The Virginmarys / Giffard Arms / Wolverhampton
The Virginmary’s are always well worth seeing, sets packed with high energy they always put on a show. Tonight was something a little different, and I couldn’t wait ! 2024 saw the release of their stunning album “The House Beyond the Fires” packed with their iconic rock riffs and power. 2026 saw the release of an updated version of the album “Beyond the House of Fires” the power riffs replaced by a more subtle Nord keyboard lead, giving it a more delicate and atmospheric tone. This “The House Beyond the Fire” tour brings this new sound on the road…… and we couldn’t wait !
First up in support are Bristol band iDestroy have come from Bristol, a band I’ve seen a couple of times before. I first came across them supporting the Skids at The Fleece in Bristol and was hooked right from the off with their sound. I also saw their incredible set at Download in 2024. iDestroy are Bec Jevons (guitar and vocals) and Nicola Wilton-Baker (bass & vocals). A DIY band, they play a style of music somewhere between rock and punk, and are well known for their energetic live shows, having played over 400 times around the world. 2024 saw the release of their self-titled album “iDestroy” the follow up to 2021’s “We Are Girls”.
iDestroy are stepping out of their comfort zone too tonight as Bec told me before the show. Known for their wild live sets, tonight is stripped back to basics, just Bec on acoustic guitar and Nicola on electric bass…… That’s it ! For a band so used to performing live, it feels scary and quite a challenge !
And they don’t disappoint ! A thoroughly entertaining set, of acoustic versions of some of their greatest hits. Bec does a great job too between songs, explaining the stories behind the songs. The acoustic versions remain to true to the originals, with Cheap Monday still packed with fun and energy which they are so well known for.
Bec has us in stitches as she explains that All My Friends are Plastic was written about a time when she was driving round with a life size polystyrene model in her car following a photoshoot, the lyrics an excellent and subtle jab at the modern world and how it makes everything feel disposable. Headphones is another track with a clear message and packed with raw energy and emotion - this time about women’s safety and how they are unable to walk home and do simple things like listen to headphones, constantly on guard, texting to let people know where they are. A situation that simply should not exist and is a damning inditement of our world.
Perhaps track of the night was I Don’t Want to Talk to You which is a live fan favourite. Despite tonights stripped back style, we had to have some iDestroy fan engagement, and so Bec led the crowd in learning the chorus sections. Everyone engaged enthusiastically, and for a small room, made a hell of a noise lol.
The set ends with the poignant Tell Your Friends You Love Them, a track that transitions to the acoustic format so brilliantly. A genuinely emotional way to end the set.
iDestroy killed it, as simple as that ! I can’t wait to see them again, in full flow, but tonight was special, and showed just what a versatile and engaging band they are.
Setlist
100 Sounds
Cheap Monday
All My Friends Are Plastic
Headphones
Sad
I Don’t Want To Talk To You
Juice
Tell Your Friends
The stage is readied, the LED light strips and tea lights lit and we’re ready for the Virginmarys. The un-mistakable sounds of Bob Marley’s classic Redemption Song ring out, and has us singing along to the lyrics as Ally Dickaty (vocals & keys and Danny Dolan (drums) step out to huge cheers. Tonight they are joined on guitar by Gareth Price.
The lads from Macc (no, not those lads from Macc!) are known for their emotional and beautiful take on life and it’s ups and downs. Like iDestroy, they are renowned for their high energy and emotional live performances, and ironically, the latter…… comes to the fore more tonight in this stripped back performance.
As a re-imagining of “The House Beyond the Fire”, “Beyond The House Of Fires” is an exceptional release, bringing a whole new level of emotion and sensibility to some already stellar tracks. The set opens with Nettle and Dance to the City which set the scene magnificently – both delicate, emotional and dynamic in their delivery.
Ally takes some time to welcome us to this new experience, asking ‘has anyone bought a ticket expecting to see a normal The Virginmarys show?’ He also takes a moment to jab at Arsenal, having just lost the Champions League final as the set started lol.
The laid bare, stripped back re-worked performance, delivers a new level of raw energy to the songs, much to the delight of the crowd. Ally’s vocals in particular benefiting from the format, allowing him to be as raw as ever, but with a new, nuanced layer of expressive emotion. There Ain’t No Future feels just as huge as the fully electric evrsion, whilst Cast the First Stone adds a new layer of intense emotion. On Lies, Lies, Lies Ally portrays a wonderful sense of frustration and anger through the delivery of it’s charged criticism of the political system and deception, with lines like “These three men race to send commercial flights to space, That's close to an overdose of ambition”. It hits hardest with the delivery of sections such as “I gave you everything, now everything is lost, Smooth like a prophet who'll make profit from each cost. I'm losing count of every line you must have crossed, I gave you everything, everything is lost”.
One of the standout tracks for me had to be You’re A Killer with it’s astute view on the modern world with lines such as “ “Information, information an idiot’s guide to dividing the nation”. Special mention to Gareth Price on guitar. With Ally on keys, Gareth does a stellar job giving the tracks a subtle yet important depth with some stand out guitar work.
As the set draws to a close we enjoy a wonderful version of Veteran Soldiers which for me has a kind of Levellers vibe to it (beautiful) and we close with White Knuckle Ride, another stand out, where Ally’s vocals take centre stage, this time angry, almost desperate sounding, packed with emotion bringing life to lines like “I can't hide or disguise I'm terrified, Each day I dream each way I start to die inside my mind. Depressed or bored, I'm wired or floored, a number on this mental ward. It's not enough and neither am I”. A song about serious mental illness, despair and isolation, the performance is emotional throughout especially the chorus sections that some of the crowd sing along with: “I'm white knuckle riding, I'm never arriving, I am so sick of fighting, I'm barely surviving, Day in, day out……” Simply stunning.
This was no ordinary Virginmary’s performance. Oh no, it was something new, and something very special indeed. Stripped back, the band didn’t just lay their songs bare to the world, but their own souls. And iDestroy did their bit perfectly too.
A stunning night of raw, beauty and emotion….. Here’s to more nights like this !
Setlist
My Nettle
Dance to the City
Lies Lies Lies
There Ain’t No Future
- Ally solo
Urban Seagull
You’re a Killer
When The Lights Go Down
- Ally solo
Where Are You Now?
Veteran Soldiers
White Knuckle Riding
