The Murder Capital brought their raw, unflinching post-punk energy to the picturesque Iveagh Gardens for the penultimate show in the annual Live at the Iveagh Gardens series. As crowd slowly built in numbers, the stage was set for a night of intensity and atmosphere which the Dublin five-piece delivered.
Opening the set with ‘The Fall‘ the band made it clear from the outset that this performance would be all about the music. Known for their stoic, minimalist stage presence, The Murder Capital maintained a sense of detachment throughout their set, offering little in the way of crowd interaction. But rather than coming off as cold, the approach felt intentional in line with the band’s introspective and emotionally charged sound. Their focus was pure: channel the music, leave everything else behind.
The setlist included key tracks like ‘Heart in the Hole‘ / ‘Love of Country‘ / ‘Don’t Cling to Life‘ which closed the main set to thunderous applause. The encore consisted of ‘Ethel‘ and ‘Words Lost Meaning‘ bringing the night to a brooding and powerful close. Each song felt like a cathartic release, with frontman James McGovern’s haunting vocals cutting through the night air like a knife.
While the crowd wasn’t massive, more moderate in size, the audience made up for it in energy and support. There was a collective respect among the attendees, many of whom seemed deeply engaged, swaying or nodding along in silent reverence as the band tore through their songs. Everyone focused intensity that mirrored the band’s onstage demeanor.
The night also featured two opening acts that added flavor and energy to the evening. Kicking things off was London’s Mary In The Junkyard, fronted by the ethereal Clari Freeman-Taylor. Their set, while more subdued, was well-received and offered a textured, emotional soundscape that paired nicely with the mood of the night.
The standout support act, however, was punk rock duo Isaac Holman and Laurie Vincent formerly of Slaves, who now perform under a new moniker. Their set was an explosion of energy and grit, peppered with crowd interaction and punctuated by both members jumping down into the audience at different times to interact with the crowd. It was a brash and sweaty performance that sharply contrasted with The Murder Capital’s austerity, but it worked brilliantly to hype the crowd.
The contrast between the acts from the dreamy vulnerability of Mary In The Junkyard to the chaotic punk energy of Holman and Vincent, and finally the sculpted darkness of The Murder Capital made for a well-curated evening. The gardens, framed by trees and the city skyline beyond, added a sense of intimacy that can’t quite be replicated in larger venues.
Ultimately, The Murder Capital did what they do best: deliver a tight, emotionally charged set that speaks more in sound than in words. While some may crave more interaction or flair, fans of the band know that their power lies in their restraint. It was a show that left space for reflection, pulsing with anger, grief, and quiet beauty a fitting way to near the end of this summer’s Live at the Iveagh Gardens series.
Mary In The Junkyard photos:
Soft Play photos & set-list:
Set-list:
All Things
Mirror Muscles
Isaac Is Typing…
Bin Juice Disaster
Act Violently
Fuck The Hi-Hat
Sockets
Punk’s Dead
Girl Fight
Everything And Nothing
Beauty Quest
The Hunter
The Murder Capital photos & set-list:
Set-list:
The Fall
More Is Less
Death of a Giant
The Stars Will Leave Their Stage
A Distant Life
For Everything
Heart in the Hole
That Feeling
Slowdance I
Slowdance II
Swallow
Love of Country
Green & Blue
Feeling Fades
Moonshot
Can’t Pretend to Know
Play Video
Don’t Cling to Life
___________________________
Ethel
Words Lost Meaning
Photos & words – Ian Mc Donnell @mcgigmusic