The stairwells of the Waterfront in Norwich are adorned with large frames containing dozens of old ticket stubs—the mementos of artists who have graced its stages over the years. Unlike the fans who caught Nirvana, Pulp, The Verve and countless others here, the crowd gathered in the Studio for FLETCHR FLETCHR needed only their phones to record their own "I was there" moment.
Like their support act, FLETCHR FLETCHR brought their own brand of indie rock fuelled by two roaring guitars, bass and drums. Immediately, they filled the small stage with a slice of Cornish energy. The powerful drum beat and indie guitar riffs of ‘For You’ immediately satisfied the fans pressed against the stage. Yet, it was clear that this wasn’t just a paint-by-numbers indie rock band. ‘Jet Black’ brought us a catchy melodic chorus and switches in musical pace. ‘Feel The Same’ combined introspective lyrics, anthemic vocal delivery, and a palpable on-stage musical chemistry. And, as the song reached its emotional crescendo and lead singer Rohan Fletcher’s vocals harmonised with the guitars, Adam Sanders took us into a haunting saxophone solo.
The blend of the vocals, bass notes and guitars felt raw yet tight, but the harmonisation, the energy and the saxophone brought an added dimension. FLETCHR FLETCHR felt like a proper bar band—a quartet who have learned how to play together by actually playing together. There were moments that sat in the Springsteen-to-Gaslight Anthem musical lineage of heart-on-sleeve anthemic rock, while the guitar and vocal delivery on ‘Streetlights’ brought flashes of Sam Fender to mind. The sense of fun, musical switches and bar-band vibe had echoes of Bleachers, particularly on the high-energy highlight of ‘Dancing On The Motorway’ with its quirky synth motif and bass undertone.
Yet for all those musical echoes, FLETCHR FLETCHR rarely feel derivative. There’s an honesty to the band, not just in their lyrics but in their stage presence and connection to the audience. That connection was particularly strong on ‘Life’, the raw anthem which deals with grief and healing. The song deals with the death of Fletcher’s dad, Matthew Fletcher, who was one of the group’s biggest supporters. The verses were poignant and conversational, describing rushing to be with his father for his final moments. In contrast, the chorus was a powerhouse anthemic delivery of resilience: “It’s all the same advice /like hold your head up high / the holidays are going to be nice”. For a relatively young band, the bond they have with each other and their fans is moving, and being part of it felt special.
Most songs were introduced, often with some background context, further strengthening the connection between band and audience. Before ‘From Home’, Fletcher described how the song was their first song, written locked in a room with bottles of wine after Sanders had a break-up. 'From Home’ was another song which demonstrated the band’s ability to cleverly swing pace and melodies within a track. Starting with a simple guitar riff and understated vocals, the song built to a guitar-fuelled crescendo, complete with a dancing audience, before the pace shifted again to a gentle chorus with a soothing guitar accompaniment.
‘Fucking With My Head’ was another highlight. Beginning with restrained, despondent vocals, the song burst into life on the chorus with soaring vocals and manic drumming. It's a song that feels like it's about self-doubt, and the switches in tone and instrumentation added to the power. After some restrained vocals and gentle guitar strumming, the full band came back in with everyone singing to a screeching reverb ending.
The set finished with ‘Whenever Whenever’, a song that began with a swirling wind-like synth, pounding drums, and strobes before layering on guitar riffs as the audience clapped along to the increasingly powerful beat. And then, with a quick introduction to the band, the evening was over.
Gigs this size rarely bring encores but the fact it felt like we needed one says a lot about where FLETCHR FLETCHR are on their musical journey. They already have the chemistry, variety of songs, and stage presence to command a room. Right now we still get to experience the rawness, rough edges, and connection you get from a great bar band, and that’s what makes them feel exciting.
Ticket stubs may have been confined to history, but this was the kind of night that would once have produced one worth keeping. Whether this really was an ‘I was there’ moment, only time will tell, but FLETCHR FLETCHR gave the Waterfront Studio audience the sense of a band honing its musical craft for something much bigger.
Andrew Butcher
Images: Andrew Butcher
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