FONTAINES D.C. IN D.C.
BY ELLA EDWARDS
When I saw Fontaines D.C. for the first time, it was one of the most gripping concert experiences I’ve ever had. Yet, it was cut short due to a bout of illness for guitarist Carlos O’Connell. That did little to mar the band’s remarkably impressive showing overall, but encouraged me to see them again, with hope that the Irish five-piece is in good health.
This spring, my dreams of a complete set were granted when I hit two Fontaines shows, one at Washington, D.C.'s Anthem and the other at New Haven’s College Street Music Hall. Fontaines D.C. has been touring almost non-stop all year, accompanied by English group Jadu Heart for the dozens of American dates. This indie-rock act features dreamy vocals from the bass-playing Diva Jeffrey, paired with Alex Headford’s grungier voice and muddy guitar riffs. Their sound leans heavily on hypnotic electronic elements and the piercingly sweet tones of an electric violin, making for a unique and exciting approach to shoegaze. As captivating as Jadu Heart was, I can’t say I’m surprised; Fontaines D.C. never fails to bring along genuinely fresh support acts, from Shame to Been Stellar to Kneecap.
PHOTO: @WILLIAMWARK
The main act took the stage shortly after nine o’clock on both dates (May 10th in The District and the 14th in New Haven). They ripped through their typical set, featuring a blend of recently-released bangers, including “It’s Amazing To Be Young” which became available this February, as well as older tunes going back to their 2019 debut album, “Dogrel.” Though their sound has become progressively more electronic and experimental across their four albums, the undercurrent of urgency, ambition, and lyrical value runs through each and every Fontaines track. And as much as I love cranking up these songs in the car or dancing to them around my room, there is something undeniably magical about getting to see Fontaines D.C. live.
They don’t say much; the band pretty much sticks to the set. Their shows aren’t fluffy or gushing or pretentious. And yet, the smaller American venues that they sold out last fall were simply not going to cut it for their return to the states. Fontaines fans can’t get enough, myself included.
The dedication and passion of the fanbase is honestly part of the allure. Spending five hours on a curb outside the venue in rainy New Haven turned out to be a blast. Those around me in line shared their concert stories, and I was impressed by how many Fontaines shows many of them had been to. I was the only one in our little group who wasn’t following the band to New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom later that week, and it gave me pretty serious FOMO. We shared our snacks and setlist wishes with one another. When Fontaines D.C. shook things up that night and played “Horseness Is The Whatness”, we all freaked out for one of our barricade buddies who had chatted about her love for that song. I’ve never left a concert having exchanged my number and Instagram to so many people before, but the friendliness and community of Fontaines fans is real.
PHOTO: @WILLIAMWARK
On top of that, the band’s body of work begs to be experienced in concert form. Tracks like “Desire” and “Big Shot” are poignant in themselves, but when fans can feel each clattering vibration in their chest, the songs come to hold immeasurable weight. The pendulum also swings in the other direction, with rowdy pits for more rapid numbers, such as “I Love You” and “Boys in the Better Land”. This musical variety calls for a broad range of fans; age and gender are non-factors when it comes to who is listening to Fontaines D.C.. It’s the kind of show that draws in all sorts and spits them out as friends (also as sweaty people with worse hearing, but I digress).
PHOTO: @WILLIAMWARK
The band will be touring Europe throughout the summer, while my FOMO grows to unprecedented levels. I thought that getting to see Fontaines D.C. play a full set would satisfy my need to see them in concert, but this is a group with a knack for leaving you wanting more. I’m casually monitoring the prices of flights to Barcelona as we speak. Fontaines D.C. described my situation best in “It’s Amazing to Be Young”: “It’s the cost that brings you down!”
