Who knew that on a Monday night, a series of events that would lead to the perfect show.
I found parking close fairly close to the venue and entered with no lineup.
I made my way to the front right before Just Mustard hit the stage.
The fact that Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten had a bout of laryngitis just a few days ago makes it even more special that this show is actually happening.
The band just released the record Skinty Fia, whose first song honoured a family who wished to use the Irish language on a gravestone.
Just Mustard
All the way from Dundalk in County Louth, Ireland, the band stepped on stage and began their quest to make me lose my hearing.
The band was loud, yet distinctly clear as they played their style of Shoegaze.
You might think they took a vow to not smile while on stage, although it was hard to tell what was going on underneath the flowing hair of the drummer, who could easily play the live version of Animal of Muppets fame.
Just goes to show, they are serious about their music.
The beat was thunderous as the foundations of the Corona Theatre shook, and the energy was high.
Katie Bell told me, after the show, how when they played a venue in Brooklyn NY, the sound of the bass broke two bottles at the bar.
David Noonan tortured his guitar into making the most interesting sounds that are beyond definition.
Comments from those who stuck around after were nothing but positive and Katie did smile as she told tales from the road and past shows.
Set List
Seven
I Am You
Deaf
23
Frank
Still
Seed
Fontaines D.C.
Just before the band came on, a couple left the front row at the gate, which I gladly took, allowing me to lay the vinyl I brought to my feet. I was wondering if it was a good idea to haul two empty record sleeves, but I would soon find out…it was totally worth it.
The PA started playing What The World Needs Now Is Love by Jackie DeShannon, which is quite a fitting song for our times.
The band came out and the insane energy bottled up inside Grian Chatten began to be released as he paced in circles like he was starting a hurricane from scratch.
He stomped the microphone stand like a judge about to hold court, and the show was now in session.
The drumbeat introduced Lucid as the first song which was like a downshift, high rev power boost.
Throughout the night, Grian would explode in bursts of passion towards the crowd, often stepping to the edge of the stage or even upon the barricade.
Conor Curley was the poster child for rocking a look that simply screams rock star, with talent to back it up.
Conor Deegan III ensured the basslines were solid, while his partner in crime Tom Coll contributed to the backbone of the group on drums.
Carlos O’Connell with his signature cross-legged guitar pose kept the energy up, especially when he climbed atop a high speaker to play the majority of Sha Sha Sha.
I Don’t Belong was a highlight with its slower vibe that gave us a chance to breathe, while still singing.
For Chequeless Reckless, Grian stood on the barrier to add fuel to the already frenzied crowd.
Keeping the energy high, Television Mind was simply delightful to hear, while Too Real was a blast from the past that ended in an extended jam session.
For I Love You, Grian pickup up the Irish flag that was thrown on stage and sang with it, before placing it on his monitor as a badge of honour.
A Heroe’s Death finished the set as they repeated “life ain’t always empty” as a little boost of positive mental mantra.
After an extended absence which the crowd filled with clapping, whistling, stomping and our famous Olé Olé Olé chant, the band was summoned back for a trifecta of killer songs.
The newly released Skinty Fia started us off which bled into Boys in the Better Land, a personal favourite of mine.
By now, the crowd was simply going nuts, yet in a respectful way.
We all sang at the top of our lungs.
The encore ended with Jackie Down The Line which let us down a little easy.
Set List
Another bonus was getting one of the setlists.
Conclusion
Sometimes, you just don’t want the night to end.
As we spoke to all members of Fontaines D.C., we shared stories with some of the new friends we also made.
Shout out to the lovely couple from Stittsville, our pierced friend from Quebec City who self-decorated her jean jacket, and our friends from Winnipeg who made quite a case for the Fontaines to visit that part of Canada.
Shout out to one of the members of Pottery, who opened for the Fontaines on a previous tour and took some of the members to further Montreal adventures.
After some fun conversations culminating with getting the last signature from Grian on my vinyl, it was time to let the night end.
My ears might still be ringing, but that will soon pass.
What will never pass is the memory of a perfect show.
From the earth-shattering Just Mustard to the nuclear energy of Fontaines D.C., to extending the evening casually talking with the band and some of the people that also didn’t want this night to end…it will be a night that will not soon be forgotten.
We will see you boys down the line.
Photos: Dominic Blewett
Writer: Randal Wark is a Professional Speaker and MasterMind Facilitator with a passion for live music. You can follow him on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. His Podcast RockStar Today helps musicians quit their day jobs with out-of-the-box advice from Ted Talk Speakers, Best Selling Authors and other interesting Entrepreneurs and Creatives. He created the Rock Star Today Music Business Jam Session for musicians. Randal is a collector of signed vinyl, cassettes and CDs.
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