Electric Picnic Live Report: The Murder Capital deliver powerful sounds at 3 Music Stage

Hailed as one of the most intense, powerful, and vital live acts around at the moment (all earned adjectives), it was clear from the sizeable crowd of adoring fans that the Murder Capital killed it for their short but sweet Electric Picnic gig.

The lads seemed at home on the Stradbally scene, as adult men piled in and eagerly hug the front railing. The audience of men ranged in age, stature and dancing ability, but all attend for a joined purpose - the thrill of Murder Capital's brooding catharsis.

Hype aside, the Murder Capital are visually compelling. They dress in braces, blazers, belts and billowing shirts; each of the band members are engaging on their own, and fresh off a Hot Press tent interview were clearly rearing to treat the eager crowd.

The Murder Capital at Electric Picnic 2023. Photo by Abigail Ring/Hot Press

Singer James McGovern’s romantic outfit and intense tambourine-tapping earn him  the powerful frontman spot, intensely weaving through rocking renditions of "Return My Head" and "Ethel". Guitarist Damien Tuit as well as bassist Gabriel Paschal Blake easily hold the audience’s gaze, peacocking under the spotlight and stabbing their electrical instruments at the adoring audience.

The liberal use of the words “post-punk” they inspire might suggest wiry intensity, but the Murder Capital’s sound is far closer to the anthemic noir of a band such as Interpol than the tightly wound rottweiler rage of fellow EP act Idles, to whom they are routinely compared.

The Murder Capital also supply the enrgy to match their vocal intensity and passion. During an extended rendition of 'More is Less', McGovern adds a scream to the end, echoed back by doxens of fans in the front row. The emboldened singer quickly scrambles from the stage to revel in the crowds worship, briefly crowdsurfing while the music rages on.

The Murder Capital at Electric Picnic 2023. Photos by Abigail Ring/ Hot Press

An electric 'Crying' comes next, as the band is coated in a dark blue tint from the stage lights. The evening stage slot lends some darkness to the scene, accompanied by some mood-setting fog for the rest of the set.

Despite the understandably melancholy nature of their songs, the performance is a phenomenal example of the positive impact of music. Many fans are raised up on shoulders, couples sing along together and a young boy dances to the post-punk tracks to encourage his dad to join him - it's a joyous affair for all ages.

'For Everything' and 'Feeling Fades' see drummer Diarmuid Brennan shine at the back, before the band wraps up with fan-favourite 'Don't Cling to Life'. McGovern dramatically drops the mic srand with a sudden thud, and that's that. The Murder Capital have left the building.