By Matt Donnelly, MSc Psychology of Education
High off of the release of their third album Everyone, Outside - a 13-chapter love letter to the mystical healing powers of human connection - Cassia’s ascent to indie stardom shows no signs of tailing off.
The scene was set in true tropical-pop fashion, with central Bristol cast in the warm glow of an early summer golden-hour sunset. For a Cassia live show, would any other conditions have been appropriate? Indie fans piled into the 1100 capacity Electric and, lager in hand, awaited patiently.
Opening up were Hunnybuzz, a Bristol-born quartet and force to be reckoned with. Billed as an ‘indie pop band’, they certainly sit at the darker end of that genre, which was refreshing.
Frontwoman Lyd Read convincingly lamented the breakdown of past relationships over crunching bass lines and howling, reverb-soaked lead guitar. Think Pale Waves but poked with a stick.
Arcy Drive provided main support - a New York indie rock 4-piece with a welcome measure of grunge. Six seconds in, what became clear was the sheer quality and charisma of frontman Nick Mateyunas, who wields a vocal that sits somewhere close to that of both Kurt Cobain and Kelly Jones.
There was also something moreish about his erratic and somewhat unhinged behaviour between songs. At one point, throwing himself to the ground in a manner not dissimilar to a salmon (for seemingly no reason whatsoever). I wasn’t at all surprised to later find out that they currently boast over 750,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Well deserved, I would say.
After a lengthy interval period, Cassia graciously took the stage with the warm, familiar presence of an old friend.
I had the pleasure of seeing Cassia at the very start of their ascent at The Exchange (Bristol) in 2017. At the time, there was a coy reluctance to lead vocalist Rob Ellis’ engagement in his duties as a frontman. It is now 2025, and Ellis is a man transformed.
The Electric stage is roughly 3 times the size of that of The Exchange, and Ellis made use of every inch of it within the first two tracks. Eight years of live shows will do that to you.
‘Heat’ came early on in the set, the moody lead single from the recent album and my favourite Cassia number to-date. Not a sonic flavour that is typically associated with the band, this track is underpinned by a minor key, offering respite from the jangly optimism and one can’t help but take it seriously.
For the entirety of the set, Electric was transformed from a sticky-floored music venue into a sun-drenched festival field. This was effectively aided by the IKEA plant-adorned stage and a light show which bathed the room in sunset hues (not much Cassia could do about the floor).
The crowd unwaveringly reciprocated Ellis’ infectious energy, reliving their past summers that had evidently been soundtracked by the Cassia discography.
‘Western Front’ was a clear highlight, a track which effectively showcases Cassia’s sonic progression and is nostalgically reminiscent of ‘Her’s’. On the topic of nostalgia, this returned with the performance of every song from the debut album, peaking at ‘100 Times Over’, which Ellis brings attention to, was ‘the first song Cassia ever released as a band’.
There was clearly very little time for between-song anecdotes, as the audience were relentlessly bombarded with indie track after indie track. This was halted by what can only be described as a curveball, as the set was very strangely broken up by a 4 minute attempt at a dance track, driven by an aggressive bass line and pulsing synthesisers. Although jarring, it gave audience members an opportunity to reset their indie barometers.
To top it off, Cassia delivered ‘Right There’, which I got the slight impression everyone had been waiting for. The lead single from the sophomore album, ‘Why You Lacking Energy?’, this track is by far the band’s most streamed and it is not difficult to see why. It carries a subtle emotional weight, but doesn’t stray far from the tried and tested sonic formula of Cassia that we know and love.
Overall, it was a very strong live performance from the Macclesfield trio and I left Electric feeling a little better about life. Isn’t that what live music is all about?
Featured Image: ElectricAre you ready for an indie summer revival?
