Gurriers began their current tour in support of debut album Come and See in Toekomstmuziek, Amsterdam on 9 October and finished in Coughlan’s Bar, Cork on 29 November. With headline shows and festival appearances across Europe the tour moved on to the UK before finishing in Ireland. In between they also appeared on Later with Jools Holland alongside Roger Taylor, Blossoms, Nubya Garcia, Jade and Laura Marling. They will also support Kneecap at SSE Arena on 21 December in Belfast. Add to this playlisted for numerous singles, most notably ‘Des Goblin’ which is still beloved of BBC Radio 6Music, it’s fair to say 2024 has been a good year.
Coughlan’s Bar is a gem for Cork’s music scene. The room has a capacity of just 65, it’s like seeing a band in your front room. Proceedings began with the excellent I Dreamed I Dream, a local five-piece who were perfect for the night, not afraid to be so close to the crowd and indeed enticing them forward. They released their debut EP Why Say A Lot in October 2023, and it includes the track ‘The Bass’, a track once heard never forgotten. One to watch for 2025.
And so to Gurriers. This is a band who generates electricity in the room. The previous night they had played the Róisín Dubh in Galway and if that was anything to go by tonight was going to be something special. Opening track ‘Nausea‘ is out and out punk, the first track on the album, ‘Nausea’ is thrilling. With all the talk of post-punk, it’s exhilarating to hear a band produce a song which deserves its place in the original genre. The aforementioned ‘Des Goblin’ is a highlight with its spine-tingling eastern mystic electric guitar riffs leading to an inevitably and impossible to resist bounce in the crowd. In fact if memory serves the room was treated to the whole album, including ‘Dipping Out’, ‘Sign of the Times’ and ‘Approachable’.
Gurriers are no one trick pony though. Listen to ‘Top of the Bill’, or ‘Prayers’ opening with the striking lyrics: “and now the Pope says his prayers, to the empty rows of chairs” and a quieter vibe yet still creating tension with the guitar riff accompanying vocalist Dan Hoff until the drum beat kicks in. It’s a sprawling track which live brings goosebumps. In addition we were treated to a new song ‘Dissolve’. How exciting to know that new music is already in the pipeline. The room at times bounced as one, such is the joy of an intimate venue. Bassist Charlie McCarthy was in and out the crowd and lead singer Dan crowd-surfed, the shared experience of live music is a beautiful thing, especially when the band and crowd seem to merge together as one.
And so to the final song of the night, the album, and this tour, the epic title track of the album ‘Come and See‘. This performance showed no signs of a band dragging itself to the end of a long tour. Quite the opposite, they gave their all, as they do every night. The sweat was dripping off every single person in that room, and one thing is certain, no-one will forget tonight. It may turn out to be one of those “I was there” occasions. Every now and again you attend a gig that is special. Gurriers will not be playing rooms this size going forward. 2025 will seem them continue their rise, no question. The next UK and EU tour is already scheduled for spring kicking off on 25 March at Voodoo Daddy’s, Norwich. Go and See.
For more information on Gurriers including tour dates please check their website, facebook and instagram.