Creeper – The Sangui tour live gallery and review from Whelans Dublin 30.04.2026

Creeper at Whelan’s on April 30, 2026 was exactly the kind of sweat soaked, theatrical chaos you’d hope for from a band currently obsessed with 80s “Satanic Panic” and vampiric rock.

Seeing a band that has recently headlined arenas like Wembley pull it back into the intimacy of Whelan’s felt special.

Whelan’s was packed to the rafters with fans (or familiars?) who understood the assignment. Everywhere I looked I saw blacked out necks and blood soaked mouths.

There is something uniquely visceral about Will Gould (or rather, “William Von Ghould”) performing in such a tight space. The production for The Sangui-Tour might be scaled down slightly for club shows, but the energy was massive. The “Cult of Creeper” was out in force, and the heat in the room by the time they hit the stage was intense.

Will Gould remains one of the most captivating frontmen in rock right now. His transition from the punk-heavy early material to the Jim Steinman-esque grandeur of the newer tracks is seamless. Hannah Hermione’s vocals on tracks like The Ballad of Spook & Mercy provided that perfect haunting contrast to the high-octane rock. It felt like a mix of a Rocky Horror screening and a classic goth-punk gig, with a dash of Near Dark thrown in for good measure.

Cry To Heaven and Lovers Led Astray were absolute standouts, with the crowd drowning out the PA during the choruses. They pulled out Black Heaven and Sacred Blasphemy, much to the delight of the long-term fans in the front row (special shoutout to superfan James who kindly gave up his spot right at the front so I could get my shots). 

Ending on Cry to Heaven in a room as small as Whelan’s was somewhat of a religious experience (if it’s ok to say that, given the band…). There wasn’t a dry eye or a silent voice in the house, as I’d imagine some fans were concerned it might not have made the cut at all.

If you were there, you’re likely nursing a “gig hangover” today. It was a masterclass in how to bring arena-sized ambition into a small room without losing the polish. Creeper is a band that understands theatre, and last night Dublin was their stage. I see big things and bigger stages for these guys, and wouldn’t be surprised if, when they returned, it was to a much larger venue.

Creeper photos & set-list:

Set-list:
A Shadow Stirs (intro)
Mistress of Death
Blood Magick – It’s a Ritual
Lovers Led Astray
Headstones
Sacred Blasphemy
The Ballad of Spook & Mercy
Daydreaming in the Dark
Prey For The Night
Black Heaven
Razor Wire
Drum Solo
Chapel Gates
The Crimson Bride
Parasite
Love and Pain
The Black House
More Than Death
___________________________
Further Than Forever
Cry to Heaven

Photos & Words – David McEneaney @experimentzero