Fontaines D.C. look to the future at powerful London show
Delivering old songs and new, Fontaines D.C. prove a powerful presence in a venue far smaller than the ones they have deservedly conquered
By Nick Reilly
Fontaines D.C. provided a powerful peek at their future last Friday (February 4) as they debuted new songs from third album ‘Skinty Fia’ at an intimate London show for War Child.
The Dublin band‘s thunderous performance at The Dome in Tufnell Park formed part of BRITs week – which will also see the likes of Mimi Webb playing intimate shows in the capital during the weeks surrounding the 2022 BRIT Awards.
While the band’s third record will arrive in April, Friday’s show saw them opening with ‘Too Real’ from 2019 debut ‘Dogrel’ – setting the tone for a 14-song set that leaned heavily on some of their strongest older material.
But there was huge excitement from their increasingly fervent following when the new songs did arrive. The live debut of new single ‘Jackie Down The Line’ saw fans screaming back every word of the new offering, with taken-aback frontman Grian Chatten drolly branding the crowd a “guinea pig and a half.”
Other new tracks included the haunting ‘I Love You’, which was first debuted by the group at their Alexandra Palace show last year – a slow-burner of a thing that builds itself up to a powerful crescendo delivered with full gusto from Chatten.
From Friday’s showing came the unmistakable feeling that Chatten has become more comfortable in his role at the band’s centre too. Powerful runs through ‘Televised Mind’ and ‘A Lucid Dream’ from second album ‘A Hero’s Death’ saw him whipping up the mosh pits that had emerged in front of him, while ‘Hurricane Laughter’ saw him leaving the stage to get up close and personal with his audience.
A late treat came in the the first-ever airing of new track Roman Holiday – with guitarist Conor Curley entering into an impressive groove-flecked flight.
The fact that these new numbers sit so comfortably among the old classics is proof that Fontaines D.C. can unite their fanbase, new and old, to continue their reputation as one of the world’s most vital live acts.
With ‘Skinty Fia’ just around the corner, long may that continue.
Fontaines D.C. played:
‘Too Real’
‘Televised Mind’
‘Sha Sha Sha’
‘A Lucid Dream’
‘Jackie Down The Line’
‘I Don’t Belong’
‘You Said’
‘I Love You’
‘Big’
‘Hurricane Laughter’
‘I Was Not Born’
‘Roman Holiday’
‘Boys In The Better Land’
‘A Hero’s Death’