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You can almost feel the pull, like the power of a 10,000-ton train, moving the very Irish band Fontaines DC from the smaller clubs of just a handful of years ago to selling out big venues like the 9:30 Club Thursday night. And to top it off, the eve of the release of the quintet’s third full-length LP, Skinty Fia, saw the band not only selling out the 9:30 Club but also venues throughout the United States.
Modernlove (Photo by Marc Shelley)
modernlove. are still figuring it out and that’s okay. Like their name suggests, the Irish four-piece explores the complexities of the modern lives of twenty-somethings. Even though their lives are still complicated, Barry, Cian, Danny and Graham of Drogheda have already nailed their sound; they deliver polished, indie-pop with a glossy ’90s sheen and intricate details.
Recently, the band announced their debut EP “monochrome blue” and shared the new single. “lmk (if you wanna see me)” along with a music video.
Outsider (Photo by Paudie Bourke)
Inspired by musicians such as Joy Division and The Jesus & Mary Chain, Ireland’s Outsider makes music that strikes you with its depth. Certainly, Outsider writes poetic lyrics and sings them with passion, but he also crafts melodies that dance and soar through you.
Outsider took his name from Colin Wilson’s 1956 book, The Outsider, “which examines the psyche of great artists and their place in society,” reads his bio. His real name is Seán Ó Corcoráin. Seán is a terrific talent and a wonderful person, and Parklife DC’s Mickey McCarter had the absolute pleasure of chatting with him recently about his debut full-length album, Karma of Youth, released April 17 by OK! Good Records.
Lankum (Photo courtesy Rough Trade Records)
The droning guitars and eerie pipes of the Irish folk band Lankum have led some to describe their music as apocalyptic. On the evening before the declaration of the coronavirus pandemic as a US national emergency, the band darkly joked, “Thanks a million for taking your lives into your own hands.”
Frontman Ian Lynch added, “We kind of feel like the band on The Titanic.”
Fontaines DC performs at U Street Music Hall on Sept. 11, 2019. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)
Stage performance defines a band — eager audiences arrive at a concert to determine if your songs are meant to be delivered live. In the case of young Irish band Fontaines D.C., the answer is a resounding yes, as seen in a sold-out show at U Street Music Hall recently, where the band dominated with pacing, presence, and something to say (which is best heard live).
Fontaines D.C. (Photo courtesy Ticketfly)
Fontaines D.C. is a band with a name that sounds like it could come from Washington, DC. Rather, these impressive post-punk lads hail from Dublin, Ireland, and they make a return appearance in DC on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at U Street Music Hall.
Fontaines D.C. is a force at the Rock and Roll Hotel on May 11, 2019. (Photo by David LaMason)
Fontaines D.C., the Dublin-based (the D.C. in the name reflects Dublin City) band melds poetry and punk — a sense of immediacy with hooks that are hard to shake. Grian Chatten, frontman of the group, sang/spoke in what can feel like a conversation and a call to arms in the same breath at the Rock and Roll Hotel recently.
Hudson Taylor performs at City Winery on Feb. 4, 2019. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)
Hudson Taylor turned DC’s City Winery into a raucous Irish pub complete with hand-clapping, singalongs and rug cutting. Hudson Taylor’s folky (and folksy) but lively Irish pop lends itself well to this type of behavior and certainly brightened a recent weeknight.
Hudson Taylor (Photo by Brandon Herrell)
Irish folk duo Hudson Taylor is heading back to DC to perform at City Winery on Monday, Feb. 4. Brothers Harry and Alfie arrive on the heels releasing Bear Creek to Dame Street, a mini-album published via Rubyworks.
Hudson Taylor perform at the Lincoln Theatre on Oct. 2, 2018. (Photo by Marc Caicedo)
Harry and Alfie Hudson-Taylor have assembled friends and family for their current tour, opening Hozier. On Tuesday night at the Lincoln Theatre, with their high energy tunes, soaring harmonies and expert musicianship, they had the crowd asking for more after a brief, but hugely satisfying opening set.