For those old enough to remember the last time La Dispute played Cardiff, this sold-out show feels like a welcome return to the height of 2000s post-hardcore. Twelve years on, the band arrive revitalised, touring their first studio album in six years – 2025’s No One Was Driving The Car – and sounding tighter than ever.
From the outset, La Dispute are in the pocket. The setlist is carefully structured and sometimes surprising, balancing newer material with a peppering of fan favourites. The new songs, drawn from the concept-heavy record, are muscular and urgent in a live setting. They feel heavier and more intricate than their studio counterparts, and they are delivered by the band with mathematical precision.
Still, it’s the early catalogue that ignites the biggest reaction. Tracks from Somewhere At The Bottom Of The River Between Vega And Altair (2008), Wildlife (2011) and Rooms Of The House (2014) send the crowd into a frenzy.
Vocalist Jordan Dreyer barely stands still: spinning, two-stepping and even dancing during groovier cuts like the Nine Inch Nails–esque Autofiction Detail. In the years since their last Cardiff appearance, he has grown into a fine performer with a commanding and expressive stage presence.
Midway through the set, Dreyer takes a moment between songs to reflect on the global political climate, cultures of hate and the importance of mutual aid and community. In this vein, it’s worth noting that he isn’t all talk: several dates on this tour have offered low-income ticket options, and posters around the venue outline the band’s commitment to inclusion.
Predictably, seven-minute ballad King Park is one of the emotional peaks of this show. It’s unclear why this song has become the band’s opus – perhaps it’s Dreyer’s skill in lyrical storytelling. Even so, it’s difficult not to get swept up in the atmosphere as the room erupts in a red wash for the song’s final refrain.
With strong support from Pijn and emo revivalists Vs Self, this tour feels like a well-oiled machine: a sign of a band in a mature, socially conscious new chapter.
La Dispute, Pijn + Versus Self, Tramshed, Cardiff, Fri 20 Feb
words and photos CJ WAGSTAFF
