They are an odd band. They don’t appear to quite know what they want to be. Last time I saw them, the lack of drummer was at least offset by the singer playing an electronic drum pad while performing. Tonight seemed to be a different line-up to that pre-pandemic. The drum pad had been disposed of, with a relentless 80s weedy thin drum machine sound replacing it. Keys at times veered towards the Horrors tone. But without the goth. They appeared to have lost a guitarist and gained more keys. A change for the worse.

Tonight’s sound was really thin. Improving when the guitars came out. The rest of the time sounding like poor early 80s pop band. The singer was the only performer remotely animated. To be honest, everyone but him, seemed pissed off with performing and it wouldn’t surprise me if they were annoyed by his antics. He seemed to have pouched up some Mark E Smith affectations, constantly turning knobs on the keyboard player’s keyboard. Meanwhile he did little to engage with audience. I have to admit, I wasn’t impressed by the music or the performance. I have made up my mind. I have better things to do with my time.

Set List

• VALLEYS
• 19
• WIDOW
• AAAA
• CIRCUMEERENCES
• COOK A COFFEE
• JCC
• MONEY IS MINE
• PLOYS, BE MY GUEST
• ANGEL
• TEETH

The Murder Capital returned to London only a few weeks after their triumphant Electric Ballroom gig. This time to play a sold-out 100 Club to fervent fans who snapped up all the tickets within minutes of them going on sale

Such is the rise of the band that expectations are high with a queue outside the venue when the doors opened with fans eager to get a space in front of the stage in the narrow 100 Club. This meant Old Morris, the first support act were played in front of an appreciative filling 100 Club. By the time Working Men’s Club came on, the place was pretty much full.

Both support acts were good. Old Morris, had a familiar Post-Punk sound that suited the headliner. Maybe a slightly more odd choice were Working Men’s Club, a band I’ve not got on with in the past. For me, they’re a ‘few pints and a dance’ band. Heavily reliant on that kind of 505 relentless drum machine sound that I usually don’t like. But despite not having a drink, I found their set enjoyable. I think I’ve misjudged them. I will have to give them another listen.

By the time the stage had been set for The Murder Capital, there was a noticeable expectation in the room. The lads didn’t disappoint striding confidentially on to the stage knowing that they’ve earned what was to come next.

Many around me had been following the lads through their rise and had high expectations and were ready to close the latest tour in style.

Launching straight into the machine gun ‘More is Less’ I’m mediately lifted the energy-level of the audience. It was clear the band know how to construct their sets to manipulate their audience taking us through an range of emotions. Bringing the energy level down and increasing the intensity with brilliant Green and Blue. With lots in the audience mouthing along to the words.

As with the Electric Ballroom, the beautiful, On Twisted Ground suffered from members of the audience who wouldn’t shut up. Nowhere near as bad as at the Electric Ballroom, but with this being a small venue with a more fervent audience, I assumed there wouldn’t be an issue. But I guess with their increased profile, their gigs, even the small ones, are going to attract people who are going along to say they were there and their new high-profile was shown by the number of press photographers and record label people queuing for their guess-list passes.

Luckily, On Twisted Ground didn’t suffer too badly and the audience eventually quietened down. This is the song that separates the band from the rest. Each time I hear the song and see it live, it lifts the band closer to immortality in my record collection. While, the early raw live emotion of the song is maybe missing and it’s now more of a performance. Seeing an entire room respect the song only adds to the song’s emotion. I hope no matter what success comes next. and they are only going to get bigger, this song remains the emotional heart of the band. It’s what separates them from the rest.

As the set wound towards it’s end, it was clear that the crowd were going to own this night. They were already struggling to keep off the stage and with each successive surge, they edged closer to taking it. After James jumped into the crowd, there was no holding back the audience who invaded the stage as the concert ended. Many of these fans had followed the guys from the beginning and it felt like they were proud of how far this amazing band had come and the journey they had taken them on. This is a special band.

Set List:

• More Is Less
• Green and Blue
• Slowdance I
• Slowdance II
• On Twisted Ground
• Love Love Love
• For Everything
• Don’t Cling to Life
• Feeling Fades