The Cuties bring much-needed live music back to Denison

ANDREW CHA, Special to The Denisonian—

On the eve of The Cuties playing at Delta Chi, it occurred to me that this band is arguably the most important band in the history of Denison’s music scene. No, I am not writing in hyperbole.

The COVID-19 pandemic made us realize that everything can be taken from us, so nothing should be taken for granted. It became quite evident to us that even the things that we thought would last forever were gone. Live music was no exception, and in the early months of isolation, we collectively craved its return. We missed the feeling of community that comes with seeing a live band.

The Cuties has a unique factor that contributes to its significance: it is a pandemic band, having its origins in the fall of 2020. All of us were music-starved for the majority of 2020, which made the arrival of The Cuties so monumental. I can not help but wonder if we would have welcomed The Cuties into our lives as openly as we have if it had been formed a year earlier. But there is no need to wonder! I am so glad that we did.

The name of the band, as well as the music it plays, both have a hand in making The Cuties the best band that Denison could have asked for to reintroduce us to live shows. Its name evokes a sense of innocence and simplicity, which is reflected in the music. The Cuties has setlists consisting of rock songs like “Where Is My Mind?” by Pixies, “Santeria” by Sublime, and “Fell in Love with a Girl” by The White Stripes. These songs are played by The Cuties in a straightforward manner, just like how they were played by the original bands.

And with such energy and force! One measure of how good a band is live is how a crowd reacts to its presence, and when The Cuties play, its crowd is consistently wild. Bristling with energy, the crowd reacts viscerally to the band’s passionate vocals, distorted guitar, thick bass, and heavy drums.

In the end, The Cuties is not here to reinvent the wheel; rather, it is here to rock our socks off and show us a good time. And in these turbulent times, that is what we need the most.