Live Report: Croíthe captivate with a passionate performance at The Grand Social

On a mellow November night, Dublin quartet Croíthe take the stage at a packed Grand Social, poised for what promises to be their biggest headline show yet. The occasion also marks the release of their new four-track EP, A Brief Respite, produced by David Noonan of Just Mustard.

The evening opens with support from Dublin noise-rock band Anemoia. Their grunge-tinged, chaotic sound evokes Nirvana in their In Utero era, delivered with relentless energy. The lead singer’s vocals demand every ounce of his being. Each note erupts with raw, searing force, every exclamation steeped in such fierce passion that the listener is drawn helplessly into its orbit.

After a brief interlude, a passage from Sylvia Plath’s 'Black Rook in Rainy Weather' is projected onto the stage, and Croíthe weave through the crowd toward the spotlight. The poem contains the phrase "A Brief Respite from fear", hinting at the EP’s title.

The band opens with 'The Lovers', immediately conjuring a menacing atmosphere. Though new, the track is embraced by the audience, who chant along as if it has been a lifelong favourite.

Croíthe’s sound melds post-punk energy, with echoes of Fontaines D.C. Their lyrics explore themes of anguish, love, and its inevitable demise. The band’s logo, a black-and-white heart pierced by eight swords, accentuates these themes with stark symbolism.

Croíthe at The Grand Social on November 4th, 2025. Copyright Patrik Meier/hotpress.com

Frontman Caodan Connolly’s vocals, sometimes intimate, other times soaring deliver a few of the evening’s most memorable moments. His guitar work and occasional tambourine hits underline the band’s dynamic arrangements. Ben Byrne’s guitar riffs and DJ’s bass lines mesh with an awe-inspiring harmony forged over years of friendship, while newer addition Keevy McGowan brings a driving energy on drums that blends with the group’s established chemistry.

Their biggest track, 'Feed My Head', boasting around 20,000 streams on Spotify, arrives in exhilarating fashion. Though driven by upbeat rhythms and brighter guitar riffs, the song retains a dark, melancholic core, its macabre lyrics about shame and desire, and somber vocal performance casting a haunting shadow over the energy.

As 'Siren Song' begins, the band is joined by Joe Cornerhardt, a Dublin-based producer and recording engineer. Her shimmering vocals contrast beautifully with Croíthe’s dark, atmospheric post-punk sound, creating a mesmerising interweaving of light and dark.

Croíthe at The Grand Social on November 4th, 2025. Copyright Patrik Meier/hotpress.com

The show’s most poignant moment arrives in the later half of the night. As the final notes of 'Siren Song' fade, the stage is bathed in a blood-red glow, and the heart motif that had accompanied the band’s visuals gives way to a Palestinian flag. The opening chords of 'Soldier' carry a heartbreaking weight, as they underline lyrics steeped in human suffering.

An impressive display, showing that Croíthe are artists in their purest form, enthralled by what they create and full of passion, proving once again why they should be next up.