Pacifica - Yes Manchester - 11th May 2026

Argentinian Indie Rock

Story by Ben Avery

13/05/2026

Pacifica arrived in Manchester looking every bit the well-oiled indie machine: a three-piece who clearly know their set inside out, but work hard to make it feel loose and spontaneous. The band took turns addressing the crowd, keeping things conversational between songs, even if the rehearsed slickness occasionally peeked through.

Pacifica is a duo of singers who also play guitar and bass. Originally they met up in Argentina where they were both living at the time. Inés Adam, guitarist / singer originally gained popularity though youtube, posting videos of covers of Strokes, Haim, David Bowie and others before being joined by Mexican Martina (Martu) Nintzel on vocals and Bass, initially for some more covers and then to form Pacifica as a band. From the front rows, the energy was immediate, loads of dancing, whooping, and the kind of commitment usually reserved for people three drinks ahead of everyone else. There’s a definite Strokes DNA running through the whole thing, impossible to ignore, though sometimes it feels like that influence limits what Innes can really do vocally rather than opening her up. The early stretch was strong, especially a sharp solo during the fourth song that got the room fully locked in. Crowd singalongs came naturally, and there were flashes of genuine charisma throughout: a Joan Jett-esque hair shake here, a bizarrely confident whistle section there. Not everything landed. Martu’s extended anecdote about a guy who “couldn’t get it up” tested the patience of anyone hoping for momentum over rambling. Some people around me absolutely loved it; others looked spiritually exhausted before the punchline arrived. A few lyrics also clunked harder live than they probably do on record - "Tennent's superstar” remains a genuinely baffling line - two Argentinians referencing a Scottish high strength larger, there must be a story behind that one! Still, Pacifica know how to recover a room. “I Need Anita” brought things back to life. Covers of Wet Leg’s Davina McCall and The Strokes Someday were real highlights. The shared vocal section on “With or Without You” was one of the night’s better moments, showing the chemistry that keeps the whole thing afloat even when it threatens to disappear into chaos. They played for around ninety minutes, and although the crowd thinned slightly toward the end, the band never really lost confidence. Messy, self-aware, occasionally indulgent, but undeniably alive.