I just discovered a 'new' band for the first time in ages.

Fontaines D.C.

[media=https://youtu.be/KHocVRUlvkk]

I've long been of the opinion that indie rock is dead. Even when I've asked younger people to recommend bands, they don't come up with much. The 2000's was really the last decade that produced a lot of quality indie music and even then it was in decline. IMO, Chappell Roan is the most relevant new artist in the last few years and she's a pop star.

Fontaines D.C. is not that new. They are already on their fourth album but they recently came to my attention with this crazy song. The singer Grian Chatten says that it's about having a panic attack but it also seems to be about the chaos and confusion of modern life in general.

They have a lot of other great songs too. It's usually more low-key than Starburster. They are an Irish band who formed in Dublin City (D.C.) over their shared love of poetry and you can kind of hear it in the lyrics. Their music is a mixture of poetry, post-punk guitar music and hip-hop. It's genuinely like nothing I've heard before. The lyrics are one of this band's strengths. You won't always understand ithem but then you are not meant to and that is a good thing.

Top | Newest First | Oldest First

dubkebab · 56-60, M Best Comment

This is good stuff,thanks for the tip. I'm not often swayed by contemporary bands either.
I'll give them a try on the regular,but rarely get through a full song.
C'mon kids,show me some integrity and creativity and I will throw hard-earned money at you.
I want your color vinyl limited 7" and a few stickers and I know enough to forgive you for over-reaching on your second album...I'm a fan foremost,not a critic.

The samples they employ are strangely cinematic and that drumbeat is super slammin'.
I like that on third listen I can't quite grasp the lyrics but I still know that they're real.

Plus as an American of Irish decent I tend to put many things from the mother sod on some sentimental pedestal enshrouded with the mystic mist of faierie inspiration and this checks that box as well.
Also, it's danceable. Will be hearing more from these lads.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@dubkebab They have been around for a few years, touring on the small indie scene in Ireland and the UK. They've recently made a breakthrough though and are getting a bigger following, which they deserve. I hope they get an American following too.

Its good that they've survived the early period and not got dropped after their first album (like most bands these days.) REM only became a big band after ten years.

dubkebab · 56-60, M

@Burnley123 The music biz is still an antiquated corrupt money mill,it's pretty disgusting what can get hyped versus ignored. I remember REM before they blew up as I was in college radio,where they had a solid niche. Thanks again for the tip.I too would like to see this sound embraced by my fellow Americans.
Ya never know...feckin' Kneecap toured here and were much loved apparently.

Thanks for BA-but I would prefer to donate this award to a random Afghani girl or kid roaming the favellas without a decent pair of shoes.I got plenty. ~cheers!

RubySoo · 56-60, F

I like them!
Also:
The Lottety Winners
The Ks
Sports Team.

Some great bands around!

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

Interesting.

Not bad but not really my thing.

And whenever I hear the term Indie rock I cringe slightly just because I am of the generation that that meant "pretentious Sonic Youth fan" over here.

View 2 more replies »

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow It is.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are even mentioned directly. They are the two biggest political parties in Ireland. Both are neoliberal and pretty corrupt. The band were young children during the 2007/08 financial crisis and that hit Ireland hard. Not quite as much as Greece but it was pretty bad, A lot of young people in Ireland now support Sinn Fein.

They are not ultra-political like RATM but they are left-wing guys and very pro-Palestine.

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@Burnley123 That makes sense. And I remember in the 2000s the government at the time made Ireland infamous by turning it into basically a country based on tax evasion. This was when Apple famously "relocated" to Ireland to evade taxes.

And I cannot remember the specifics exactly being nearly 20 years ago but I remember there was some sort of economic meeting along the lines of Davos, They picked some small picturesque Irish village for the meeting and wanted to use it to showcase the "Irish economic miracle" than the economy crashed and they resorted to getting artists to paint fake people over the boarded up windows in the village to try and save face.

So it is no surprise growing up in that era would have an impact.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow You got it

Richard65 · M

Televised Mind put these guys on the map a few years back.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@Richard65 Any other big and interesting indie bands you know?

I've heard of Wunderhorse.

Richard65 · M

@Burnley123 I don't know Wunderhorse, I'll check them out. Mine are a few years old. Foals, The Decemberists, Sparklehorse, The National, Perfume Genius, Andrew Bird, The Shins...

[media=https://youtu.be/OkITsv3Nk6M?si=du3Y-Q8Db7uXNWbO]

TheFragile · 46-50, M

I'll have to check them out. Thank you.

ArtieKat · M

I'll give that a listen

Jamesy · 41-45, M

As good as it gets Bernard
[media=https://youtu.be/x66jrKe30es?si=4sRuerS5AkgcRH7w]

Add a comment...