Gig Review: Fontaines D.C. at O2 Guildhall Southampton

I have really enjoyed seeing the rise of Fontaines D.C. over the last three years or so, I was hooked from the minute I heard the intensity of their single ‘Too Real’. Being a fan of post-punk, Irish band Fontaines DC really fitted the bill for me, the poetic lyrics layered over this fierce noise but equally at the same time also being able to produce slower numbers such as ‘Oh Such a Spring’, was and continues to be a delight. I think what has drawn me in the most with Fontaines is they write relatable songs that can at times, for me, feel real personal, covering themes including austerity, anger and the changing landscape of society.

The various lockdown’s have delayed the band being able to tour their second album ‘A Hero’s Death’ (which was released in July 2020) but this didn’t stop it reaching the Top 10, such is the band’s popularity. One of my must-see bands at Victorious Festival this year, I had been fortunate to see some of the newer tracks played live already and was eagerly anticipating this gig tonight.

Fontaines arrived on stage each clasping flowers which were thrown out into the crowd which already felt like a sign of their appreciation to the avid fanbase. There is a contrasting sense of styles in the band at present with guitarist Carlos and bassist Conor dressed in suits and shirts with lead singer Grian rocking tracksuit bottoms, t-shirt and a yellow cardigan with a Daffy Duck logo, such is their individuality.

All eyes point to lead singer Grian as his nervous energy begins to build up as the band open with ‘A Hero’s Death’, he is slightly unorthodox in his style, but this is what makes him so unique in my opinion. There is a seamless transition between most songs with little time for small talk but given the ferociousness to the delivery of ‘A Lucid Dream’, helped by the intensity of the pulsing stage lighting, the interaction cultivated through the music alone is enough for this word perfect crowd. I loved seeing personal favourites ‘I Don’t Belong’ and ‘The Lotts’ played right next to each other in the middle of the set, if ‘You Said’ (that one really gets me!) was played too that would have completed the perfect hat trick by Fontaines!

With the previous two slower numbers, the pace of the gig picks up with Fontaines rattling through ‘Living in America’, ‘Hurricane Laughter’, ‘Too Real’, ‘Big’ with them leaving the stage after ‘Boys in the Better Land’. This had only left the crowd in state of wanting more, chanting for the band to come back as quickly as they had left; Fontaines duly oblige with a quick encore of ‘Liberty Belle’ from the first album ‘Dogrel’ which was a great way to finish the night!