Live Report: Jessie Murph brings Alabama country-trap to The Academy

19-year-old pop vocalist Jessie Murph has turned TikTok followers to die-hard fans, her young age proving to have been no obstacle as she tackled themes of heartbreak, betrayal and addiction on Dublin’s Academy stage last night.

Fostered by backwoods country and trap music, Murph’s Alabama roots lay at the base of her hip-hop-inspired sound, appearing onstage in pearly jeans, a white bomber and an eye-catching gold chain.

Jessie Murph at The Academy. Copyright Gary Ibbotson.

The young star’s post-pandemic success has launched her from the realm of viral TikTok videos to sold-out headlines, developing a cult-like following as she tapped into the rap-sing cadence of Drake and country-pop image of Lady Antebellum.

Following a stellar set from supporting artist Mackenzy Mackay, Murph and her band, decked out in all-white getups, arrived onstage as the embodiment of the night’s opening track ‘Cowboys and Angels.’ Despite an understated stage presence, Murph’s confidence and “fuck-it” attitude sent her young crowd into a tail spin, front-row listeners revering the Alabama-native like a religious idol.

Jessie Murph at The Academy. Copyright Gary Ibbotson.

The room’s energy only rose as Murph jumped into her first power ballad of the night, a gut-wrenching rendition of the alt-pop anthem ‘Sobriety.’ Written when she was only 16, Murph’s explosive lyrics stunned audiences back in 2021, weeding out her target demographic as she cried, “Mother-fucking mess, I don’t fit in society. Demons inside of me, fuck my sobriety. I got anxiety, no, I won’t piss in no cup. Know that my liver is fucked. Know that we living it up. Fuck my sobriety, fuck my sobriety, fuck my sobriety.”

The venue’s dry bar was ironic twist given the night's theme of anti-sobriety, mirrored in Murph's second track ‘Look Who’s Crying Now.’ Despite the song’s demand for a fierce performance and furious attitude, the 19 -year-old smiled when she made eye contact with fans, waving as they belted out her iconic lyrics in tandem.

Jessie Murph at The Academy. Copyright Gary Ibbotson.

Moving away from the angsty teen anger of her earlier works, Murph belted out a stream of songs from her latest album drowning, starting with ‘Pray’ before jumping into ‘What Happened to Ryan,’ ‘If I Died Last Night’ and ‘How Could You.’

Emotions had reached a fever pitch by the end of the mini-series, each member of the crowd lost in their own heartache as they ran their voices ragged alongside Murph, who sang from a seated position with a thick curtain of black hair shielding her face.

“Wow, I love you Dublin,” Murph said before introducing her soon-to-be-released single ‘Son Of A Bitch.’ Finding a renewed spark of fiery energy as fans accompanied every lyric of the “fuck you” anthem, Murph screamed out, “You son of a bitch! Chicago, slutted up at the ritz, and I don't, I didn’t sign up for this.”

Jessie Murph at The Academy. Copyright Gary Ibbotson.

“That is the start of a new era, so be ready,” she said as the song came to a close, preparing for the night’s final two tracks. “Alright Dublin, we’re about to switch up the vibes. Who here is a good dancer?” A group of girls at the barricade sporting green St. Patrick’s Day headbands caught Murph’s attention with wild screams.

“Wanna come up here and join me?” she asked the girls. Having gifted her a bouquet of red roses earlier in the night, the foursome was eager to hop the barricade, scrambling onstage with the help of venue security.

Jessie Murph at The Academy. Copyright Gary Ibbotson.

The four girls quickly became the picture of teenage freedom, dancing giddily beside Murph as she busted out TikTok hits ‘Wild Ones’ and ‘Heartbroken.’ The viral pop anthems were the epitome of Murph’s essence, taking social media by storm upon their release in 2023 and destined to resurface on the profiles of her teenage companions once they've sifted through their stack of footage from the stage.

While the Alabama star’s lyrics are rooted in painful heartache and life experience, they bring about a sense of catharsis for her cowboy-clad listeners, finding a home among the heartbroken teens of Dublin.

Jessie Murph at The Academy. Copyright Gary Ibbotson.