Cheltenham Playhouse is typically filled with theatregoers for various plays and pantos, but on the 10th of November, it was full of local music fans ready to see some fantastic live music. Bands Bluntnose, Toast, and Chasing Dolls rocked the stage at their gig; The Dollhouse. Henrik Ibsen eat your heart out.
The people file in to the theatre, I scramble myself over the stage from the green rooms, where I was conducting an interview minutes before, and take my seat next to my friend, second row back, centre stage. More people file into the theatre. The intro music stops. It is almost freakishly quiet. The crowd watch in silence as Bluntnose do the very very last of their prep, tuning guitars and fixing mic stands, and then begin. I had no exposure to Bluntnose prior to their set and wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. They’d described their sound as noisy, grungy, punk, hardcore, and a bit melodic, which they absolutely were, and when I had asked the song they anticipated would do best, they stated “all of them”. I loved their confidence. Typically I’m not huge on heavier sets if I’m not familiar with the music, I’m still learning to love heavier genres, but I really was enjoying myself. I take note of their mascot, an Ikea Blåhaj, who seems to be clinging onto the kickdrum for dear life as it shakes from the force of the drummer. Most people stand during the set, and after standing up I realise how close I am to the stage. This venue looked so big when I walked in earlier but it felt so intimate, and when the music stops it really is quiet in there. There’s something really special about that kind of venue.
Bluntnose make their way off stage after an impressive performance, filled with some pretty crazy vocals, taking their Blåhaj with them, and Toast begins their set-up. Toast are very much the driving force behind this event, organising it with their production company Breadbin. “The Playhouse were looking to diversify, and spreading live music around Cheltenham is kind of our thing”, scaryliv tells me, and the bands, I’m told, were also selected by Toast. Bluntnose had originally been spotted on Instagram, and were invited after playing a gig at Smokey Joe’s, and Chasing Dolls had originally played, or at least attempted to play, a gig with Toast at Porters, a bar in Cirencester, which ended up falling apart due to a variety of factors.
Toast finishes their setup and begins their set. They use the whole stage, interacting with each other, moving around, jumping off of small platforms, they really put on a show. I note that scaryliv looks like a Tim Burton character; they’re wearing a quite fancy-looking dress with a bow around their neck, and that in combination with the stage lighting, and their makeup truly makes them seem fresh out of the latest family-friendly Halloween classic. The boys all wear Toast shirts, and seem completely at ease on the stage. Tommy Lee on the drums looks absolutely soaked with sweat by the time he leaves the stage, as usual. I am always blown away by how much energy he puts into his drumming. The set goes down a treat, I stand right next to a group of the band’s friends, I see them at every show, and they always seem to have a fantastic time, the energy is insane.
They depart the stage and the headliners, Chasing Dolls, begin their setup. There’s a lot to say about Chasing Dolls, which inevitably means I’ll miss something, but here’s a basic rundown. The band with its current lineup have been going for about 2 years now, 2 years previously a guitarist change led to a change in sound, with new (ish) guitarist, named Munch, though I feel that may not be their real name, brought in some fresh ideas. They describe themselves as “twinkly, emo, skramz, punk, midwest emo”, and much like Bluntnose, they were everything they claimed. “Someone told us we were like English Football, like the band American Football, but English”, said Munch, and I can definitely see where that person was coming from. As soon as the set began I knew I was in for a treat. This is truly my kind of music.
Immediately, I’m unable to stop watching the guitarist play, I’m entranced by the way his hands are moving and the sounds it’s making, in my peripheral vision, I see the frontman jump around and fall and roll onto the ground, I still cannot stop watching. I am always immensely impressed by people who can really play their instruments, and I begin to think back to all of my favourite songs that sound kinda like this, and how I have absolutely been taking that skill level for granted. I avert my attention back to the frontman, Hayden, who is still jumping around. The passion he has for performing is clearly visible, he uses all of the space on the stage, accidentally unplugging his guitar a few times as he moves. I remember the band telling me about their musical influences backstage, they told me about The Doors, I’ve never listened to The Doors, but these guys are making me think I should listen to The Doors. As they play the final song of the evening, Butterflies on Fire, I look to my left and see a large group of what must be their friends and fans all singing along. I’m again reminded of how close I am to the stage, and to the other people in this room. This truly is a unique venue and a unique concert experience. I feel lucky to have taken part in it.
If you’re wanting to support these lovely little bands you can follow their adventures on Instagram:
Bluntnose – @bluntnoseband
Toast – @toast.theband
Chasing Dolls – @chasingdolls
