So, here’s the thing – I love Fontaines D.C.
A force from the beginning, the Irish quintet made their debut in 2019 and quickly cemented themselves as indie/alt-rock favourites with their first two studio albums, Dogrel and A Hero’s Death. Skinty Fia came next, and blew everything else out of the water.
Their third LP was one of my favourites of 2022. Raw, blistering and poetic, it is an album that somehow treads the dichotomous line between gloom and elation. And nowhere is this more obvious than on the opening track, ‘In ár gCroíthe go deo’. The dark bassline and heartbreaking context sit alongside a chord progression that makes you feel like you’re on top of the world… it’s genius. Scathing, hypnotic and emotive, with brilliant lyrics and sometimes Cure-like guitar, Skinty Fia is undoubtedly a classic album for me.
It’s also the focus of one of my favourite Turning The Tables episodes. I think Connor and Kevin will agree that even from the first time round, this is one of those albums that won’t leave you alone. I couldn’t – and still can’t – stop listening to it.
The same can be said for Romance, released 23rd August. Romance is a staggering record – vast and timeless, with stunning instrumentation and, well, heart. It is easily one of the best albums of the year and undeniable proof that Fontaines D.C. are one of the most exciting bands out there. The label “post-punk” has been thrown around a lot when describing Fontaines D.C., but it is far too reductive – especially when it comes to this particular release. The evolution of their sound is blatantly obvious, organic, and, to be completely honest, just really cool. I think it might be their most complex and expansive album yet.
To celebrate their latest project, Fontaines D.C. head to CONTENT Liverpool. It’s late doors tonight, as the band have packed two sold-out shows into one evening. My ticket says 9pm but the huge room is already half full by about quarter to.
Just after ten, the lights go down. Grian’s haunting vocals echo around the room and his shadowy figure saunters onto stage. They kick off with the title track of the new album, ‘Romance’; it’s the perfect opener, and the Liverpool crowd is ecstatic.
The five-piece waste no time and head straight into ‘Jackie Down The Line’ – an infectious and relentless track that has the whole room shouting along. This is one of only two tunes from previous albums that Fontaines D.C. include in the setlist.
Up next is ‘Here’s The Thing’, a grungy track with a killer guitar riff and endless drum fills. We also get to hear ‘Favourite’, and the Cure sound heard on their previous album makes a welcome return. I’ve had these songs on repeat since they came out, and they were outrageously good live, but I wouldn’t put either of them on the shortlist for my favourite of the night.
That particular award has to go to one of two tracks. My first nominee would be ‘Bug’, possibly my favourite off the album (excluding the singles). As the guitar melody starts, the guy standing behind me says something along the lines of “the drop on this one” and I turn to him with a huge grin on my face – I’m sure everyone in the room knew what he was talking about, but if they didn’t, they felt it about a minute later.
The other contender would have to be ‘In The Modern World’, a cinematic and spacious masterpiece dripping with existentialism. It’s full of gorgeous strings and houses one of my favourite lyrics from the entire album – “You may be the reason/ But I am the law”.
I was also surprised by ‘Sundowner’ – I liked this shoegaze track from the first listen, but it was something else live.
At this point we get the second non-Romance track, and it needs no introduction. Grian picks up his tambourine and everyone knows what comes next – the iconic ‘Boys In The Better Land’. The Liverpool crowd surges forward and I barely escape alive.
An unassuming mellotron line – at least I think it’s a mellotron – gives away the final track of the night. And it’s the one everyone has been waiting for – ‘Starburster’. This song has crept into every corner of my brain and refuses to leave. It’s jolting, irresistible and just so, so good.
About five minutes into Turning The Tables’ Romance reaction video, Connor says that he hopes everyone at a Fontaines D.C. gig does the deep intakes of breath alongside Grian on this track. Of course we did.
In true Fontaines fashion, there is no encore. The lights come up and snap all of us back into reality after an intense, cathartic and unbelievable forty-five minutes.
I think this would be my only criticism – forty-five minutes was not enough. A longer set might have included ‘I Love You’ and ‘Roman Holiday’, two tracks I’m desperate to experience in person.
But I digress. My only real conclusion from Wednesday night is something I’ve known for a while – Fontaines D.C. are nothing short of a phenomenon. Their new album is just another piece of indisputable evidence.
Review by: Ayla Hewitt
Images credit: Ayla Hewitt
Follow Ayla on Insta: @aylagoestogigs @aylaratesalbums
