Future Islands had just started the first leg His tour secondary People who are no longer when they arrived at Radio City Music Hall in New York. The album is not only one of the best of the band's career, but one of the best releases so far this year, so it's no surprise that they were at the top of their game on Thursday night. Still, watching the Baltimore synthpop group dominate that iconic stage confirmed what should have always been clear: Future Islands are the perfect theater band.
I've seen Samuel T. Herring and company. They play everything from small warm-up shows to major festival stages, and always put on impressive sets. Still, you never know exactly what you'll get when a band like this performs at a venue like Radio City, with its enormous size, history, and association with more classic art performances. However, having seen Herring so many times over the years, I should have known that his theatrics would only improve with location.
Get tickets to Future Islands here
Always ready to perform with the utmost passion, a theater stage is the perfect place for Herring. Reaching directly for the radiant faces in the front row, throwing his fists at the back of the balcony, roaring in the depths of the room, devouring handfuls of imaginary dirt from the stage; I once described his acting style as “Shakespearean” and watching him on Radio City was like watching Laurence Olivier do Village in Old Vic.
Future Islands' new scenic design also works well in a theater space. Each band member stands on a different level platform, an arch used for entrances and exits carved into the highest one under keyboardist Gerrit Welmers. The lighting is deceptively simple but effective, each member receiving a powerful light to cast their shadow on whatever wall is behind them, some hoola-hoop-sized rings of light placed askew on the stage. With a single white balloon placed right center stage left, there was a beautiful balance that would make any set designer proud.
Taken together, it all shows that Future Islands can be built for theaters like this. The presentation and performance is a spectacle that is best watched from the seats of the house, even if you are just dancing in front of them.
Check out our exclusive gallery of Future Islands performing at Radio City Music Hall in New York City below, followed by the full tracklist. Then get your own tickets to their upcoming concerts through StubHubwhere orders are 100% guaranteed through StubHub's FanProtect program.
Songs list:
king of sweden
A dream of you and me
Ran
plastic beach
Peach
House of light
give me back the ghost
The face of the city
swept inside
Shadows (with Ed Schrader)
Safely
Say goodbye
The thief
Tower
Seasons (waiting for you)
Walking through that door
inch of dust
The Vireo eye
Little Dreamer
thanks to our partners at consequence.net
