Dead Stilettos And An EP Launch Party- Inevitably An Incredible Combination

‘Shirts off, Rock on’ seemed to be the slogan for Dead Stilettos’s EP Launch Party on Friday night in Manchester. It was an evening absolutely packed with energy, passion, intensity and just all-around great vibes flooding the room. From the lights to the audience interaction and the performances themselves, it was an incredible experience. 

The first band Cherry Fuzz Club set the scene so well; they brought such intense energy to the stage and left us with all that they had. Before their set even began, the excitement was so clear as we all anticipated their opening song whilst they tuned guitars and tested the microphones. Suddenly, an eruption of sound as they played their first songs, especially ‘Limestone’ with such a dynamic rhythm, one that defeats any sense of expectation and replaces it with pure spontaneity and excitement. It was clear the night was going to result in some lost voices and perhaps a few bruised bodies, in the best way. The band were just down to earth with us, speaking to us on an equal level and providing sounds that completely elevated the atmosphere.

Then, the second act, Dachshund, came with the same high energy and rock and roll vibe as their colleagues, giving the audience exactly what they wanted. They controlled the room so easily, capturing each person on an individual level thanks to their great audience participation and engagement alongside such powerful music. Pulling a spectator up on stage, and him almost immediately falling, their frontman got really close to the microphone and produced these unique and chaotic sounds all resulting in a set that truly was like no other. It was such an admirable fusion of fun for everyone in the room, of a clear and undying passion that the band have for music and of course their immense talent.

Then the main event, Dead Stilettos came on stage and what a whirlwind of a performance they displayed. Each moment stood out individually and came together to form this spectacle of talent, of disruption and devotion to the craft. The green lights, as were specially requested, worked especially well in designating their stage space so that they could consequently break down the barriers. It transformed the space into a colourful area that diffused into the darkness surrounding the crowd. This lent itself so well to the nature of their performance; each band member was a natural at interacting with their audience and this made such a huge difference to the overall set, allowing the music to feel even more immersive. Their frontman even stood right at the front and proceeded to do pull-ups on the rigging, which was definitely a fan-favourite moment. Then, after cheers of excitement from the crowd, the band even lit a sparkler in the mouth of their guitarist to heighten this chaotic and unpredictable set and take it to yet another level. 

There was always something going on on that stage, spilling out to the crowd as mosh pits formed and people were thrown around with the biggest smiles on their faces. As their set came to an end, the crowd pleaded for an encore and were ecstatic when the band began to play once more for us. After using a cider bottle as a guitar pick, releasing fake money into the audience and blowing us away, especially with their self-titled song ‘Dead Stilettos’ as a track building continuously in intensity from start to finish, they left the stage with an explosion of music, of vocal intensity and instrumental prowess. 

Overall, an explosive launch party filled to the brim with energy found nowhere else. Each band complemented the other so perfectly and the night seemed to stray from three distinct sets as can so easily be achieved but instead become one huge party; it was truly a night for the ages.

Abby Tapping 

@abs.tapp75

Image: Abby Tapping

If you enjoyed reading this article please consider buying us a coffee. The money from this pot goes towards the ever increasing yearly costs of running and hosting the site, as well as our monthly "Writer Of The Month" article prize.