Live Report: Fräulein take the stage at Whelan's

While their name, a German term synonymous with the English title ‘Miss,’ was a hitch among Whelan’s attendees on Friday night –– mispronounced by audience members, staff and performers alike –– Fräulein (froy-line) filled the intimate venue with energy, head-banging and a catharsis that can only be equated to a windows-down drive along the motorway.

Two years after the release of their debut EP, A Small Taste, Fräulein haven’t missed a beat, dropping a string of singles throughout 2023, along with their sophomore EP Pedestal via Submarine Cat Records.

The rising alt-rock pair, which features Antrim native Joni Samuels on guitar/vocals and London-based Dutchman Karsten van der Tol on drums, have been quickly making a name for themselves on the indie scene, supporting UK rock bands The Mysterines, Big Joanie and Nova Twins, as well as making festival appearances at The Great Escape, Bearded Theory and Dot to Dot.

While the pair are known to Irish music fans, the Friday night performance marked their first headlining gig in Dublin, an exciting feat for the budding stars. Armed with a perfectly curated setlist, unique sound and brimming glass of red wine, the duo solidified themselves as a band to watch in 2024.

After a dream-like set from Irish openers Hotgirl, the intimate upstairs venue was filled with a multi-generational group of post-punk fanatics. “We didn’t expect there to be so many people!” Samuels exclaimed as she took to the mic, ushering onlookers towards the stage.

Beginning with a blistering rendition of their October single ‘The Last Drop’, Samuels immediately captivated audience members, gut-wrenching vocals occasionally interrupted with grins of excitement while van der Tol tore into the drums.

As friends since university, Fräulein had an undeniable chemistry on stage, born of a shared devotion to music. While Samuels was fronting the outfit, hitting the perfect balance between raw poet and giddy performer, it was the harmony between duelling instruments that filled the stage, van der Tol’s thumping rhythm flawlessly complementing Samuels’ drudging vocals and steely guitar.

One of the night’s highlights came early on with the emotional throwback ‘Golden Boy’, displaying Samuels talents as a vocalist and storyteller – complete with a busted lip from the microphone, ironically timed just after she droned: “Now I’m bleeding, it’s spilling through me.”

While Samuels “tended to her wounds” with some water and wine, van der Tol took centre stage, with an impressive minute-long drum solo.

The night continued with the perfect balance of new material and beloved classics, warning the audience of the “heavy shit” to come as they jumped into the second half of their set. By 9:30pm, the Big Thief-inspired drawl had been left in the dust, replaced by a raw sound more often associated with the likes of PJ Harvey and The Breeders.

As the set drew to a close, Samuels introduced Fräulein's final song, aptly chosen ‘Big Cool,’ saying, “If my voice isn’t wrecked already it’ll be wrecked after this song… If you wanna rock out a little bit, this is the one to do it on!”

The song, featuring an outro of guttural horror-movie screams, served as the perfect end to the night, climaxing with a boom of sound as Samuels tore into the microphone.

“Ten more tunes!” an audience member shouted as the night concluded, a sentiment shared throughout the small venue.