Fontaines D.C. live in London: Generational greats show why they belong in big leagues
On their first night in London, Ireland's brightest band prove why they belong on the biggest of stages
By Nick Reilly
Fontaines D.C. have past history with Alexandra Palace. They previously played this room in 2021 off the back of their second record A Hero’s Death – which saw the Dublin group net their first Grammy nomination and offer confirmation that they were heading for the big leagues.
Three years later, a return to this cavernous North London space – early on in their first ever UK arena tour – feels like the surest of signs that they’ve truly arrived.
It’s abundantly clear as a gunge-green curtain – fitting the wild-eyed colour palette of fourth album Romance – dramatically drops to the floor as the imposing, Kubrick-esque strains of the title track play out. As frontman Grian Chatten swaggers onto the stage in wraparound bug-eyed sunglasses and gees up the crowd, he’s never looked more at ease.
A Friday night crowd who are up for it from the very off immediately reciprocate this dramatic welcome. Mosh pits are ripped open from the minute that they kick into ‘Jackie Down The Line’ and barely subside for the following 90 minutes.
But for all of the excitement of the older songs as a whole room screams debut song ‘Big’ back at the band, it’s curious to note the sheer fervour that greets tracks from Romance – which was released a mere four months ago. Chatten previously told told Rolling Stone UK that the group’s new identity came from a desire to not be pigeonholed – and it’s clear that their fans have accepted this widescreen new world. Flares are lit to welcome the swaggering rock of ‘Bug’, while ‘Favourite’ – which already feels a misty-eyed Fontaines classic – is met with one of the biggest singalongs of the night.
Late on, there’s tension in the crowd when a technical issue during ‘Starburster’ forces them off stage and leaves many wondering if they’ll get to hear the trip-hop epic that kicked off this definitive era. When it finally does come – alongside an unexpected run through of ‘Too Real’ by way of apology – it feels like an explosion. A perfect early showing in an arena tour where Fontaines D.C. are hellbent on proving that these biggest of stages are where they truly belong.