Gully Boys kicked off their midwest mini tour with a show at the Cactus Club in Milwaukee last week with support from Scarlet Demore and new band, Breakup Tour. 

The opening act, Breakup Tour, had a special night. It was the Milwaukee band’s first ever show. The show started with a small crowd that grew as the show progressed. The group vibed off each other well, didn’t miss a beat, and did a great job engaging with the crowd - a skill often developed with a lot of stage experience. A highlight of the show was a cover of “Feeling This” by blink-182 which really showed their strengths as a group.

Up next was Scarlet Demore from Chicago. As the band came out, the lead singer removed the mic stand from the stage, a sign of an energetic show to come. From the opening song, Scarlet Demore had the whole venue shaking - literally, the floor shook - from people jumping, dancing, and even moshing to their rock-pop danceable tunes. The lead singer, Cat Ayala was no different as she bounced around the stage, posed, and worked the crowd. After a wild mosh session mid-set, a member of the crowd said “I haven’t been to a proper mosh pit like that since 2007,” and the band responded with “Welcome back!” A notable moment came along when the group played their latest single “Spiked Seltzer”. Ayala cracked open a White Claw and let somebody from the front row have a sip and count the song in. After a few more energetic songs, the group transitioned to a cover of “Tongue Tied” by Grouplove that had the full room singing along. The set ended with “Funky Kid”, off their latest EP Please Stop Loving Me with some of the crowd chanting they wanted to hear one more song. For an opening act, the band had a great stage presence, left the crowd wanting more, and could easily have headlined their own tour. 

Grunge power pop group Gully Boys were named Best New Band in 2018 in their home city of Minneapolis. The show started with some technical difficulties with the microphone not holding its proper height for lead singer Kathy Callahan. Despite the issues, the group adapted quickly and on the fly and continued on like seasoned veterans. Callahan’s voice stood out with a rasp, power and grungy quality that felt unique to the indie rock/pop scene. A highlight of her vocal range came during the song “Violet”, as she belted out every note with passion. By the end of the song, she laid on the ground breathing heavily while the crowd cheered her on for more. In addition to Callahan, Nadirah McGill was a standout drummer and had a voice that rivaled Callahan’s. The group played a range of songs from their past album Not So Brave and more recent EPs and their newly released single “Optimist” ahead of their upcoming album.