Live Review – Dream State | The Cathouse, Glasgow | 5th April 2024
The rise of Dream State in recent years shows the sheer power behind the band right now. Only a year ago they were taking to the stage in small cap rooms, fast forward to now they’re taking their name to the big stages of festivals and selling out venues across the U.K. Since taking the vocal reigns, singer Jessie Powell is showing why she belongs and her passion for what she does is echoed by both band members & fans alike. With plenty of sold out banners across the board, the Still Dreaming Tour arrives in Glasgow on what seems to be on a never ending rain streak in a packed Cathouse Rock Club.
With this being held on a club night, there was no time wasted between doors and the first band. Kicking things off in the right manor with local rising stars Sixth Wonder taking to the stage to bring the noise. With a hefty following selling out their ticket allocation pretty much as they were announced for this show, it already gave a good sense of how their set was going to go and the show did not disappoint, filled with already released singles with crushing riffs and breakdowns that made it impossible to stand still paired with the piercing screams from vocalist Rebekah. Slipped into the set was a nice surprise announcement of their new single ‘Brutus’ that would be released a week after the show – the song slaps hard live. With gigs in Edinburgh and Glasgow quickly following this big slot, it’s the time for the band to show what they’re all about and build their way up through the scene.
Photos: Lucy Cheyne Photo
Next up we have the absolute treat of a band who are taking their name to all new heights. Being on the recent Kerrang! magazine cover ahead of their upcoming second album, it’s time for Graphic Nature. The excitement surrounding this band right now was instantly justified as soon as they entered the stage as they burst into chaos. Singer Harvey is filled with energy from the get go urging the crowd to push forward. With their new album set to land in July, this tour is a great chance to showcase what’s to come as their set comes with both old and new material with recent single ‘To the Grave’ setting the tone with the crowd as they start the first pit of the night. With this being such an intimate venue, the performance from Graphic Nature makes it feel like a ‘I was there’ moment, this band won’t be in small rooms for long. The intensity of their live show slaps hard brining out the best energy from the crowd – from circle pits to crowd surfers the fans gave everything they had.
Photos: Brieghanna Maye
Two incredible warm ups have set the scene for our headliners as a packed room filled with countless amounts of Dream State merch showing the love the fans have for this band even before they take to the stage. The instrumental intro is met with deafening cheers from fans as the band spring on to the state one by one before Jessie runs on as they smash into ‘Still Dreaming’ quickly following ‘Are You Ready to Live’ raising the atmosphere even higher than before. Jessie and co have the crowd where they want them and you can see the happiness beam across each of their faces as they spring around the stage throwing every ounce of energy they have – you wouldn’t even know Jessie was struggling with an illness, showing even more the love and dedication she has for what she does.
Since the bands new look, both EP’s have went down a storm with the fans & media alike however the older material, which for some songs were performed live for the first time by Jessie really showed the dominance she has set within the band and her screams and growls thrown in to tracks like ‘Comfort In Chaos’ & ‘Help Myself’ give an immense feel to the songs. The energy is constant and that’s what makes Dream State what they are – the room never stops from the minute the band enter the stage till they leave. From the old of ‘White Lies’ to the new of ‘Anxious State of Mind’ and the crowd bouncing banger that is ‘Chin Up Princess’, the set gave you all that you come to expect from this band. Jessie continuously expresses her love for tonight and specifically Glasgow, from the small basement rooms of a year ago to a sold out Cathouse – the loyalty in Scotland truly goes unnoticed by the band.
After leaving the stage followed by a quick return, the band have a final surprise up their sleeve as they invite Graphic Nature’s Harvey Freeman on stage to perform Taunt Me causing absolute mayhem in the crowd as both Jessie and Harvey go to the barrier to get even closer to the fans. To close ‘Primrose’ brings one last dance and mosh as Jessie opens the crowd and takes herself in to sing in the middle of the pit before jumping into said pit herself, ending the song crowd surfing her way back to the stage like a champion. There’s so much that can be said about the Dream State live experience however the main point to take away from any show is the fun that you have – whether you’re there with a big group or just on your own, the experience makes you feel like you belong in that room singing and dancing in unison with both band and like minded fans and that’s exactly what tonight was. A sea of smiles and happy faces beaming from the stage to the back of the room and it gives off that feeling of belonging and family.
Photos: Brieghanna Maye
Words by Craig McInnes