Chelsea Cutler
Article by Brittany Ormiston
“When I Close My Eyes: Chelsea Cutler.” Sunflowers emerged on the screen giving instant happiness, optimism, and peace to the awaiting Indianapolis crowd. Chelsea Cutler appeared on stage wearing a customized Colts’ jersey. ‘I dream of this’ was inscribed on the bass drum head, and the lights reflected off the fluorescent white drums. Chelsea jumped on the platform in rhythm with the drum loop, and was ready to give the night her all.
Chelsea energized the crowd and delivered a high energy performance with such ease. She hosted a competition during ‘What Would It Take’ to see which side of the crowd could sing the chorus the loudest while simultaneously screaming the lyrics herself. Lifting the microphone stand and holding it out to the crowd is one of Chelsea’s signature moves, and the crowd wasted no time to belt out the lyrics of ‘Mess.’ Towards the end of the set, Chelsea covered one of her favorite songs ‘Mr. Brightside’ by The Killers. She went total rockstar and stood on the bass drum while shredding a jaw-dropping guitar solo. Chelsea’s drummer, Gavin Chops, chipped in and hyped up the crowd even further. Gavin stood up from the drum set and swayed his drumsticks time and time again. He was the very first person to turn on his phone flashlight for ‘Stay Next To Me,’ and the whole room lit up like a sky full of stars. Chelsea’s energy and natural charm made it evident she is meant for the stage.
The instrumentals during the live show created a more vibrant, upbeat experience for concert goers compared to listening to Chelsea’s music through headphones. Chelsea created beats with a drum/bead pad to add flare to a few tracks, including ‘The Reason.’ Intense, heavy drumming throughout the set was electrifying, and ensued relentless dancing despite the sad lyrics. Dancing while yelling depressing yet relatable lyrics at Chelsea’s show is liberating, and is equivalent to attending a therapy session with your best friends. To add to the addicting instrumentals, the visuals solidified a nostalgic feel to the experience. The pastel color scheme was displayed as a variety of flower fields, clouds, and a city skyline to name a few. One of the most beautiful, cathartic moments was the visual of trees blowing in the wind while Chelsea played keys and performed ‘Brent Medley.’
The nostalgic energy radiating throughout the venue was comforting and uplifting. Chelsea made it a point to ensure her show was a safe space for everyone in attendance. She made a small speech about being loved and accepted. “When you are here, you are home,” Chelsea stated wholeheartedly. One of the most wholesome moments of the night was when Chelsea gave a signed Peyton Manning jersey to a fan. She closely watched the crowd the entire night, and specifically chose the person she noticed the night meant a lot to. Without a doubt, Chelsea is one of the most pure, genuine artists in the music industry. Chelsea’s aura is similar to a sunflower bringing universal joy to many through her radiant personality and authentic music.
Egyptian Room of Old National Centre in Indianapolis, IN on April 5, 2022
Photos by Everly Ormiston
