When I was driving back from seeing The Damned at The Brighton Dome on Monday night, I decided to channel hop on the car radio to see if I could find something interesting and thank God that I did. I have been aware of a band name for a little while now, but I honestly had no idea what they sounded like. Then suddenly the name Fontaines D.C. was mentioned and I thought ah-ha now I can hear what they are like. BOOM! OMG they are awesome!!!
I feel a tad gutted as I should have followed them up earlier when I first heard of the name, but there is so much fab music around at the moment, there is barely any time in the day to follow these leads up.
I discovered that Fontaines D.C. are coming to Brighton – twice! Thankfully they are because their first gig at the compact Prince Albert on 6th December has sold out, but they are returning next year on 18th April to The Haunt.
So why am I so excited about my new discovery? Well, have a gander at their new video for their forthcoming new release ‘Too Real’ which is coming out on Partisans Records on 21st December (a Double A-sided affair with ‘The Cuckoo Is A Callin’’). Watch it HERE and pre-order it HERE.
Want more? Well there’s a radio station over the pond that are very good at getting artists and bands in (long) before they make it big. I can remember first discovering Grimes over six years ago on this station and I have dipped in for a regular look ever since. The station being KEXP. Well, Fontaines D.C. have already done a session for them that includes the awesome ‘Liberty Belle’ and so I would strongly recommend that you watch it HERE.
So who are Fontaines D.C? Well, they are Grian Chatten, Conor Deegan III, Carlos O’Connell, Conor Curley and Tom Coll and the lads met as a quintet in Dublin. They are influenced and driven in equal measure by the rich history of their hometown’s counter-culture, their response has been to make concise and immediately authentic post-punk, channeling often-unassumingly poetic lyrics with a distinctive gritty Irish brogue that has done anything but fall on deaf ears.
The last year has seen Fontaines D.C. release three hotly received double A-side singles, all of which were named as singles of the week by Rough Trade, and garnered early support from the likes of Steve Lamacq and others on BBC 6 Music where they have previously been b-listed with their previous single ‘Chequeless Reckless’ (self-released) for 4 weeks, presented 6 Music Recommends and played live in session.
Similarly, they have also earned plaudits from DIY, Dork, Stereogum, KEXP, Fred Perry Subculture, London in Stereo, So Young and every major Irish publication. The band have also played a number of sold-out shows across Europe, Ireland and the UK earning a reputation for their brooding and trenchant live performances, supporting the likes of IDLES, Metz, The Horrors, Girl Band and The Lemon Twigs, as well as playing festival slots at Primavera Pro, The Great Escape (oh no missed them!), Dot to Dot, Electric Picnic, London Calling, Hard Working Class Heroes and Simple Things Festival.
This month the band will be embarking on a full UK/IRE tour with Shame and in December will play a short series of headline dates, which have already begun to sell out. They have also announced further European and UK tour dates as well as main support on the IDLES US tour and a SXSW appearance for 2019.
Fontaines D.C. have gone from strength-to-strength with each release, and with a vast array of critical acclaim, renowned live shows, a series of sold out releases behind them and their recent signing to Partisan, the new single and forthcoming dates stand as a huge statement of intent, which is not to be ignored.
The band entered the studio this autumn to record their highly anticipated debut album with estimable producer, Dan Carey (Kate Tempest, Bloc Party, Bat For Lashes, Black Midi, TOY, Goat Girl and more) – More details to be announced.
It would appear that I’m not the only person raving about the band. Read the previous praise for Fontaines D.C below:
“With one foot in the shambolic anarchy of The Pogues, and the other in a
Las-esque lilt, Fontaines D.C are messy but melodic in the best way possible” – DIY
“Ireland’s latest greatest export” – DORK
“”Snarling, Swaggering Post Punk” – STEREOGUM
“I’ve played this about 15 times since yesterday. It’s a little bit like hearing Idles for the first time. I really think there’s something here” – STEVE LAMACQ (This is EXACTLY how I felt too!)
“The energy, the urgency and the emotion of these brilliant new songs made me stand up and take notice that this is the band I’ve been waiting for” – KEXP
Snap up your gig tickets for their Haunt show in Brighton on 18th April 2019 HERE.
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