Live Report: SPRINTS turn Whelan's into a haven of music, catharsis, and rebellion

The great thing about of an intimate venue like Whelan's, is that the space allows for memorable encounters. Like running into SPRINTS singer Karla Chubb immediately after a show, as she fist bumps fans like they were old friends.

“It’s our first show in like two months, but we get the energy from the crowds," Chubb said. "That's the thing about the Dublin show, that they give you energy. It’s music and catharsis.”

The concert, an Omen Magazine fundraiser event for War Child, was filled with a motley crew of music lovers in grungy band t-shirts. Older heads gathered in circles towards the back, while the younger vanguard, girls with brightly coloured hair, jockeyed for prime real estate near the stage.

“In the pit, you have my girlfriend and all the young girls are there, and it’s like passing that baton on and creating safe spaces, and we're hoping that more young queer people will find us," Chubb said. "We wanna diversify, and hopefully, more women will find us as well. If one queer person picks up a guitar because they saw us live, that's all we wanna do.”

Inspiring and ravenous are two words that come to mind when describing the frontwoman. Her hunger for justice, noise and rebellion were all present during the show, as was her expert control of the room's energy, hyping the audience up before slowing the pace for an intimate two-minute speech. Accompanied by light guitar, her words were passionate, driven, and delivered with the compelling rhythm of slam poetry.

“We put our second album out in September, and you know this album was written at a time when we were touring across Europe, the UK, Ireland, and America, and we saw the news and the world outside and how dystopian it seemed. And it seems like last week, it suddenly got more dystopian, and believe it or not, we're heading off to start our US tour tomorrow.”

“It gets better, our first date is in Minneapolis,” she said, as the crowd went from booing to completely quiet.

“I think there is definitely very valid fear and nervousness on our part, and there is very valid outrage on everyone’s part across the world, and what we’re witnessing right now, which is nothing short of a fucking German Gestapo. We give a voice to the voiceless and a safe space to those who are searching for home in a world full of way too much pain. If there 3 things you leave with today, it’s trans rights are human rights, fuck ICE, and free Palestine.”

Brooki, the supporting act, took the stage approximately 30 minutes after doors. Currently on tour across the UK and Ireland, the young grunge artists exuded casual confidence, as if they had just walked out of a garage rehearsal. One guitarist was even sporting what looked like pyjama pants. However, the atmosphere shifted with the first chord. Sarah Brooks' distinctly powerful vocals immediately commanded all attention. Headbanging and hair tossing accompanied the powerful guitar sound that filled the venue, interrupting any conversations in the crowd.

The atmosphere was electric as SPRINTS took the stage, a true homecoming for the band after playing big stages like Glastonbury in 2025. Almost like a queen to a beehive, Chubb became the focal point for every person in the room. The air was thick with anticipation, and the hype made sense when the first powerful chords of ‘Something’s Gonna Happen' rung out.

This wasn't just another gig; it was a reunion in the dark, foggy intimacy of Whelan's. The venue, complete with the scent of spilled Guinness, red lights, and a fiercely dedicated audience, generated an unmatched energy, almost like a family watching one of their own triumph on stage.

“We're gonna blow off the cobwebs, dust off the dry January blues, and get nice and sweat,” said Chubbs. And they delivered on that promise.

Her voice was a powerful, sustained force, matched by the rest of the band, who poured everything into the performance, moving powerfully across the stage, driven by intense and almost violent guitar riffs. The intense commitment was visible, as their coiffed hair quickly became drenched in sweat.

Almost like a puppeteer, Chubb directed the audience to clap, sing, and dance. Her infectious energy peaked when she called for a circle pit before ‘Up and Comer’, and fearlessly jumped into the mosh pit during ‘Need,’ singing with embracing fans. The pinnacle of the performance came when she crowd-surfed, as a lucky fan was given the chance to play her guitar on stage.

Whether they’re playing an intimate hometown show, or storming across a US in turmoil,  SPRINTS’ brand of fierce, cathartic noise is exactly the kind of energy that the world needs right now.

Sprints at Whelans on January 25 2026. Copyright Jason Doherty/hotpress.com