A Nostalgic Night with Durry
September 12, 2025 - Minneapolis, MN
Starting their Your Friend From the Real World Tour in their home state of Minnesota, Durry performed at First Avenue on September 12th. The brother-sister duo began writing music together during 2020 when Austin Durry moved back into his parents’ house in the suburbs of Minneapolis. Gaining fame through TikTok in 2021, Durry hurried to release new music and go on tour. Their new album, This Movie Sucks, explores the concept of aging and the burnout that comes along with it.
VIAL started the night off with their indie pop-punk sound. Another local band, the Minneapolis trio is made up of drummer Katie Fischer, bassist Taylor Kraemer, and guitarist KT Branscom. Many of their songs are inspired by the current political climate. Although they are not exclusively writing about politics, it is something they explore through their songwriting.
Since the start of their performing career, VIAL has covered “Territorial Pissings” by Nirvana, and that continued in Minneapolis. Encouraging the crowd to chant “piss” was not what I expected to hear chanted at a concert but certainly made sense in this context. Playing a few of their other songs, such as “Ego Death” and “Creep Smoothie,” VIAL added to the anticipation in seeing Durry and getting the crowd excited.
Nostalgia is at the core of what Durry does. I was immediately greeted with a pair of 3D glasses as I walked into the venue. I was catapulted back to the 2000s when 3D movies were all the rage. One thing was clear: the aughts were being brought into the 2020s.
Continuing the nostalgia theme, the back of their stage was filled with old TV screens, which played old movies and videos reminiscent of what would be on a VHS tape. VHS tapes have been a common motif and prop for this album. With the new album’s release, Durry hid a few VHS tapes in record stores for fans to find. They were also doing a giveaway during the show for a VHS tape containing their music videos.
Kicking off the night with “Bully,” Durry addresses the complexity of how difficult it is to create connections in a world where the internet is all-consuming and toxic. One of the few places I feel most connected with others is at a concert. Beginning with that song was a good reminder to really live in the moment, get off the internet, and treat people with respect. The entire night was a reminder of how it feels to be outside of the internet. "Monopoly Money," "Coming of Age," and "Trauma Queen" followed, further exploring the complexities of life and growing up.
After a few more songs, the TV screens flashed “Apply 3D Glasses,” and Durry dove into playing the title track, “This Movie Sucks.” During the song, the stage flashed with blue and red lighting to aid in the 3D effect seen through the glasses. It was a cute prop and a fun experience, but I was expecting other experiences to come with the 3D glasses.
For their song, “Porcupine,” Durry encouraged fans to make animal noises to fit in with the theme, name, and lyrics of the song. The lyrics contain a twist on the nursery rhyme See You Later, Alligator and turn it into something darker and filled with self-doubt.
Another aspect of nostalgia for me comes in the form of video games. Now, if I had a dollar for every time I’ve been in the audience of a concert where the band invited two people to play a video game, I’d have two dollars, so I guess these bands know what I like to see. Prior to playing “TKO,” Durry invited a fan up to play Super Smash Bros. against their brother on the TV screens. It felt like an applicable game to play since the entire point is to knock out the opponent. As someone who grew up playing the game and watching others play it, I felt deeply drawn in by the performance.
They slowed things down with “The Long Goodbye” and “Bubble of My Gum,” which included an extra verse to make the song even sappier than it already is. It was Austin and his wife’s 13-year anniversary, which added more sappiness into the atmosphere.
Durry played everything off their new album except for “Wannabe” and played a few songs from their album and EPs. The last song before their encore was their biggest hit and what launched their career, “Who’s Laughing Now.” The night was filled with good times, nostalgia, and introspective moments that reminded me what it meant to be human. The hometown crowd was transported back to a time when things were simpler, even if it was only for a few hours.
