By Bastion King.
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It had been a while since I’d last stepped into Rescue Rooms, but with The Cost bringing their Doppler Affection tour to Nottingham, this felt like the perfect return. Featuring viral drumming sensation El Estepario Siberiano alongside Peter Connolly and Chris Attwell, The Cost have built a reputation that extends far beyond the internet. With Midlands indie-punk outfit Made You Look / Made You Stare and Lincoln’s Gannets completing the lineup, the night promised variety and energy in equal measure.
Opening the evening, Gannets wasted no time setting the tone. Launching straight into 'Pork Pie', which I have on good authority, comes with Caramelised Onion Chutney (seriously, that's what their set list said!) they delivered punchy riffs and a confident performance that immediately grabbed attention. Highlights included 'Rats In Hats' and 'Fizzy Wizzy', both showcasing their blend of indie and psych rock. Unfortunately, their set was cut short to keep the evening on schedule, meaning "Highlands" never got its moment, which was a genuine shame. Even so, they left a strong impression and proved themselves more than worthy of the slot.
Made You Look / Made You Stare followed with a performance full of movement and emotion. Opening with 'Let’s Make Them', vocalist Kimberly commanded the stage from the outset, bouncing between bandmates while delivering an impressively versatile vocal performance. 'Occupied' stood out in particular, with drummer Thomas Miller throwing himself fully into the moment. The set took an emotional turn towards the end as it was announced that this would be bassist Bob Sutton’s final show with the band, a revelation that drew audible reactions from the crowd and added extra weight to an already memorable performance.
By the time The Cost took to the stage, anticipation was high. Despite being a three piece, they filled the space effortlessly, opening with 'Into The Drone' as Connolly moved front and centre to rally the crowd. One of the night’s most unexpected highlights came when the band invited audience requests, leading to an explosive cover of 'Chop Suey' by System of a Down that had the entire room moving. As a photographer, it became increasingly difficult to stay focused on shooting when all I wanted to do was join in.
Tracks such as 'Her Eyes', 'Rogue', and 'One Of A Kind' demonstrated the band’s ability to balance intensity with restraint, carefully pacing their set to give the audience brief moments to breathe before launching back into heavier territory. Throughout it all, El Estepario Siberiano proved exactly why he’s earned his reputation, delivering a performance that was both technically exceptional and perfectly in service of the music.
The crowd, initially hesitant, eventually gave in to the energy. By the time "Nueva" hit, the long-awaited mosh pit had formed, carrying through to the encore. Closing with 'Not For Me', The Cost ended the night on a high, leaving the crowd exhausted but satisfied.
Despite their differing styles, all three bands brought something unique to the evening. From Gannets’ raw promise, to Made You Look / Made You Stare’s emotional intensity, and The Cost’s commanding headline performance, this was a night that showcased exactly what live music is all about.
I left the venue exhausted, ears ringing, and already looking forward to the next time I see each of these bands live.
If you want more info on any of tonight’s bands, the links below will take you straight to them:
Gannets
Made You Look / Made You Stare
Photography by In My Lens on behalf of Get Heavy UK. Images are not to be redistributed, reproduced, or used elsewhere without prior permission.
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