Future Islands adores Baltimore, and the Charm City most certainly reciprocates the love.
It was obvious the night of May 28 at Pier IV Pavilion as the intrepid indie rock group made the final appearance on its current tour, a nine-gig run celebrating the 20 years of music that’s seen it ascend to world-wide acclaim.
And there could have been no finale more fitting than a wild stop along a moonlit Inner Harbor, where several thousand people gathered last Thursday night to see and hear an incredible set from a group of musicians who credit Baltimore for helping it thrive as artists.
Designed to be the ultimate homecoming, the occasion turned out to be that and so much more. Future Islands delivered a performance for the ages, entertaining lots of old friends and new fans alike with a packed set that featured some of the band’s newly released material along with a whole bunch of favorites, including numerous songs written nearby on their old stomping grounds.
Listen to the new release from Future Islands, From a Hole in the Wall to a Fountain of Youth:
Whether a close ally of the band or someone who’d just recently discovered its music, those on hand were most certainly compelled by the band’s energy, its emotion and its originality. The foursome performed a whopping 24 songs — each one of them bursting with passion and intensity — and the crowd simply could not get enough of it.
Led by a vocalist unlike anyone else, Sammuel Herring, Future Islands arrived seemingly prepared to impress and astonish the capacity audience. With the well-oiled machine of Gerrit Welmers on keys, William Cashion on bass, and Michael Lowry on drums, the band made every song explode from the back of the stage while the charismatic front man growled, howled, leapt, kicked, twirled, and rolled his hips for the better part of two hours.
It was, by the artists’ own admission, an important night in a place that meant a great deal to their efforts.
“Baltimore has been, I feel, like a big reason why we’re still here right now on this stage,” Herring told the venue to start the show. “We came here across 2007, into the middle of 2008, and made Baltimore our home, and this city gave us life, gave us a support system, and a community that we felt we lacked and met.”
Herring credited the night’s second of two opening acts, composer and electronic wizard Dan Deacon, for actually getting the group to move to the Charm City.
“Dan’s a big—Dan’s the reason we moved here,” Herring was filled with emotion as he spoke. “It’s hard to say the importance of this city to giving us life to continue to do what we do. We’re here celebrating 20 years, so thank you all. We’re at 20-and-a-half now, man. I’m getting older as we speak, as I fucking speak.”
It was Herring’s remarkable voice and his spirit that made the night that much more unforgettable. Those in attendance heard stunning takes on Future Islands hits, including a gorgeous version of “The Fountain” to open the show followed by “A Dream of You and Me” just a few songs into the set.
Providing color to some of the tracks, Herring pointed out that “Walking Through That Door,” was one of the first that the band wrote while living in Baltimore. The version performed in celebration last Thursday night was a glorious tribute to the city and what it means to the group.
The new album is titled, From a Hole in the Floor, To a Fountain of Youth. As Herring explained, features some “hidden gems” from the band’s early days of recording. In Baltimore last week, ticketholders heard one of his own favorites, “Find Love,” as well as “Pinocchio,” a tune the band wrote in Baltimore. The title of the new album takes its name from the track’s opening line. After writing it, Herring said, the band took it “around the world.”
It was a night loaded with backstories as Herring drew the connection between the music and the hometown. Those in attendance heard Herring profess his love for specific areas in and around Baltimore, including Marble Hill. And they heard his and his mates’ gratitude for the event organizer, Unregistered Nurse, and specifically its leader, Dana Murphy.
But by the end of the night, everyone there had heard repeated praise for the city of Baltimore and those who embraced this band early on.
As Herring said: “The community here just made us believe we could do it.”
Setlist
The Fountain
King of Sweden
The Tower
A Dream of You and Me
Find Love
Walking Through That Door
One Day
Before the Bridge
Light House
Plastic Beach
Peach
Pinocchio
Give Me the Ghost Back
The Sickness
The Thief
Glimpse
For Sure
Seasons (Waiting On You)
Long Flight
Tin Man
Encore
Inch of Dust
Vireo’s Eye (with Rat King from Ed)
Beach Foam
Little Dreamer
Below are home-rolled/developed/scanned 35mm film photos along with some digital shots of Future Islands along with one of two opening acts, Dan Deacon, performing at Pier VI Pavilion in Baltimore, Md., the night of May 28, 2026. All images copyright and courtesy of Casey Ryan Vock.
Future Islands
Dan Deacon
