Music / Reviews
Review: Cheekface, Strange Brew – ‘the hottest gig in Bristol’
There’s something special about watching a band completely in their element and something even more special when the audience knows every word.
On one of the hottest days of the year in the middle of Pride weekend, LA indie rock band Cheekface turned up the heat even further at Strange Brew.
The result was sweaty, sparkly and an exceptionally fun night.
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Strange Brew, Bristol’s much-loved art-clad venue, was filled with the kind of warm and joyful energy you only get when the room is packed with fans who really care.
Despite the heat (and yes, no air con – welcome to the UK) the crowds were cheery, glittered-up and full of beans.
As you can expect from Strange Brew, there were water stations, friendly staff and a palpable sense of “we’re all in this together” as we boogied through the stickiness.
There’s always a quiet fear when you go to see a band you really love (the kind that sits high on your Spotify Wrapped) that they might not land live… and the magic might fade. But Cheekface blew it out of the water.
If anything, the show made me love them even more than I already did.
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Cheekface, who title themselves “America’s local band”, brought exactly that energy – accessible, unpretentious and delivered with megawatt smiles.
But don’t let the friendliness fool you… their lyrics cut with realness. Wry, punchy and defiantly weird, their words are the kind that make you laugh and then think.
It’s a combo that lands perfectly in Bristol, as we are a city that appreciates both a good groove and a touch of anti-capitalist sarcasm.
Musically speaking, Cheekface is tight. You couldn’t fault these musicians if you tried, every beat locked in and every lyric delivered with that distinct spoken-word confidence. If you’re already a fan, you know how easy it is to fall into their call-and-response choruses, something the audience relished.
One of the night’s highlights came in the form of We Need a Bigger Dumpster, which had the whole room bouncing despite the sauna-level conditions.
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It’s not often you get a gig that feels this communal.
Maybe it was the energy of Pride still lingering in the air or maybe it was just the sheer joy of dancing to a band that gives as much as they get.
Main image: Isobel Higley
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