Two years ago, Dublin’s five post-punk tracks, The Murder Capital, arrived in Bedford after releasing their debut album to play one of Esquires’ most defining gigs of the year.
On Friday, they returned for another sold-out show and to claim this honor.
The Murder Capital was in town to play a warm-up concert ahead of Saturday’s appearance at Sound City in Liverpool.
Low Girl joined The Murder Capital at Esquires, which opened the proceedings with an alt-pop lo-fi ensemble.
Released in August 2019, When I Have Fears was acclaimed by the music press with the band’s live performances also being acclaimed.
And while no one could have guessed how the next two years would turn out, The Murder Capital still managed to make their tour debut while working on new tracks.
Their 12-song set at Esquires featured four new songs, with the songlists only giving a glimpse of future song names.
It is difficult to impress the strength of the sound of The Murder Capital. Sometimes dark, menacing and menacing post-punk grooves with bass led to songs like Slow Dance.
And then, almost at the touch of a switch, the songs explode, in a beautiful cacophonous sound of guitars colliding.
If there’s a debate to be had around the best group to play for the Esquires this year, there isn’t one around the strongest.
The murder capital was noisy. The kind of noise you can feel. The kind of noise that blows the air out of the front row speakers while reverberating through everyone else inside.
But it wasn’t noise for noise – because around the noise wall were fantastic songs and a captivating leader in James McGovern.
The Murder Capital opened with a one-two from For Everything and More Is Less, with Gabriel Blake’s bass rumbling under McGovern’s heavy Irish vocals before the first exploded.
In the brief respite between songs, McGovern occasionally spoke to the Esquires crowd, tackling the return of live music early on in the wake of covid-forced shutdowns.
“We’re always trying to find words to explain what it means to be back,” he said, adding, “That’s why we’re doing this, we love you.”
New, unnamed tracks gave fans a tantalizing glimpse into the music of what can be assumed to be The Murder Capital’s second album.
However, it was Green & Blue and Don’t Cling To Life that met the most ecstatic response.
Before Slowdance I and II, McGovern again spoke briefly, “Open the pit, nice and wide, yeah” (the usual forerunner of fans who throw themselves into each other when a song kicks in) to add, “now slow dance”.
The Murder Capital left the stage after Feeling Fades at the start, towards a wall of noise, with McGovern leaning from the stage towards the fans.
Loudest concert at Esquires? Almost certainly. Best concert at the Esquires this year? You may need to discuss this with anyone who saw Yard Act two days before.
Regardless, there wasn’t much in it and The Murder Capital’s performance, paired with a preview of new material, thrilled fans.
The Murder Capital played:
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Source: www.bedfordtoday.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-10-03 12:02:00
