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…
