I knew very little about Nicotine Dolls before walking into Electric Brixton, London, but by the end of the night I wanted to go home and listen to everything they had released. There is a pleasure in discovering a band this way, hearing the songs for the first time with the musicians right in front of you, and realising that you have found something you will keep listening to afterwards.
The New York band formed in 2017 and released their first single, “Fake”, in 2019. In an interview at the time, frontman Sam Cieri explained that the song came from recognising his own tendency to hide behind a performance of himself rather than risk an honest connection. It was an early sign of the self-awareness that would become an important part of their songwriting. (alex-latham-z13k.squarespace.com) Their debut album, “An Attempt at Romantic”, followed in March 2025, while their second, self-titled album is due on 23 October 2026.
In front of a full house, Nicotine Dolls opened with “How Do You Love Me”, beneath purple lights that looked lovely from the audience. The lighting followed the drumbeat, adding to the song’s old-school rock feel, but it was Cieri’s voice that was husky and incredibly expressive; it had the sort of character that makes you want to hear what a singer will do with the next line. Released in 2023 and later included on the EP of the same name, “How Do You Love Me” grew out of Cieri’s fear that the people around him did not truly want to be there. Nicotine Dolls write about wanting affection while struggling to trust it, and Cieri can make that struggle audible without sacrificing the pleasure of a good rock song.
“Anna”, released as a single in August 2025, brought red lighting and another opportunity to appreciate those vocals. Cieri’s rasp occasionally brought Springsteen to mind, although I soon stopped trying to place him alongside anyone else. “LONDOOOON!” he shouted. “Thank you for waiting for us.” By that point, I was beginning to regret not having discovered them sooner.
“Here to California” led into “Wild”, which earned its title through the energy of the performance. Everything I was enjoying about the band came together here – the vocals, the instrumental arrangements and the confidence with which they played. Cieri’s voice might be what first draws you in, but the rest of the band was just as worth your attention; they keep the song moving, and you could hear every word he sang. The change of pace for “Next to Me” was just as convincing; Cieri picked up an acoustic guitar and introduced the band’s country side with a cheerful, ‘We are also good at it.’” He was right; the song suited the warmth beneath his rasp, and the unaccompanied ending was one of the evening’s finest moments.
“Backseat” kept a rough rock edge and the set moved comfortably through songs including “To the Wolves”, “Just Enough”, “Till We Both Say” and “Nothin’ I Do”. What impressed me was how little effort the changes of style seemed to require; rock, country and the softer material all suited them.
“Enemy”, from the forthcoming album, approaches a damaged relationship from a different position; Cieri has described writing it after a friend blamed him for the consequences of their own choices. Their version of “The Best”, associated with Tina Turner, also featured, while “Drive Away” and “Gimme Sympathy” took the evening towards its final electric outing: Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love”. It was a great choice for a band whose enjoyment of playing had been visible throughout the show.
I find bands like Nicotine Dolls increasingly difficult to come by – musicians who can be this entertaining while giving you lyrics worth returning to. They have the songs, the talent and a singer I could happily listen to all evening. They gained one more listener at Electric Brixton, and I suspect I will be making up for lost time. Nicotine Dolls are seriously addictive and bloody amazing.
Rating:
Written by Maggie Gogler
Featured image © Narine Chalabi for View of the Arts
View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to film, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. As we continue to grow, we aim to deepen our coverage of Asian music while remaining committed to exploring and celebrating creativity across the global arts landscape.
