Words + Photo: Lauren Meaney
Last night, The Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth played host to a night of blistering energy as Irish post-punk band, Gurriers, brought their biggest UK headline tour to date to the south coast. The five-piece, who first broke onto the scene in 2021 and released their ferocious debut album in 2024, have already earned a reputation for chaotic, cathartic live shows, and this was no exception.
Opening the evening were NERVES, who delivered an explosive set that instantly won over the growing crowd. Their howling guitars and upbeat rhythm had a few early-bird moshers going before Gurriers even stepped on stage. NERVES were clearly known among Gurriers’ fanbase; plenty of people were already shouting back lyrics, fists raised. Their mix of heavy, howling guitars and pummelling, industrial-sounding drums set the tone perfectly for what was to come.
The crowd itself was an interesting blend – a mix of teenagers discovering their first taste of live chaos and older punks who’d clearly seen it all before. But once the house lights dimmed, their differences disappeared. Everyone seemed united in the same sweaty, collective frenzy.
Gurriers took to the stage to Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” before detonating into their most recent single, “Erasure.” From the first muted strum, the venue erupted. The audience ignited- pints were flung, bodies collided, and the air filled with that familiar mix of adrenaline and chaos.
By the second song, the humidity inside the venue was building – a cocktail of sweat, beer, and anticipation. But if the crowd was exhausted, Gurriers showed no sign of slowing down. Vocalist Dan Hoff prowled the stage, and during “Des Goblin,” he vaulted the barrier and joined the crowd, shouting alongside fans. It was the kind of connection that makes Gurriers feel less like a band performing to an audience and more like they’re performing with them. The looks on the faces around him – part awe, part sweaty madness – said it all.
Across the hour-long set, the band tore through favourites like “Approachable” and “Nausea,” each met with deafening roars. The interplay between guitars and bass was relentless, their sound both sharp and suffocating. Gurriers also dropped a surprise: “Nothing Happens Twice,” a new track. The crowd’s reaction (phones raised, heads nodding) showed that the band’s evolution is being met with excitement.
By the end of the set, fans seemed wrung out but exhilarated. Gurriers proved once again that they’re one of Ireland’s most compelling new prospects: raw, unpolished, and essential live. If this Portsmouth show is any indication, the final two dates of the 2025 UK tour are set to be nothing short of carnage.
Setlist:
Erasure
Dipping Out
Close Call
Today’s Not Enough
Sign of the Times
No More Photos
Interlude
Top of the Bill
Come and See
Nothing Happens Twice
Approachable
Des Goblin
Nausea
Taped Magazine 