One of the most anticipated performances this year was Fontaines D.C., a punk band from Dublin, Ireland. After their Fuji Rock ’22 appearance was unfortunately canceled, they did appear in Shibuya, Tokyo, in February last year and did not disappoint. 

Fans gathered at the Red Marquee well before the show; it was already hot before they went on with the song “Romance,”  which was the first track from their new album, before going into fan favorites “Jackie Down the Line” and “Big Shot” from the third album, which have already become standard songs at live performances. 

The band then performed “A Hero’s Death,”  an early anthem that gives a sense of the origin of their sound, followed by “A Lucid Dream.” And from there, we can feel the evolution from the rebellious punk band to a more grunge-inspired dystopian electronica and hip-hop-like rhythm, and then to a dreamy slowdive-like sound. 

This is proof the band is making progress with their Dan Carey, the producer of their first three albums, to “never make a similar work again” is still valid.

They are gradually releasing new variations of their music, and the post-punk number “I Love You” is strongly influenced by their Irish culture and nostalgic at the same time. Then came the melancholic tune “Favorite” and the new sounds of “Starburster,” also from the new album.

SET LIST
Romance
Jackie Down the Line
Televised Mind
Roman Holiday
Big Shot
A Hero’s Death
Nabokov
A Lucid Dream
Big
Boys in the Better Land
I Love You
Favourite
Starburster