There are times when dwelling on nostalgia can make a person miss what’s in front of them, and there are plenty of on-line squabbles about the death of rock ‘n’ roll, but I’m here to say if you are in that camp you aren’t paying attention to possibly the best rock ‘n’ roll band in ages.  Fontaines D.C. is that band and this is the time to see them, because they’re just getting started. While I’ve had the immense luck to see Fontaines D.C. several times over the past few years, and the last time the band had performed in Baltimore, was back at the Metro Gallery a few years ago. Although there were hints of the greatness then, their performance on Monday at Rams Head Live in Baltimore more than confirmed that they’re on top.

After a really fantastic opening set by Wunderhorse, which immediately had me searching out their new album, Cub, Fontaines D.C. took the stage, kicking things into gear right from the moment they walked out with “A Hero’s Death,” one of my personal favorites with lines that always gets me, “Life ain’t always empty” and “When you speak, speak sincere / And believe me friend, everyone will hear” set to that driving rhythm that had the whole place shakin’. But there’s that thing that Fontaines has always had – that driving beat and deceptively complex sounds layered under these often spoken-sung treatises on the human condition.  And it’s one thing to hear it on the turntable or on the radio, but it’s a whole ‘nother thing to witness it on-stage as Grian Chattan (vocals) charges across the stage, seemingly possessed by those same words uttering from his mouth. 

Taking a brief moment in between songs Grain called out, “How are you doin’, Baltimore?,” to which the crowd, which was sweaty and charged up, cheered back. Bookending each side of the stage were twin guitarists Conor Curley and Carlos O’Connell creating a wall of sound at times over the layer of drums by Tom Coll and bass, provided by Conor Deegan III, that propelled each song forward.

The songs from Skinty Fia, having been out for a bit of time now, had a lived in quality now, sitting perfectly in the set. As songs like “Televised Mind” buzzed with a pent-up intensity that was palpable, while following up with “Nabokov,” one of the best songs on the most recent album, had the crowd glued to the stage.

Although all of the songs had that unmistakable Fontaines energy, there were clear favorites in this set. The clanking swoosh as Carlos used a bottle as a slide, making swirls of sound amidst the growing clamor of “Too Real;” the floating energy of the band’s single, “Jackie Down the Line,” with a groove that was hard to not be hypnotized by; and then there was that encore, as the crowd stayed on, chanting “One more song!” and then going full-steam into nearly everyone’s favorite “Boys in the Better Land” it was one incredible ride throughout. There was so much packed into this set, that, though it might sound cliché – we were left wanting more.

Although the band has wrapped up this leg of their tour, they will be back accompanying the Arctic Monkeys with a stop at Merriweather Post Pavilion in July of 2023. It’s one not to miss!

The set list included:

A Hero’s Death
Sha Sha Sha
A Lucid Dream
Chequeless Reckless
Roman Holiday
I Don’t Belong
Hurricane Laughter
Televised Mind
Nabokov
Too Real
How Cold Love Is
Skinty Fia
Jackie Down the Line

Encore:
Boys in the Better Land
I Love You

Check out more photos of Fontaines D.C. at Rams Head Live! in Baltimore:

Here are more photos of Wunderhorse, opening the evening: