Live Report: Romy kicks off Sets at the Guinness Storehouse with a pulsating performance

True to its name, the 360-degree Gravity Bar, perched atop the Guinness Storehouse, offers a comprehensive view of Dublin city. On this summer evening the sun pours over the capital and the Dublin mountains that hug its south side.

Those scattered around the bar in the half hour preceding Romy's set are availing of this dramatic backdrop, taking photos or, like me, enjoying the view with a delicious pint of Guinness.

Romy, the guitarist from The xx, is in Dublin 8 this evening to kick off Sets at the Guinness Storehouse. The live performance series will feature a different artist at the 360-degree Gravity Bar each month.

The London-born musician began DJing in queer clubs as a teenager, where she met fellow xx member Jamie xx. She released her first solo album Mid Air in 2023, peaking at number 15 on the UK charts.

Tickets to this show sold out within minutes. A couple of people I'm chatting to attest to this, as they recall operating multiple devices and profusely refreshing the Guinness Storehouse website ahead of the drop to secure tickets.

The crowd begin to file towards the stage well ahead of the set start time and as the set begins it's easy to see why.

Beginning her performance with a swelling arrangement that includes pitched-up vocals, bright, sweeping synthesisers and a rhythmic groove, Romy transforms the Gravity Bar into Dublin's highest dance floor. With the sun falling behind the DJ decks, and the crowd beginning to funnel in from the bar, a party atmosphere forms.

There's a television and speaker system behind the bar - in a different room to the main stage - so those who leave the dance floor for a pint don’t miss a beat. The framing of the shot is excellent, capturing bobbing heads and swaying arms on the bottom of the picture, lasers and strobe lights at the top, with Romy behind the DJ decks front and centre.

Her 2023 hit 'Loveher' begins as a poppy, piano-backed ballad with electronic elements that resemble Billie Eilish’s early singles. The pounding bass drum that anchors the arrangement hints at the eventual introduction of synthesisers and a powerful beat drop.

Credit: Jason Doherty

‘Enjoy Your Life’ is possibly the grooviest tune in her repertoire and those in attendance treat it as such, dancing with varying degrees of skill and rhythm.

The song hits many of the hallmarks of a classic dance anthem, with a groovy bass line, synthesisers and pattering hi-hats that emanate feel-good vibes. Romy speeds up a vocal sample from Beverly Glenn-Copeland’s 2004 track ‘La Vita’ and includes her own vocals.

Even if her own discography is more than capable of entertaining the crowd, Romy plays a number of crowd-pleasing covers like ‘Calabria’, ‘This is What You Came Here For' and ‘Pretty Green Eyes.’ It’s wonderful to see the way somebody's face lights up when they hear a song they recognise, especially when they don't expect it.

Credit: Jason Doherty

Romy’s set wraps up at about half 11, though the euphoric atmosphere she created could have continued well into the early hours of the morning.

For those who decided to keep the night going and head elsewhere in town, trying to match the excitement of a Grammy-nominated DJ set, seven stories above Dublin city will be a tough task.