The Murder Capital Kicks In The Door at DC9

There have been a bevy of bands over the last few years that seem to inject much needed energy into this thing that is rock ‘n roll, and the one I’ve been looking forward to seeing but hadn’t – that is, until Friday night – was the Dublin-based The Murder Capital. Lead by the charismatic James McGovern (vocals), the band, which includes Damien Tuit (guitar), Cathal Roper (guitar), Gabriel Paschal Blake (bass), and Diarmuid Brennan (drums), recently released their sophomore album, Gigi’s Recovery last month. It’s an LP that’s more refined than 2019’s When I Have Fears but doesn’t skimp on any of the electricity of the debut.

Haven’t been able to witness the band live, I jumped at the opportunity to see them when their tour for the new album was announced, with the inaugural stop at DC9 with Boston band, Pet Fox opening.

From the moment they hit the stage, The Murder Capital seemed ready to go as they went immediately into “For Everything,” a bass-rattling number that explodes in a fury as James sings “I am a blissless star, corroded through the core / The very many know I’m dodging holes / There’s nothing left in store” reaching back and forth into the crowd – a great opener that had everything clapping on.

As someone shouts, “We’ve waited three years,” James said, “We’ve waited three and a half.”

The more aggressive tone of “More Is Less” with the refrain of “more, more, more…” sounded like a call to action, channeled through the same post-punk waters as contemporaries like IDLES and shame, but it’s that ability to turn from all out assault to a crooning baritone is just one way that singer James McGovern sets himself apart from the crowd. At a quick pause between songs, McGovern called out, “Now we’re fuckin’ cookin’!”

Slowing things down, the band played one of the more beautiful songs on the new record, “Belonging” as McGovern showed his range where one minute he was crying out at the top of his voice just five minutes before, now his voice hovers over the wash of guitar and synth by Damien and Cathal with Gabriel’s bass riding just below the waves. And it’s those songs that have that deep melodic quality where Diarmuid’s drums have this controlled manic quality, driving the song and pushing it forward like a train, especially on songs like “A Thousand Lives” and “Green & Blue.”

Watch a video for “The Stars Will Leave Their Stage” by The Murder Capital:

During some electrical issues with Cathal’s guitar rig, James entertained the crowd asking if anyone had a birthday, when no one spoke up, he called out, “Just fake it” which elicited an impromptu singing “Happy Birthday” followed by, “who else’s birthday is it?” to laughs. But after some quick maneuvering, the band came back, undeterred and continued with “Feeling Fades” and “Don’t Cling To Life,” both from their debut record.

An amazing set that was well worth the years to get to this point, The Murder Capital, it must be said, puts on an incredible show and it’s one not to miss as they continue their headlining tour through the US.

The setlist included:

For Everything
Return My Head
More Is Less
The Stars Will Leave Their Stage
Belonging
Crying
Love, Love, Love
A Thousand Lives
Green & Blue
The Lie Becomes The Self
Gigi’s Recovery
Feeling Fades
Don’t Cling to Life
Ethel