For a Wednesday night, Whelan's is positively pulsing with people. Two sold-out gigs are due to play soon, from opposite sides of the sonic spectrum: Irish indie darling Nell Mescal is booked for Whelan's Main Room, while Belfast post-punkers Chalk are set to play Whelan's upstairs venue.

Those who chose to ascend the stairs to the lovely space above Whelan's were treated to a night of relentless noise- and had the time of their lives. Chalk has found something special, and those in the room knew they were witnessing a gig they'd remember for a long time.

Openers YARD were up first, a four-piece electro noise band originating in Dublin. The eye-catching (and semi-blinding) lighting design paired with the relentless electronic bass transformed Wednesday night in Upstairs Whelan’s into what felt like a 3 am rave. The room quickly filled up as the set began, people in leather jackets swinging themselves around to the music.

Attendees there for Chalk who hadn’t done their homework didn’t quite know what they’d walked into, but the noise was irresistible. By the end of their short opening set, it seemed the crowd had nearly forgotten they were an opening act– after last night, YARD undoubtedly walked away with a Whelan’s Upstairs-worth of new fans.

Chalk at Whelans. Wednesday 13th of December 2023. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Thoroughly warmed up (and maybe a bit shell-shocked) by YARD, the crowd is buzzing at this point for the main act. And boy, the main act delivers.

For those unfamiliar, Chalk is a post-punk outfit formed in Belfast. Despite all three members originating in Dublin, they met while attending film school at Queen’s University Belfast. Threading the line between a traditional guitar-based act and hypnotic dance music, they’ve made quite a name for themselves since the release of their first single in March 2022, playing festivals and sold-out gigs including this one at the iconic Whelan’s.

Chalk at Whelans. Wednesday 13th of December 2023. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Lead singer Ross Cullen grips the microphone tightly as he convulses, oscillating between singing and screaming into it. His hair almost completely covers his eyes, adding to the effect that he’s in his own world, the audience just there to bear witness. He does little crowd work but it hardly matters, as the songs seamlessly transition from one to the next.

Post-punk can be an acquired taste for some, as its sheer noise and deliberately strange, brain-melting tempos can make for a disorienting experience. But that’s also what makes the music so appealing, how engrossing it is despite all odds. And make no mistake, Chalk is responsible for some of the best post-punk out there– and clearly, the sold-out room agrees.

The energy of the gig rose and dipped– at one point about halfway through, it was simply Cullen baring his soul. Impressively, it occurred to me in real time that I’d been so engrossed in the music that I hadn’t even noticed the dip in energy until a good few minutes in. Not to fear, they brought the energy back quickly, yet another example of how the crowd was putty in their hands.

With one song left, Cullen for the very first time spoke directly to the audience, with an unexpectedly soft voice. “Thanks for coming out, it’s our first time playing in Dublin,” he said. “This is the last one.” And with nothing else left to prove, they finished their set with a song that nearly brought the house down– and when they left the stage after a hard curfew, those looking for an encore set were sorely disappointed.

It’s clear to anyone at last night’s gig that Chalk have something. It’s easy to picture them in a venue twice, even three times the size of Whelan’s Upstairs, and if they continue on their trajectory it likely won’t be long until they make that a reality.

Chalk at Whelans. Wednesday 13th of December 2023. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.