Gully Boys Reach New Heights

It was really cold. It was really hard to leave the house. However, it was so, so necessary to leave the house because it was finally time to head down the Varsity Theater to see Gully Boys christen their new songs in their hometown. The room was sold out, and it was bound to be an incredible night.

Before I get into this incredible night of music, I just wanted to highlight a couple of organizations that partnered with Gully Boys to raise awareness at this sold-out show. 

The first was Aliveness Project. This organization focuses on supporting HIV treatment, testing, prevention, and resource networks. They were on site next to the merch to provide safe sex kits, swag, and information. 

The second was tcup. Their mission is to make Minnesota the best place to be a performer. They meet to find ways to improve venue communication and make sure that artists are advocated for. 

If these sound good to you, please check them out!

Fiji-13 was first to take the stage. The sister-fronted three-piece played a delightful 30 minute set of fuzzy and bubbly rock songs. The band hasn’t performed together in years. That said, their message of femme-empowerment and social consciousness was as relevant as ever. I was most excited to hear “Mansplain It To Me, BB.” It did not disappoint. Their energy made the room feel lighter; like we were aligned on life and what we needed from the night. It felt clear that we could get into the night and just let it all go. 

Next up was Zora. It was clear within seconds that she was going to raise the temperature. The young Minneapolis rapper was joined by her drummer for a set that was giving 90’s R&B/Rap with a modern colorful energy. The set even included a smooth cover of “Mad World” for all the 80’s babies and laughed saying she wasn’t even there. It was a stunning cover and it effortlessly flowed into originals. The set even included a song that Zora said was her “major label rejection song.” I was a little emotional hearing the story from the song being rejected to being featured in Paper, Rolling Stone, and Vogue. Another sign that Minnesota is turning out some incredible rising artists! 

Jheriah was our third and last act before hitting the Gully Boys set. He was joined by a guitarist, bassist, and drummer to round out a blistering set. Jheriah was moving around so quickly that I barely saw their feet touch the ground. Their impressive vocal range was on full display throughout the 45 minute set and the crowd was locked in to this captivating performance. By the end of the set, the energy in the venue had spiked to a new high. Jheriah’s irresistible charm won everyone over. No one could stand still. A job well done! 

Three openers made for a huge bill, but I enjoyed every moment of the sets leading up and they flew by too fast, honestly. It felt like no time had passed when it was time for Gully Boys to take the stage. I just felt really happy as I walked around the room. I saw all different kinds of people packing this room out - from kids to local industry powerhouses. Suits to bodysuits. The lineup curated such a great confluence of people that make our community so rich. It was so uplifting. 

Gully Boys have been a staple in the Minneapolis music scene for 10 years. They’ve put out so many incredible songs and played so many gigs of all sizes. I’ve been wishing for an album the entire time. It seems like a long time to wait for a debut. Here’s the thing though: they didn’t rush honing their craft. They took the time that they needed to breathe and grow. This new self-titled album shows off the payoff of that in a big way. With this in mind, it was time to celebrate. 

Mariah, Nadi, Natalie, and Kathy appeared on stage to loud and supportive cheering. They were all smiles as they kicked into the first 3 songs from the album. The intro to “Break” made the audience completely unable to stand still. So much power with a few fuzzy guitar strums. It made me snap back into being 14 again and discovering a new band that feels like they’re going to change my life. That’s a feeling to chase!

The 16-song set spanned their whole career and kept us guessing. Kathy’s rock vocals have to be some of the best in the industry, and coupled with emotion and really damn good songs become so much more. This made “Mother” one of the most powerful parts of the night. 

“Love Me 2” was another highlight. It’s no surprise that this year has been a challenge for a lot of us. Screaming “I hate it here” with everyone in the room was cathartic. How many experiences do we have like that anymore? Not nearly enough.

Throughout the night I heard a lot of rumors about the inevitable “Big Boobs” performance. “Will they bring out Zora for her feature?!” “Will they bring up the audience to do the dance?!” The answer is Yes to both. The song made for an absolutely joyous moment as they invited fans onstage to dance along with the performance. Zora showed off her rap to cheers for the return. The night ended with an encore featuring their first single “Neopet Graveyard.” It was a really nice way to close out the night.

I’ve covered this band on more occasions that I can recall, but I have never seen them on this level. They’re synched in a way that allows them to just lose themselves onstage. There’s trust and ease between them. It’s inspiring to see a band like this in 2025. Gully Boys have a vibe, motif, aesthetic; whatever you want to call it that feels polished and punk at the same time. This night felt like a time to launch themselves into a new status and celebrate all the hard work that got them there with 750 of their closest friends. 

Setlist:

Break

Me & You

TTML

Optimist

See You See

Russian Doll

The Way

Favorite Son

Gimme A Sec

Bad Day

Love Me 2

Murderapolis

Spit

Mother

Big Boobs (ft. Zora)

Encore:

Neopet Graveyard