave of euphoria, and takes you out of the day-to-day, the routine, the humdrum, into a world that is altogether brighter, more colourful, dammit more fun.

The brothers Mileto are on a mission to ensure you have the best possible time and boy, do they achieve that in spades. Each band member is a star in their own right, the family obviously strongly blessed with talent and charisma genes, but it’s the combination of the four playing together, greater than the sum of their parts, that make Sisters Doll so special.

With only 75 minutes to play with, this is a tight and focussed set that highlights the bands strengths. The first couple of songs hit hard and fast, ‘Climbing Out of Hell’ and ‘United’ standing out with Austin’s effortlessly cool riffing and incredibly fluid and melodic soloing coming to the fore in jaw-dropping style. This is performance like you remember it used to be, passionate, fiery and unstoppable.  They never forget that rock music should always be exciting and entertaining and deliver a show that is big on catchy, hook-laden rock, performed with verve, panache and superb showmanship.  Brennan on lead vocals orchestrates everything with an easy charm, taking each song as an opportunity to get the crowd clapping, singing, dancing, throwing their hands in the air or shaking their heads.  And they happily respond with joyous recklessness.

There’s time for each member to shine in their own solo spots; perfectly judged, never outstaying their welcome, they blend together into a beautifully cohesive whole, Sage pumping out sinuous bass lines, before Bryce on drums dons laser wristbands sending beams of fractured light spearing around the venue. A modern-day Tommy Lee, tattooed and bare-chested he spends almost as much time stood up behind the kit as he does sat on his drum stool. It’s as if he can barely contain his energy and enthusiasm whilst still staying seated.  He hits brutally hard but is as precise as he is impactful, sticks are thrown, caught and spun with never a beat missed.  And just when you think the excitement levels have peaked, we get an unexpected segue into ‘Love Gun’. At which point the needle ticks over into the red and the place manages to go even wilder…

Somehow each song seems to top the one before it, building and building to a triumphant one-two-three punch of the singalong ‘Dollhouse’, the effervescent ‘Prisoner’ and the unadulterated joy that is ‘Good Day to be Alive’ (and never was there a truer sentiment than this after a night spent with the Melbourne four-piece). The set passes seemingly in the blink of the eye; paying homage to the past whilst paradoxically feeling fresh, it’s the old made new, reinvigorated and re-energised for the 21st century. Sisters Doll bypass the bullshit and hit straight in to the rock n’ roll soul in all of us. 

Catch them now whilst you still can, for on this showing they can surely only be heading for bigger and better things and before long they will leave the smaller venues in their rear-view mirror.  There’s a reason why they are being talked about so much – they really are that good…

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!
Sisters Doll + Midnite City
Shots from the Llandudno gig.