Around this time last year, there wasn’t a phrase that annoyed me quite like ‘to the moon.’ In January, there was already a documentary released about the GameStop short squeeze of 2021, where GameStop’s stock rise over 2,500% amidst rampant volatility. During that time, memes saying “diamond strong hand” and of course, “to the moon” took over the internet. I hate that I put the phrase in the headline for this review, but it feels like the most accurate description from seeing Chelsea Cutler on Saturday night at Hammerstein Ballroom at Manhattan Center.
It feels impossible to be in a room with Chelsea Cutler and not be lifted by her soaring vocals, and that was the case Saturday night. Cutler has a unique ability to bring connection through her music and her interaction with the crowd at her shows. This is the third time I’ve seen Cutler, and that theme of connection has existed in every one of those shows. The example of connection at Cutler’s show carried over throughout the night and shined brightest as she played ‘Men on the Moon.’ She had a sold-out room with over three thousand people singing every word to a song she hasn’t even released yet.
‘Men on the Moon’ is a song that Cutler first teased on TikTok in August saying, “One thing that I think is so insane is that we as a human race have come so far and yet we still struggle to just talk to each other, so I wrote a song about it.” The song quickly garnered the love of fans and that love was evident on Saturday night at Hammerstein Ballroom. Cutler even noted how wild it is that fans have connected so well to an unreleased song that they know the words at the show and on Twitter on Sunday.
It blows my mind you guys sing along to men on the moon already when I play it at shows— chelsea cutler (@chelseacutler) October 23, 2022
The entire night at Manhattan Center was special. Fans were buzzing during the opening set of Arden Jones, ayokay, and then Chelsea Cutler. Despite it being a giant ballroom with thousands of people inside, the show had a sense of community that only grew stronger as the night went on. There was something special about the crowd singing songs like ‘The Reason,’ ‘AF1s,’ ‘Forever,’ and the aforementioned ‘Men on the Moon.’
Chelsea’s songwriting is incredible and being able to see the emotion behind the songs she writes as she performs it live is amazing. Much of her setlist came from her recently released When I Close My Eyes, which navigates heartache, being in love, and other intimate feelings that create a unique ability for fans to relate to. That ability to relate makes the crowd feel like a knit group of people that feel something from what Cutler creates. For at least the night at a Chelsea Cutler concert you leave your world for awhile through her lyrics, voice, guitar riffs, and performance from her impressive band. Where you go when you leave your world and worries at a Chelsea Cutler show may be more individual, but at least for one song she took fans to the moon.
Don’t miss your chance to see Chelsea Cutler on tour here.