Live Review: The Murder Capital kick-off Blindness UK tour at XOYO

Switching effortlessly between an onslaught of intense guitar-driven fury and moments of slower, more menacing alternative – the band took fans on a 20-track journey which was dominated by tracks from their new album Blindless which was released earlier this year.

Seven years and three albums in – sonically, The Murder Capital have somewhat shifted their sound in different directions on each release.

While their 2019 debut When I Have Fears helped to define the blueprint of the UK’s wave of modern post-punk, its successor Gigi’s Recovery saw a band with more room to breathe.

On Blindness, The Murder Capital returned with a rawer, grittier and grungey sound which was on full display at XOYO.

Joining The Murder Capital were Cusk – fronted by Esmé Creed-Miles who did a great job warming up those inside early with a set of violin infused alt-rock.

When The Murder Capital arrived on stage, it was apparent from the offset it’s not just their music which has evolved in recent years, it’s the band as well - in particular frontman James McGovern.

Gone is the suit jacket, shirt, tie and buzzcut combo frequently seen earlier in their career – in, is a patchy bleached leopard print-ish haircut, a brown and gold Adidas jacket and baggy cargo pants.

The band kicked off their set with new song The Fall - a track with huge quiet-loud-quiet dynamics while McGovern paced around the stage, throwing his arms aloft and reaching out towards fans on the front rows.

This was followed by More Is Less – one of the band’s early breakthrough singles from their debut.

After a breakneck start to proceedings, the electronic infused The Stars Will Leave Their Stage from Gigi’s Recovery and A Distant Life both slowed the pace down.

However, back-to-back tracks For Everything and Feeling Fades continued the post-punk barrage.

There was little chatter from the band during their set – but early on McGovern paused to speak to the XOYO audience, asking them how they were, before adding, “There’s nothing better than night f****** one,” in reference to kicking off their UK tour in the second city.

Another breather came when McGovern paused to present guitarist Cathal Roper with a cake topped with candles to celebrate his birthday.

Other highlights of The Murder Capital’s set included Can't Pretend to Know and Moonshot while they left the stage to Don’t Cling To Life.

A four-song encore followed, which included the excellent Words Lost Meaning from their latest record, which saw McGovern, joined by the hundreds inside XOYO, singing along the refrain of “Oh I, never need you to say ‘I love you’ the words lost meaning” at its conclusion.

Ahead of Love Of Country – what would be their final song of the night - McGovern again paused to talk about the song.

Written about Dublin riots and the dark side of patriotism and nationalism and released last year to help raise money for Medical Aid for Palestine – McGovern explained its origins and the importance of speaking up for people across the world who need a voice.

After 19-songs which, at times felt like they were pummelling you into guitar-driven post-punk submission, the more stripped back nature of the track meant it was a more low-key way to end the set – but an excellent one nonetheless.

Beginning their Blindness world tour with dates in Japan, Australia and New Zealand – it was safe to assume by the time the UK dates came around, the new tracks would be sitting seamlessly among the rest of their back catalogue.

On the evidence of the opening night in Birmingham, you can only assume things are going to go from strength to strength by the time they roll into Bristol next weekend before again leaving these shores for Europe and America.

The Murder Capital Played:

The Fall

More Is Less

Death of a Giant

The Stars Will Leave Their Stage

A Distant Life

That Feeling

For Everything

Feeling Fades

Slowdance I

Slowdance II

Swallow

Crying

A Thousand Lives

Can't Pretend to Know

Moonshot

Don't Cling to Life

Encore:

Trailing a Wing

Ethel

Words Lost Meaning

Love of Country