The Irish band releases their third album Blindness and shares their experience touring with Pearl Jam.
The Murder Capital, an Irish post-punk quintet, have recently released their highly anticipated third studio album, Blindness. Available on all streaming platforms and in physical format on the band’s official website and at major record stores, this work marks a new phase in their musical evolution.
Formed in 2018, The Murder Capital consists of James McGovern (vocals), Damien Tuit (guitar), Cathal Roper (guitar), Gabriel Paschal Blake (bass), and Diarmuid Brennan (drums).
After the success of their debut album When I Have Fears in 2019, the band continued to evolve – first in 2023 with Gigi’s Recovery and now with Blindness – exploring new sounds and themes.
The connection between The Murder Capital and Pearl Jam began in 2019, when Jeff Ament attended an IDLES concert in Seattle, with Fontaines D.C. opening for the Bristol-based band. After being impressed by both bands, he researched other groups from the same scene and discovered Shame (who opened for Pearl Jam in Amsterdam in 2022) and The Murder Capital, listing the latter’s debut album among his favorite records of 2019.
In the summer of 2022, the Irish band opened for Pearl Jam at Hyde Park, an important opportunity that strengthened the bond between the two groups.
A few months later, upon the release of their second album Gigi’s Recovery, we had the chance to interview The Murder Capital, delving into their artistic journey and their relationship with the Seattle band.
This connection was further solidified in 2024, when The Murder Capital opened for Pearl Jam during the European leg of their tour.
Frontman James McGovern enthusiastically recalls the experience of playing Rockin’ In The Free World with Pearl Jam in Barcelona in 2024:
It was quite a hectic affair – too many tambourines! We were in our dressing room, having just finished the last gig, and a stately American security guard knocks on our door, saying, ‘Eddie will see you now.’ So we all went downstairs, and Eddie came out – a really sweet, kind fella – and presented us all with gold Eddie Vedder Zippos, in true American rock ‘n’ roll fashion. And then he asked us to sing a bit of Neil Young with him – James McGovern
This collaboration marked a great momemnt in the band’s career, solidifying their place in the international music scene.
With Blindness, The Murder Capital once again showcase their ability to reinvent themselves, offering fans an intense and immersive sonic experience. The album is available for streaming and for purchase in physical format on their official website and at record stores.
Below is the video of Rockin’ In The Free World, recorded by us during Pearl Jam’s concert in Barcelona last summer, featuring The Murder Capital as special guests.
Born in Reggio Emilia in 1980. He created pearljamonline.it in 2001 and wrote the first edition of “Pearl Jam Evolution” in 2009 along with his wife Daria. Since 2022, he is behind 2 podcasts: “Pearl Jam dalla A alla Z” and “Fuori Orario Not Another Podcast”. He has collaborated with Barracuda Style, HvsR, Rolling Stone, Rockol and Il Fatto Quotidiano. He continues relentlessly to try to find “beautiful melodies that say terrible things”.
Favorite song: Present Tense
Favorite album: No Code
Favorite bands/artists other than PJ: Tom Waits, Soundgarden, Ramones, Bruce Springsteen, IDLES, Fontaines D.C., The Murder Capital, Dead Kennedys, Mark Lanegan, Cat Power, R.E.M.