Vicar Street was already buzzing long before Bob Vylan took the stage, thanks to a blistering opening set from Dublin’s own avant-garde punk provocateur, Meryl Streek. Bursting onto the stage with his signature high-energy chaos, Meryl immediately had the sold-out crowd on their toes. He stalked the stage, goading the audience and building a palpable tension before slamming headfirst into “Gambling Death.” From that moment on, the room was his.
What followed was a fierce seven-song assault that showcased the raw conviction and confrontational edge that has earned Meryl a loyal following. The closing pair “Death to the Landlord” and “If This Is Life” landed with particular force, the former prompting furious shouts of solidarity and the latter closing the set on a sharp, anthemic high. During his set, Meryl reminded the crowd that his Academy Dublin show on December 17th is down to its last hundred tickets. Based on the reaction he drew tonight, it won’t stay that way for long.
After a short reset, the lights dropped again and Bob Vylan made their entrance in the way only they can, calm before the storm. The duo began with their trademark meditation and stretching routine to the backing of “Down,” a ritualistic moment of grounding that’s become both disarming and oddly intimate. But once the final breath was exhaled, the energy flipped like a switch and from then on, it was absolute mayhem.
Bobby tore across the stage with relentless ferocity, spitting lyrics with the urgency of someone who refuses to dilute truth for comfort. Behind him, Bobbie hammered away at the drums, driving each track with unstoppable momentum. The crowd, already hyped from Meryl’s set, erupted into nonstop motion, mosh pits forming, dissolving, and reforming in every corner of the venue.
One of the night’s standout moments came during “We Live Here,” when Bobby launched himself into the audience, surfing over a sea of raised hands as the room shook with voices shouting the chorus back at him. It was a perfect snapshot of the communal, cathartic atmosphere that defines a Bob Vylan show.
The 17 song setlist was packed with fan favourites, political fire, and a couple of surprises. The live debut of “Dream Bigger,” featuring Karla Chubb of The Sprints, was a highlight a fresh, powerful collaboration that felt instantly significant. Near the end of the set, the band unleashed another surprise: the unreleased track “Slam Dunk,” performed as the third-last song and met with explosive enthusiasm.
By the time the final notes rang out, Vicar Street felt both exhausted and exhilarated a crowd wrung out by a night of catharsis, sweat, rage, and joy. Bob Vylan didn’t just perform; they inhabited every inch of the venue, proving once again why their live shows are unmissable. This was punk at its most vital, its most human, and its most alive.
Meryl Streek photos & set-list:
Set-list:
The Beginning (Taped intro)
Gambling Death
Counting Sheep
By One’s Own Hand
Demon
Paddy
Death to the Landlord
If This Is Life
Bob Vylan photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Down – Guided Meditation and Stretching
Northern Line
We Live Here
GDP
Makes Me Violent
GYAG (Get Yourself a Gun)
Dream Bigger – With Karla Chubb
He’s a Man
Take That
Sick Sad World
Ring the Alarm
He Sold Guns
Wicked & Bad
Pretty Songs
Slam Dunk
I Heard You Want Your Country Back
Hunger Games
Photos & words – Ian Mc Donnell @mcgigmusic