In a flash of neon green, Fontaines DC's fourth LP, Romancedropped to Earth in August, ushering in a mesmerizing new era for an act poised to level up in all aspects of their career.
In the months that followed, the cult following of the Dublin band became formidable: A draft scroll to TikTok will feature videos of young fans emulating the five-piece's space-grunge aesthetic, dressed in baggy, brightly colored tracksuits while belting out the band's songs from the heart of the mosh pit. The story of Fontaines DC has been one of determination, growing in confidence and spirit and always striving to stand higher than before.
This radical change in the band's global popularity has marked a crossroads for the group in more ways than one. On release, Romance found at no. 97 in the US – the band's highest entry to date on the Billboard 200 – while earlier this month, the group was nominated for two Grammys (best rock album, best alternative music performance for lead single “Starburster.”) Fontaines DC invested the resources provided by a new deal with major label XL Recordings (FKA Twigs, King Krule) to explore the depths of his creativity, expanding the tender guitar anthems from the band's first three records, drawing on elements of pop and nu-metal.
Fontaines at Alexandra Palace on 22 November 2024.
Pune Ghana
When the band hit the festival circuit for the first time with their 2019 debut DogrelFontaines DC often looked uneasy on stage, allowing only the briefest of smiles. Frontman Grian Chatten was gasping for air, staring into the middle distance and swinging his legs in small circles – vibrating with discomfort and nervous energy, barely muttering a word to his audience. The feeling remained, however, that these early performances were only spurts on the way to somewhere else.
Five years on, as Fontaines DC headlined the first of two nights at London's Alexandra Palace on November 22, chatter may have remained minimal, but the elevated stage production added a rich, omnipresent feel of a band to the imperial her phase. The addition of tour member Chilli Jesson on keyboard and guitar also deepened the darkness of the songs.
These were the best moments from the night.
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It had better be a Mirrorball
When Fontaines DC last graced Alexandra Palace in October 2021, the band performed under a single, stark white spotlight. Tracks from the third LP Skinny Fia received their live debut, but the group rarely changed the stage lighting to match the mood. On Friday, however, Fontaines DC went for a spectacular set dressing – all gilded curtains and hanging tapestry. Sometime Oversized Warped Heart Decoration Romance artwork – a nod to Whipping Boy's Heartworm LP cover – softly lit, creating the illusion of a mirrorball.
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Songs for Cosmic Contemplation
Damp air, powerful guitars, heavy bass notes: When the band delivered shocking tracks like “A Hero's Death” or “I Love You”, something like an invisible current was felt in the room – thousands of people were swimming in the same phenomenon. A sensational live debut of his Romance highlight “Desire” showed the band's harmonies to be sumptuous and transcendent, but it was often the singular, sustained vibrancy of Chatten's searing vocals that stood out.
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Musical Fireworks
Emotional disasters came where no one expected. The blindingly brilliant 'Bug' has seemingly struck a chord with Fontaines DC's Gen Z fans: When the band played the track mid-set, friends held each other up while one particularly crazy person released a pink flare a few meters from the stage – an unexpected move that contrasted beautifully with the lofty interior of Alexandra Palace's 185-year-old Grand Hall. Likewise, the way bassist Conor Deegan whistled throughout “Roman Holiday,” his face pushed close to the mic, had a definite intensity.
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Curley's Star Turn
“Sundowner”, written by guitarist Conor Curley, featured his lead vocals on a DC track by Fontaines for the first time. When performed live, his voice is husky and flawless, accompanied by Chatten on acoustic guitar, wearing a pair of bug sunglasses. The song's reflective mood, meanwhile, felt enhanced by the flashes of triptych lenses playing on the venue's screens.
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Let's go again
Due to a technical problem, the band abruptly stopped playing “Starburster” just as it was starting. A few minutes later, the group returned to the stage and played an 'extra song', 2019's 'Too Real', before trying 'Starburster' again. However, as the track's powerful choruses came to life, laced with Chatten's hip-hop delivery, it became clear that not even a brief technical hiccup could dent the show's triumphant atmosphere.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/lists/fontaines-dc-london-concert-5-best-moments/
