Meltt Brings their mind-bending alternative-rock to Englewood, CO Gothic Theatre 6-18-25

Terrell Stewart
Jun 20
3 min read

It is always a pleasure to be asked to cover a band on tour from the bands pr reps. This was the case for me last Wednesday evening at the Gothic Theatre in Englewood Colorado. The band I was covering is called, Meltt. They were supporting The Blue Stones who were on their headline tour in the US. Both Bands are from Canada.

Right before the show, I ran into the guys from Meltt at the merch booth. Super chill crew. I let them know who I was and what I was there for. I’d only listened to a couple of their songs beforehand—can’t even tell you which ones—but it was their sound that grabbed me, not the track names. On their site, they call themselves a “mind-bending alternative-rock band,” and yeah, that fits. But coming from someone who grew up soaking in the psychedelic vibes of the late ‘60s, I’d throw an extra word in there: psychedelic. Their music has that dreamy, layered thing going on—like it wraps around you and pulls you somewhere else. It hit me in a way that felt familiar, but totally new at the same time.

Once the lights dimmed and Meltt hit the stage, and started their set with, “Into the Blue” and that sound I’d picked up on earlier came alive—louder, richer, and way more immersive. Their second song, “On Your Own” felt like it was designed to wrap around you, with layers of synth, dreamy guitar riffs. (this is headphones music) It was the kind of performance that pulls you in without asking. You just find yourself swaying, floating, completely tuned in. The crowd was mellow but felt the energy coming from the band. People swayed, nodded, soaked it all in. You could tell they weren’t just hearing the music, they were feeling it. No need for noise when the connection runs that deep. Their setlist moved back and forth with songs from their 2019 album, Swim Slowly and 2023’s Eternal Embers. I have a lot of listening to do!

What stood out most wasn’t just the music—it was the atmosphere they were creating on stage. One minute you’re caught in a swirl of melody, the next you’re hit with a groove that grounds you again. It was hypnotic in the best way. Chris Smith’s vocals I found to be mellow but haunting at the same time. He doesn’t overpower the music; he melds with it, becoming another instrument in that dreamy swirl of guitars and synths. Backing Chris Smith’s vocals is a tight-knit group of multi-instrumentalists who each bring their own flavor to Meltt’s sound.

Jamie Turner on drums wasn’t thrashing wildly but was precise and fluid and knew when to push his sound and at the same time pull back and let the rest of the band glide above him. James Porter with guitar, keys and backing vocals helped blend in the atmosphere tones. His vocals gave depth to the songs without overpowering them. Ian Winkler, guitar, bass and keys filled out the band moving with ease from bass to keys always adding to the flow of the music. Meltt closed out their night with their amazing stage presence and song, "Deeper Water", what a finish!

For a band I barely knew going in, I left feeling like I’d just been on a trip back through the 60's. What a pleasure seeing and hearing Meltt live!