Live Report: Black Nylon show Whelan's their boundless range

Fresh from their support gigs for Inhaler, alternative rock band Black Nylon gave Whelan's upstairs a flashy performance on Friday.

With their songs exploring sounds that range from Oasis-tinged to Deftones, and a songwriting style that keeps you on your toes, the audience was in for a wild ride.

The night brimmed with anticipation as the lights cut, the crowd holding its breath under white flashing lights. After what seemed like ages, Black Nylon marched on stage as they broke into their snappy number 'June'.

Black Nylon at Whelan's on October 10th, 2025. Copyright Grace Swartout/ hotpress.com

Wavy, distorted guitar notes bounced off the walls as they transitioned into 'Lie In The Bed'. The track was held together by soft cymbal beats, as the singer gingerly delivered the lyrics. About halfway through, the tune took an abrupt turn, building up an angsty, anthemic tone while the singer broke into a yell.

Infectious energy took hold of the tight, packed crowd as the band jumped from track to track.

Staying on theme with their softer side, 'She's My Lady' offered a melancholy breakup song with a gentle, longing tone. Emotion bubbled to the surface with each lyric, and the intimate venue made every word that bit more personal. The track's staccato bass line paired with draw-out vocals, creating a unique dichotomy.

Black Nylon at Whelan's on October 10th, 2025. Copyright Grace Swartout/ hotpress.com

As the night went on, Black Nylon picked up speed with some hard hitting rock anthems.

The crowd erupted as the band dove into their Ramones-style 'Art'. The song's aggressive emotional tone and jumpy guitar riff on full display under blue flashing lights.

Keeping the energy up, they shifted into their Britpop-flavoured 'The Dead'. The singer took his time with each lyric, kicking him tambourine into the air.

The grand finale kicked into gear with the groups heaviest tracks -  'Jesus' and 'Juliette'.

The lights shifted to a dull red as the first note of 'Jesus' rang out. In a similar fashion to 'Lie In The Bed', the track started off slow, with light lyrics and an anticipatory guitar riff.

Taking a dramatic shift, the bassist, guitarist and drummer rang out staccato notes in unison before breaking formation into a chaotic mix of sounds.

The vocals took on a Deftones fashion as the singer screamed the lyrics.

Following a drawn-out intro, Black Nylon closed off the night with 'Juliette'. With a similar metal feel to their previous track, it featured deep vocals over a bouncy bass line, and a passionate refrain of "Juliette" being belted throughout.

Their engaging versatility put Whelan's in a trance, Black Nylon are definitely one to keep an eye on.

Black Nylon at Whelan's on October 10th, 2025. Copyright Grace Swartout/ hotpress.com