Hard Rock is a sub-genre in its own right, itself sharding off into as many further sub-sub-genres as you can think of. It’s a massive draw to both recorded music and famously epic live shows. So when one of Hard Rock’s rising stars is announced to play BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend’s Future Sounds Stage, alongside Mercury Music Prize nominees and winners such as Arlo Parks and Self Esteem and headliners including The 1975 and Wet Leg, it’s time to look up and pay attention.
Cassyette @ Electric Ballroom
Essex-hailing, Nu Metal-pumping Cassy Brooking – AKA Cassyette – is that person. Having gained attention via hard-rock renditions of Olivia Rodrigo’s Drivers License and Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy among others, the Chelmsford-native has also been putting out her own music, which she compiled in the form of her Sad Girl Mixtape, released late last year. And after stints at Download Festival and Brighton’s Great Escape, she brings her rousing headline show to London’s Electric Ballroom tonight.
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Cassyette @ Electric Ballroom (Kalpesh Patel)
Appearing on stage wearing a leather full-head mask with spikes protruding from it and accompanied by a guitarist and drummer – goth pastiche taken to the next level, the music is kicked off with storming mixtape cut Like That, the London crowd immediately erupting into a hardcore bounce as Brooking strides from one side of her stage to the other. “Say take a right, and I’m gonna go left” she sings, accompanying her moves.
Cassyette @ Electric Ballroom
Her hood is removed as synths and lush guitars kick off Picture Perfect, the 29-year-old’s signature screams encouraging reciprocation from her audience before screams melt into gorgeous vocals. Behind Closed Doors continues the storming cascade, signature Nu Metal, spoken screaming finding a way to blend in slow-groove beats. Bleeding straight into the guttural scream-led snippet Die Hate Cry, it’s now that Brooking instructs her audience to form a circle pit, releasing pent up energy they need to expend tonight as the circular gap created by the audience is filled with chaos as they fall into it, bouncing off one another.
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Cassyette @ Electric Ballroom (Kalpesh Patel)
“I’m so excited to play this show tonight” Cassyette shares, ahead of the opening guitar licks of September Rain, the crowd immediately screaming back their delight at hearing one of the standout cuts from Sad Girl Mixtape, delicious guitars and delicate vocals giving way to intense screams.
Cassyette @ Electric Ballroom
The more radio-friendly Mayhem sees Brooking stepping off stage and singing to fans pressed up against the barricade running along the front of the venue. “Thank you so much” she sobs, visibly taken aback by the response of the 1,500-strong crowd. “Let’s sing this one together” she requests as the trio storm into the Mixtape’s title track Sad Girl Summer. And of course we do Cass. “You slayed that” she agrees before sharing new song Over It.
Cassyette @ Electric Ballroom
“London, I wanna see your energy” Brooking screams as the opening bars of Mixtape tune Dead Roses ring out, taking a vocal break to instruct the crowd to split down the middle before having them converge once more in a mosh pit. “Chaos! I love it” she screams. “Can you give me more London?” she encourages, screaming the opening to Go (Wall Of Hugs), sweat dripping off the walls of the Camden venue, the tempo never slowing.
Cassyette @ Electric Ballroom
Slow-build 2021 single and fan favourite Petrichor is offered up next before frenzied latest single Boom closes out the main set, the song blending heavy male vocals, storming beats and hard guitars in a signal that things for Cassyette will only get louder, harder and stronger.
Cassyette @ Electric Ballroom
The trio return to the North London stage for a one-two punch of 2021 singles Dear Goth followed by Prison Purse, Cassyette taking the closing tracks to take her show up a notch, diving into her crowd and having them surf her back the stage.
Cassyette @ Electric Ballroom
Tonight is a masterclass in how to perform rousing, storming, heavy tunes live, adding theatre on a shoe-string and making it count. The set is over after a fleeting 50 minutes but it’s easy to imagine how these shows will evolve to take over larger theatres and arenas as Casseyette’s catalogue grows. She already commands and dominates while remaining endearing. While offering an eclectic mix of rock, metal, pop and dance, the music is the reason we’re all really here.
Cassyette @ Electric Ballroom
Cassyette takes her banging show to Europe next with dates spanning Paris, Cologne, Berlin, Hamburg, Prague, Munich and Solothurn before wrapping up in Milan. She will then storm BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend’s Future Sounds Stage on 28th May, the event taking place in Dundee’s Camperdown Park this year, before performing at Cornwall’s Boardmasters Festival in August.
Live review and photography of Cassyette @ Electric Ballroom by Kalpesh Patel on 22nd March 2023.
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