In 2004 Goldie Lookin Chain burst onto the music scene with their top three single Guns Don’t Kill People Rappers Do, quickly followed by a top five album Greatest Hits. There had been nothing like them before, and it could be said that GLC did for rap what the Macc Lads did for Rock. The lyrics are funny, often explicit and satirise hip hop culture with a heavy emphasis of growing up and living in Wales, and specifically the town of Newport. While the group have not enjoyed the same chart success, they continue to regularly release albums and have a large and loyal following, many of whom turn up to gigs in dodgy shell suits and chunky gold chains. It is the live experience where GLC truly shine and tonight’s gig at Metronome was a sell out...
The support act tonight was Welsh alt rockers Breichiau Hir, whose songs are all in Welsh. The band are some significant distance from the rap/hip hop sound of our headliners, but who do you get to support group like Goldie Lookin’ Chain who are basically in a category of one? It is therefore no surprise that they got a lukewarm reception from the crowd as they made their way onto the stage. Fast forward a couple of songs, however, and it was a different story as they started to win over the crowd.
The six-piece from Cardiff create an incredible sound, and while I have no idea what the songs were about, I’m not sure that even mattered, as they were a joy to experience. The songs had so much going on, with mellow, melancholy, laid back sections that exploded into full on punk before dropping back down and then building up all over again. It was an energetic and lively performance with lead singer Steffan Dafydd showing genuine emotion at times and then leaping about the stage screaming at others.
Steffan acknowledged that they may be an odd choice by joking “I didn’t know there were so many Welsh language emo fans in Nottingham!”
After the support set, the stage was cleared and it looked rather empty without any amps or instruments.
The current GLC tour is celebrating 20 years since the release of the group’s second album Safe as F*ck. I will be honest and say I was not that impressed by that album back in the day. For me, it just didn’t have the same punch as the first one did. That said, I was very much looking
forward to seeing them live for the first time.
The 400-capacity room was packed by the time the group burst on to the stage wearing an eclectic mix of tracksuits, as well as a large bin bag full of lager cans.
The set started with Your Missus Is a Nutter. It was a full on energetic performance from the start and it just never slowed down. The sound and lighting from the Metronome technical crew was also top class.
I had expected the set list was going to be weighed heavily towards Safe as F*ck , but this was not really the case and included Soap Bar, Ice Ice Dildo, The Middle of Lidl, Your Mother’s Got a Penis and of course the crowd favourite Guns Don’t Kill People Rappers Do.
It was very clear that GLC still love what they do, and they all looked to be having a great time and the energy never dropped. There was plenty of banter with the crowd, especially when they found a bloke in the front row who was from their home town of Newport.
At one point the group shared out their drinks with the crowd and Adam grabbed someone’s mobile phone and filmed from the stage. Somehow a bra got thrown on the stage too. It all added to the live spectacle and general madness of the night.
In the 20 years since Safe as F*ck was released the world has generally moved to a more politically correct climate, and most of GLC’s work might not be acceptable to all. However. that was very clearly not on the mind of the crowd tonight who simply relished the chaotic energy and the sheer gleeful absurdity of it all.
Goldie Lookin Chain performed at Metronome on 10th October 2025.
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