A Night of Dark Energy and Raw Emotion With Chelsea Wolfe and Mary Jane Dunphe

From haunting melodies to explosive energy, Chelsea Wolfe and Mary Jane Dunphe transformed Razzmatazz into a captivating, unforgettable experience.

Chelsea Wolfe during her performance at the Razzmatazz venue. Photo by Amaia Garcia Carra (TMN).

On the night of Friday, November 8, 2024, Primavera Tours gifted us one of the most awaited concerts of the year at Razzmatazz in Barcelona, where we witnessed one of the most intense and atmospheric evenings of the year—a double bill headlined by the enigmatic Chelsea Wolfe, and the always surprising Mary Jane Dunphe. What unfolded that night was not just a concert but an immersive experience where dark sounds and raw energy intertwined in a musical catharsis fans won’t soon forget.

Opening the night was Mary Jane Dunphe, an artist who has left an indelible mark on the American underground scene. Originally known for her work in punk bands like Vexx and the art-punk project Crying, Dunphe has taken her solo career in a more experimental direction. Her style blends post-punk, synth-pop, and performance art, combining raw energy with poetic sensibility. In recent years, Mary Jane has developed an approach that blurs the lines between music and performance art, standing out for her ability to create immersive experiences both in the studio and live.

The lights in Razzmatazz dimmed, plunging the room into a mysterious gloom that immediately captured the audience’s attention. Mary Jane Dunphe took the stage dressed in black—a simple but elegant outfit—allowing her presence and energy to speak for themselves. She opened her set with “Red Desert,” a track that began with a minimalist hum, marked by synthesizers that echoed throughout the venue. The audience, initially curious and expectant, was soon swept away by the enveloping wave of sounds emanating from the stage.

From the start, Dunphe showcased her ability to command the space. She moved with a mix of theatricality and spontaneity. As the song progressed, her voice fluctuated between soft whispers and piercing screams, capturing the attention of every corner of the venue.

Mary Jane Dunphe during her performance in Barcelona. Photo by Amaia Garcia Carra (TMN).

The next track, “Edge of Time,” was an introspective journey filled with pulsating rhythms that felt synchronized with the heartbeat of the audience. Dunphe handled the microphone as if it were an extension of herself, moving from side to side of the stage, as cold-toned flashing lights surrounded her, casting unsettling shadows on the walls. This was followed by “Longing Loud,” a more melodic song that highlighted her ability to balance ethereal with aggressive tones.

The highlight of her set came with “Fire for You”. where Dunphe unleashed a burst of energy that infected the crowd. Accompanied by a drummer laying down a tribal rhythm and synthesizers creating an almost hypnotic atmosphere, the artist concluded her performance to cheers and applause. The audience, now fully captivated, buzzed with adrenaline, eagerly anticipating what would come next.

After a brief pause to reset the stage, darkness once again took over Razzmatazz. The crowd waited in silence until a solitary figure emerged from the shadows. It was Chelsea Wolfe, the star of the night. With an aura that radiated power, Wolfe appeared dressed in a stylish black lace outfit that reflected her unmistakable gothic aesthetic.

Chelsea Wolfe en Barcelona. Video de Amaia Garcia Carra.

Chelsea Wolfe has been a constant force in the music scene since her debut album The Grime and the Glow in 2010. Over the years, she has evolved from gothic folk to heavier, industrial sounds, never losing her ability to create dense, emotion-filled atmospheres. That night in Barcelona, her presence felt like a whirlwind enveloping everyone present.

She opened her set with “The Mother Road”, a song from the album Birth of Violence. From the first chords, the atmosphere filled with an almost religious solemnity. Wolfe’s deep, evocative voice, accompanied by her acoustic guitar, left the audience in a trance-like state. Red and purple lights bathed the stage, creating an ambiance that swung between dreamlike and ominous.

El setlist de Wolfe abarcó un recorrido por su discografía, mezclando momentos de introspección con explosiones de poder sónico. Temas como desataron una intensidad avasallante, con acompañamientos pesados y una batería que hacía retumbar el suelo de la sala. El público no pudo evitar balancearse y cerrar los ojos, dejándose llevar por la marea sonora.

Wolfe’s setlist spanned her discography, mixing moments of introspection with sonic power. Tracks like “Carrion Flowers” and “Iron Moon” unleashed overwhelming intensity, with heavy accompaniments and drumming that made the floor vibrate. The crowd couldn’t help but sway and close their eyes, surrendering to the sonic tide.

One of the most emotional moments arrived with her performance of “Be All Things”. The rendition was raw and sincere, with Wolfe alone on stage, accompanied only by her guitar. The entire room seemed to hold its breath, and when she finished, it erupted into thunderous applause.

The finale was epic: with “Feral Love”, one of her most iconic songs, the crowd reached the night’s climax. Strobe lights synchronized with the powerful guitar chords, creating a visual effect that seemed to invoke a storm. Chelsea Wolfe moved with an almost supernatural intensity, as if completely possessed by the music.

For the encore, Chelsea Wolfe returned to the stage with a minimalist performance of “Halfsleeper”, accompanied only by her acoustic guitar and voice. The audience’s reverent silence broke only at the end, when it exploded into applause that lingered long after Wolfe left the stage. The crowd left Razzmatazz feeling they had been part of a collective ritual—an experience that went far beyond a simple concert.