Flaming Irish indie rockers FONTAINES D.C. released one of the best albums of 2019 with their smashing debut LP ‘DOGREL. The band decided to share a new video for one of the top tracks ‘LIBERTY BELLE‘ as so much has changed since they made the original clip. It’s full of live footage from their stormy gigs. I saw them playing twice last year and I can assure you they’re one of the best live bands around.
From CHEQUELESS RECKLESS, one of the many highlights of Irish sharp-tempered rockers FONTAINES D.C.‘s debut LP called DOGREL, solid contender for best longplayer of 2019
Clips that will have an impact on your eyes and your ears…
19 June 2019
(photo: Turn Up The volume!)
Irish up and coming underground misfits FONTAINES D.C. led by charismatic frontman Grian Chatten released their razzmatazz debut LP ‘Dogrel‘ last April, one of the most awe-inspiring longplayers of 2019 so far. A modern day post punk record about anxiety and apprehension. The band just shared a fresh clip for one of the rather quiet, yet disturbing meditations of the LP. Listen/watch SHA SHA SHA here…
The much-lauded and hot-blooded young gang from Dublin, Ireland hit Belgium to play a blistering gig. Here are 10 things you need to know…
1. Yesterday morning I read about these Irish rockers on music website NME: “You do need to see them ASAP” (full feature here.) As I am an obedient man I immediately went out and witnessed them in our historic World War I village of Diksmuide (but not for the first time, that was last year when they impressed Brussels).
2. This was a rescheduled gig. The band’s November 2018 concert here in this utterly cool 4AD club had to be canceled because singer Grian Chatten was sick. Despite their current, endless night-to-night tour they sacrificed a rare day off to return to Belgium last night and play. Respect!
3. The show started with a smashing rendition of my favorite Fontaines cracker ‘Hurricane Laughter’. Did you ever get that should I stay or should I go feeling after a band/artist began the set with your favorite track. I remember vaguely having had that experience before, but definitely not this time, not with this awesome squad.
4. Charismatic frontman Grian Chatten revealed in a recent interview that his parlando
way of singing was inspired by his uncles shouting at Christmas dinners and their drunk voices sounding commanding and authoritarian. That’s the way to get anybody’s attention. Cool family, Grian!
5. Another thing about Chatten. He’s actually the only member of the band who moves on stage. His non-stop manic steps from left to right and back compensates for his immobile teammates perfectly well. Makes me think suddenly of early Oasis gigs I saw. Nobody, not even Liam moved when performing. Anyway, Fontaines‘ live force strikes you like a sizzling missile, who cares if they move or not. Here’s an idea of their magnetic energy…
6. I bought this t-shirt. My wife said: “It looks like a piece of textile from the 50s.”
My reply: “It’s reproduced authenticity from the past.” Yes, life is controlled by
perception… all the time.
7. Two members of the band took charge of selling the merch afterward. Can’t see that happen anymore in the near future as the group will play bigger venues along their way
to glorious fame.
8. D.C. = Dublin City
9. Striking set… list
10. Believe the hype. These young gunslingers rock like an unstoppable steamroller, on record and on stage, and their sociopolitical observations cut like a Swiss knife. Check it
all out on their brand new debut album, called DOGREL right here…
Along with Idles and Shame Irish gang FONTAINES D.C. leads the revival of fervent punk rock annex acute social criticism. “It’s more confusing than it was before – there’s just a huge lack of trust in any form of media or narrative voice. No one really believes anything, and what we’re having to do is form some kind of truth for ourselves. I think that anger in modern guitar music is just confusion, in a way” says the band.
Following last year’s release of some blazing debut tracks their first longplayer, titled DOGREL will hit the streets on 12 April. Here’s ahead of it the lead single BIG. A short, speedy and agitated tirade tackling the pressure of ambition. In the accompanying clip
the protagonist is a young kid in the streets of Dublin. ““We felt that great ambition was a sickness, and we got singer Grian’s 11-year next-door neighbour to say it to you all because
he’s got the presence of a hundred frontmen”.
