The tour never ends with Fontaines D.C., scoring three sold out gigs at Manhattan’s Hammerstein Ballroom. On Friday, May 16, lines queued down the avenues. Fans anxiously waited to see the post-punk Irish group sweep them off their feet.
Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, Fontaines D.C. has earned quite a name for themselves the past several years. Originally formed in 2014, the band consists of Grian Chatten (vocals), Carlos O’ Connell (guitar), Conor Curley (guitar), Conor Deegan III (bass) and Tom Coll (drums).
The group channels rhythmic guitar riffs, powerful driving intros, and poetical lyricism to pay homage to their home city. When paired with a high-energy stage presence, their ability to keep an audience transfixed is instantaneous.
As lights dimmed and the crowd’s chanting reached a low hum, Fontaines D.C. took the stage. Shadowed primarily in a wash of pink and green, the opening instrumentals of “Romance” set an ominous tone. The sound of each beat dropping mimicked an organ, holding onto a sense of impending doom. When paired with Grian Chatten’s soft vocals, this lush, orchestral sound acts as the band’s opening march. The start of a journey into their bold and captivating set.
Fans shouted in time to the lyrics as Fontaines D.C. transitioned into “Jackie Down the Line” and other favorites such as “Bug” and “Here’s the Thing.” As a result, crowd surfing was inevitable, and the excitement drawn from the room was contagious. Chattan danced around the stage, charged by the swell of music around him.
When it came time for the encore, the group did little to hold back. Their vigorous rock sound came to full force as colorful lights flickered in and out. By then, Chattan rose to stand on the speakers at stagefront, sweeping his arms in circles towards the pit. Once the crescendo of “Starbuster” was reached, he screamed, “I’m gon’ hit your business if it’s momentary business” into his mic.
The world tour for Fontaines D.C. continues onward for their Deluxe album, Romance, with two more dates at Hammerstein Ballroom, May 17-18. Lastly, stopping in Ireland, Spain, Italy and more.
Fontaines D.C.-Hammerstein Ballroom– Friday, May 16, 2025
Setlist: Romance, Jackie Down the Line, Televised Mind, Roman Holiday, Big Shot, Sundowner, It’s Amazing to Be Young, Big, A Hero’s Death, Here’s the Thing, Bug, Horseness Is the Whatness, Nabokov, Death Kink, Boys in the Better Land, Favourite
Encore: In the Modern World, I Love You, Desire, Starburster
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