With all the talk about Fontaines D.C. the Dublin band’s debut, album “Dogrel” pretty great reviews, the Dublin city themes and the PR narratives, The band keep on rolling right into the larger consciousness.
Some radio presenters, papers and publications are hailing the release of the group’s debut LP Dogrel as akin to a new chapter for Irish music. Paul McCloone labelled it the best debut in years . That’s a lot of expectation to put on any group and yet, the Fontaines D.C have found many champions internationally, with KEXP, NME, DIY Mag and lots more heaping praise on the group and album.
Last night, the band made their American TV debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon which used to be a crucial rite of passage in the life-cycle of any hyped-up young band. performing Dogrel standout track ‘Boys in the Better Land’.
Fontaines D.C. played two songs on Fallon: “Boys In The Better Land” on the broadcast and “Liberty Belle” as an online bonus. And they ripped both of them, riffing hard and looking intense and generally seeming like they were too cool to breathe , The Music guest Fontaines D.C. gives a bonus performance of “Liberty Belle” for the Tonight Show studio audience.
Irish band Fontaines D.C. appear to be the next big post-punk export from the British Isles. They’re set to release their debut album Dogrel on April 12th via Partisan Records, and the five-piece band made their SXSW debut this year with some serious hype behind them. Frontman Grian Chatten doesn’t have a rough, throaty punk roar, but his droney, poetic speak-sing packs just as much of a punch. When he’s not evangelizing in a distinctly Irish tongue, he wanders anxiously around the stage rather than throwing himself around or into the crowd. Tracks like “Boys in the Better Land,” “Too Real” and “Big” were all winners—their gritty social commentary is powerful and their no-frills rock riffs possess a meaty, spring-loaded energy.
This Dublin rock five-piece have garnered a lot of buzz ahead of their debut album Dogrel. They made a big splash at SXSW last month (named as one of the standouts of the festival), The band also recorded a KEXP session in 2018 and are set to tour the states with Idles later this year. It may seem that Fontaines D.C. have suddenly sprung from support slots and small clubs to selling out all venues on their current tour in a short space of time but these lads have been honing their craft for 3 years to reach this pivotal day in their career. Their 3 seven inch singles have paved the way for the release of their debut album, “Dogrel”. Singer, Grian Chatten, stalks the stage, a whirlwind of nervous energy before the band play a note. Ian Curtis comparisons are obvious. On his tiptoes, totally wired, Grian captivates you and you can’t take your eyes off him.
Though they’ve been lumped into the latest British post-punk wave led by Shame and Idles, Fontaines D.C. offer something entirely different. With tunes that span garage rock, surf and post-punk, frontman Grian Chatten spouts literary musings in a distinctly dry, Irish speak-sing. He paints a picture of Dublin that goes far beyond the rain, cobblestone streets and pubs filled with drunkards on every corner. With inspiration from James Joyce, the Beats and Yeats, Chatten bemoans the downfall of culture, which brought life to major cities and their inhabitants, as well as the modern loss of romance and authenticity. Tunes like “ChequelessReckless” and “Big” have a biting sense of humor and the steadfast courage of a band with nothing to lose and a lot to say.
Over the last year Fontaines D.C. have released four 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, as well as earning feature space from every major Irish and UK publication.
Fontaines D.C. are
Grian Chatten – Vocals
Conor Deegan – Bass
Carlos O’Connell – Guitar
Conor Curley – Guitar
Tom Coll – Drums
They have toured sold-out shows across Ireland, the UK and Europe, and will embark on a full world tour throughout 2019.
Irish post-punk outfit Fontaines D.C. recently announced the details of their highly anticipated debut album, “Dogrel” out April 12th via Partisan Records. With singles like “Too Real,” “Chequeless Reckless” and “Big,” already out there. Fontaines D.C. make brisk, snappy post-punk with the heart of a lion. You shouldn’t write off frontman Grian Chatten’s speak-sing vocals—he packs just as much gritty ardor into his impassioned, poetic proclamations as throaty punk howlers.
Here’s the video for ‘Roy’s Tune’ from our forthcoming album ‘Dogrel’ out April 12th.
The fourth single, but first on new home Partisan Records from the much loved at Rough Trade shops Fontaines D.C. They band met as a quintet in Dublin, 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 indie-punk that has done anything but fall on deaf ears.
The last six months have seen Fontaines D.C. release three hotly received double A-side singles, both 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, as well as earning feature space from every major Irish publication.
Too Real is another masterclass in repetition. It employs hypnotic, kraut-rock infused cyclical riffs, whilst channelling Dublin into their concise and often-unassumingly poetic lyrics with a distinctive gritty Irish drawl. The flip The Cuckoo is a Callin’ is a more straight ahead pop nugget but equally as engaging.
Irish post-punk outfit Fontaines D.C. have announced the details of their highly anticipated debut album, Dogrel, along with the lead single and accompanying video, “Big.” Dogrel will be released on April 12th via Partisan Records.
Following the release of singles like “Too Real” and “Chequeless Reckless,” “Big” is a brisk, snappy post-punk tune with the heart of a lion. You shouldn’t write off frontman Grian Chatten’s speak-sing vocals—he packs just as much gritty ardor into his impassioned, poetic proclamations as throaty punk howlers.
Speaking about the Molly Keane-directed video, the band commented, “We felt that great ambition was a sickness, and we got Grian’s 11-year next-door neighbour to say it to you all because he’s got the presence of a hundred frontmen.” According to the band, Dogrel’s title is an ode to their roots and the album is unapologetically Irish. They wrote on Twitter, “Dogrel is a crude, traditionally Irish working-class form of verse, historically looked down upon by literary critics.”
In addition to their sold-out U.K. tour in April, Fontaines will support Idles in North America in May, and embark on a European and U.K. headlining tour in November. They will also make appearances at festivals like SXSW, End Of The Road and more.
‘Big’ is taken from the forthcoming debut LP ‘Dogrel’ by Fontaines D.C. Out April 12th 2019 via Partisan Records.
Fontaines D.C. are a punk band from the “back-arse of nowhere” in Dublin – and their debut album Dogrel, wears those hometown influences proudly on its sleeve. To mark its imminent release, drummer Tom Coll gives us a guide to the city’s record stores, venues, artists and best Sunday night residencies. DUBLIN is a city steeped in a rich musical history – from the beginnings of The Dubliners in O’Donoghue’s on Baggot Street to the mid-noughties singer-songwriter scene that ambled the likes of Glen Hansard and Damien Dempsey out the front door of Whelan’s on Wexford Street.
The last couple of years has seen the city explore more alternative independent movements – whether it be the likes of Girl Band’s inspirational noise rock debut Holding Hands With Jamie, Villagers’ own brand of alternative folk, The city’s counterculture movement is certainly something to be very proud of right now.
Over the past five years there has been a real resurgence in more guitar driven music in Dublin and that’s been really exciting to have seen it grow into what it is now. I remember when we were starting out playing small shows in Dublin, we found it really hard to find bands to play with and it’s so encouraging to see a really healthy scene these days. Checkout the likes of Just Mustard, Melts, and The Murder Capital have all been relatively recent and important additions to a really healthy scene. In that sense, Dublin is definitely thriving.
Following the massive buzz that grew up around their series of 2018 singles including recent hit ‘Too Real’ and their support slots with Shame at larger venues across the UK the Irish four-piece are on a promise for their debut album, expected at some point early this year and produced by the great Dan Carey. Judging by new tracks debuted at a recent secret show at Camden’s Good Mixer we can look forward to something that could potentially bridge the gap between the poetic sensitivity of the Smiths and the intense, purposeful awkwardness of The Fall. They really are that good – and we’re hoping for a debut that reflects their brilliance. Fontaines D.C are set to be one of the breakout bands of 2019
The Debut album from the much loved Fontaines D.C. They don’t pretend to be from anywhere but Dublin, and that charges their colloquial rock’n’roll garage music with an authenticity that makes them stand apart. The album is sharp, gritty and intense. The band are locked in and the vocals mixed high with Grian Chatten’s irish accent prominent.
Standouts include Hurricane Laughter which is an insistent and repetitive song built on a Mark E Smith style spoken vocal and a band who are locked into a rock n roll groove. The hook of “And there is no connection available” lingers long in your mind after the song has left the building.
Boys in the Better Land is another golden nugget that has the sound of The Modern Lovers if they’d grown up in Dublin whilst first single on Partisan Too Real is a masterclass in repetition. It employs hypnotic, kraut-rock infused cyclical riffs, whilst channeling Dublin into their concise and often-unassumingly poetic lyrics with a distinctive gritty Irish drawl.
Seriously you won’t find a better debut album this year. It oozes class and is the sound of 2019.
‘Too Real’ is taken from the latest Fontaines D.C. release, out now on digital and on 7″ on 21st December 2018 on Partisan Records.
We’re absolutely loving this new single from Dublin’s Fontaines D.C.
Channelling past masters like the Modern Lovers, The Fall and Iggy Pop, as well as contemporaries like Idles andShame, Chequeless Reckless is built on a great hypnotic, kraut-rock infused cyclical riff, and some scalpel sharp lyrics.
“Fontaines D.C. are set to open their 2018 account in a way that you’d hope that they would. Kicking off from where they left off last year, with the forthcoming double A Side ‘Chequeless Reckless/ Boys in The Better Land’ are tunes that may well make other acts wonder what’s the point.” Its due for release on Friday 23rd February. So far we’re pretty damn sure it is going to end up in our end of year best of lists…With a set of snarling, swaggering post-punk tracks filtered through their retro-rock of the early ’00s; with their frontman Grian Chatten.
A sellout is someone who becomes a hypocrite in the name of money, An idiot is someone who lets their education do all of the thinking A phony is someone who demands respect for the principles they affect A dilettante is someone who can’t tell the difference between fashion and style
They are “Dublin’s latest sensations Fontaines earlier tracks 7”. On one side is Hurricane Laughter which is an insistent and repetitive song built on a Mark E Smith style spoken vocal and a band who are locked into a rock n roll groove. The hook of “And there is no connection available” lingers long in your mind after the song has left the building” .
Check it out below, along with previous singles, the almost equally as good Liberty Belle.
Band Members
Grian Chatten
Conor Deegan III
Carlos O’Connell
Conor Curley
Tom Coll
The Fat Angel Sings 