The Goo 1
Live Reviews Reviews Fontaines D.C - 3Arena - End
a Gunnell Prior to writing this I read my previous review of FDC from December 2022 in Vicar Street which I described as a 10/10 concert for the ages. The same sentiment still applies – this is a very distinctive outfit in a unique genre of music that is moving from post punk towards rap, interspersed with a few iconic ballads. My overriding sentiment the last time was of a band expressing a rage on behalf of an urban Dublin generation from a venue filled to the core with loyal apostles. In the interim the Fontaines have released Romance, the follow up to Skinty Fia. Both the album and the show are reflective of the bands growth from local angry, edgy youths to aspirant & polished global stars, representing a global generation. Their 4th studio album Romance is an excellent listen, espousing polished production values as an overlayer to a hard urban sprawl influenced commentary on tough social circumstances. The videos accompanying the album's main tracks portray a dystopian version of society, reflecting a troubled soul. However, behind the grit, I PAGE 28 believe is a very polished musical business, steadily progressing toward the global acclaim their talent deserves. Less is the local angst and proud parochial chest thumping, substituted with a more global political agenda and a performance akin to established and / or iconic international artists. While the visual Irish identity is reduced to tricolour masking tape on the microphone and a closing tricolour stage lighting, the global agenda is announced through the Palestinian flag instead of the Irish tricolour and Free Palestine stickers on the guitars and chants from the audience led by the band. FDC’s is now a global political agenda as their audience expands and the torch paper is lit. Their stage performance has also moved forward as the act goes to the bigger venues and performs to larger audiences. Next up undoubtedly is the stadium tours and festival headliners. FDC are a seriously hard-working band. The set is a mixture of old reliables from earlier albums and essentially all (10 of 11) of the latest album. Legendary songs (at this stage ) such as Jackie Down the Line, Big and Boys in the Better Land are the pillars upon which the set is based. Many newer tracks are excellent in their own right and Romance boasts excellent pieces in the title track Romance, Bug, In the Modern World and the first single Starburster. All were met with fervour from a growing devoted and noticeable younger audience. However, the middle of the set suffered from some of the less strong tracks on the new album and a focus on political activism. The band have moved to the next level in their delivery and stage presence. Grian Chatten is definitely the fulcrum around which the band revolves. His presence is now more measured and mature while still able to direct audience behaviour with a manic arm wave. Guitarist Carlos O’Connell now resembles a young Flea from the Chilli Peppers and drummer Tom Coll has grown into the on-stage conductor behind the drum kit. Bassist Conor Deegan now reflects his Mayo roots in a more subtle way through the headband on the bass guitar. Collectively they are a tight and polished outfit. Crowd interaction has reduced, albeit it was always minimal! Fontaines DC are extremely curated, but in reality what global act isn’t. More power to them - they are on the way to the top and tonight’s show was excellent, despite the occasional lull through the few, weaker tracks from the new album. This was a big gig for FDC and opening to the title track Romance from behind a translucent curtain was powerful, immediately demonstrating the overall class of the group.