Nicotine Dolls at Baloise Session

Another night, another concert, this time it was Nicotine Dolls at Baloise Session in Basel. And honestly, this was one I had been waiting for a long time. The New York band, fronted by singer Sam Cieri, finally made their way to Switzerland, and I could not have been happier about it.

I’ve been following Nicotine Dolls for the past three years, so seeing their name on this year’s Baloise Session lineup instantly made it one of the shows I was most excited about. For anyone who hasn’t come across them yet: Nicotine Dolls formed in New York City in 2017 and mix catchy pop-rock melodies with big, emotional songs that are made to be sung along to. At the center of it all is Sam Cieri, whose voice is the kind that makes you stop whatever you’re doing and just listen.

Technically, Nicotine Dolls were the opening act for James Arthur that night. But let’s be honest: for me, they were the main act and the whole reason I was there. So this review is all about them.

Finally Seeing Nicotine Dolls at Baloise Session

Of course, I had watched my fair share of live videos over the years. But seeing them myself, right there in front of me, was a whole different story and a real treat. Sam’s voice sounded every bit as powerful as I had hoped, moving easily between the softer, more emotional moments and the big, belt-it-out choruses.

While Sam was obviously in the spotlight, the rest of the band were right there with him and every bit as charismatic. Bassist Alex in particular had an incredible stage presence. Watching him switch from full-on bass stank face to the biggest smile within seconds was so much fun. And the interaction with the audience never stopped either. Whether it was a quick joke, a grin into the crowd or a little chat between songs, the band made sure everyone in the room felt included.

New Album, New Songs and a Few I Missed

Nicotine Dolls just released their self-titled second album, so naturally the setlist leaned heavily on the new material. And honestly, the new songs were all great. That said, I did miss a couple of older favorites that I would have loved to hear. SLIP or Hate It / Fight It would have been so good! But that didn’t stop me from having a great time. I especially loved the little run to the B-stage, which brought Sam right into the middle of the crowd and made the whole thing feel even more personal.

Talking about old songs and new songs, I love how much more rock-y everything sounds on stage. The guitars hit harder, the drums are louder and the songs get an extra kick you don’t quite get from the recordings. Enemy was for sure one of the highlights in terms of energy and had the whole room moving.

Hey, They Know the Song!

One moment I won’t forget anytime soon: when nothin’ i do was announced, I cheered. A little too loud, I guess. I figured more people would know that one and cheer along with me. Spoiler: I ended up being the only one. At least it didn’t go unnoticed, because Sam looked over and said, “Hey, they know the song!” Haha. I’ll take it!

There were a few technical issues here and there throughout the night, but the band handled them like absolute pros. My favorite example: after making it to the B-stage, Sam realized he had forgotten to bring the capo. No worries though, one of the tech guys simply ran off to go get while beeing cheered on by Sam.

Winning Over a Room Full of New Fans

While I knew exactly how great Nicotine Dolls are, I could tell that a lot of people in the audience had no clue who this band was. That made it even more fun to watch so many faces light up in surprise the moment Sam started to sing.

Before the show, I talked to a couple of fellow photographers who didn’t know the band either. I told them, “Just wait and see, they’re great.” And lo and behold, every single one of them came up to me after the show with something along the lines of, “DAMN! You were right!” I love that so much.

A Night to Remember at Baloise Session

Well, all in all, I guess you can all tell by now that I’m a fan. So obviously, this night was a huge success for me! I cannot wait for Nicotine Dolls to come back to Switzerland, hopefully sooner rather than later. A big thank you to Baloise Session for bringing them over. This one was worth the wait.