I guess I get the teen-themed music video if that’s the audience that Fontaines D.C. are now cultivating. Personally, it’s not my thing but whatever, right? I need to hear the whole album to see how “Here’s The Thing” fits.
Fontaines D.C. have unveiled “Here’s The Thing,” the third track to be taken from their highly anticipated fourth album Romance – out on August 23rd on XL Recordings.
“Here’s The Thing” was written days before the band entered the studio to record the album. It leads with the mechanical, mutant guitar sounds of Placebo and the electronic expressiveness of Shygirl and Eartheater. “It’s an anxious tune that twists and turns in what it wants, back and forth between pain and numbness,” Grian says. It’s an urgent song, searching for autonomy in emotional extremes.
The accompanying cinematic video – directed by lauded filmmaker Luna Carmoon – perfectly encapsulates the song’s intense feelings of paranoia. Channeling the essence of teen-horror films like The Lost Boys and Phenomena, “Here’s The Thing” video immerses us in a traditional Irish Dancing competition, where chaos triumphs, unraveling through Carmoon’s uniquely haunting lens.
With each released track from Romance the acclaimed Irish band, and 2023’s BRIT Award winners for Best International Group, showcase their impressive range.
Whereas first single – and current radio hit – “Starbuster” is tightly wound and bursting with frenetic energy, its follow up, “Favourite,” oozes calm warmth and romance. “Here’s The Thing” takes another turn, building on anxious undertones by way of mechanical sounds and, lyrically, a brief but caustic argument between vocalist Grian Chatten and guitarist Carlos O’Connell.
Romance is Fontaines D.C.s most ambitious, expansive, and impressively wide-ranging album yet. The band – Grian Chatten (vocals), Carlos O’Connell (guitar), Conor Curley (guitar), Conor Deegan (bass), and Tom Coll (drums) – worked with producer James Ford (Arctic Monkeys, Gorillaz, Blur) for the first time.The sonic evolution of the band, who bared their teeth in early records with antagonistic punk sensibilities, is an ascent into grungier breaks, dystopian electronica, hip-hop percussion, and dreamy Slowdive-esque textures.
Prior to release on August 23rd, fans have a chance to hear the album in full as part of their global listening parties at record stores around the world. The U.S listening parties will take place on August 17th at participating stores across the country. Find a listening party HERE.
Next month, Fontaines D.C wind their global tour into North American with shows across the country, including the Hollywood Palladium and two nights at Brooklyn’s Paramount Theater.
FONTAINES D.C. LIVE 2024
Aug 9 – Haldern, DE – Haldern Pop
Aug 11 – Budapest, HU – Sziget Festival
Aug 12 – Ljubljana, SL – Kino Siska (SOLD OUT)
Aug 13 – Vienna, AT – Vienna Arena
Aug 15 – Charleville Mezières, FR – Cabaret Vert Festival
Aug 16 – Hasselt, BE – Pukkelpop
Aug 17 – Parades, PT – Parades De Coura
Aug 20 – Istanbul, TU – Zorlu
Aug 24 – Reading, UK – Reading Festival
Aug 25 – Leeds, UK – Leeds Festival
Sep 20 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo
Sep 21 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
Sep 22 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom (SOLD OUT)
Sep 24 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
Sep 26 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
Sep 27 – San Diego, CA – SOMA
Sep 28 – Pomona, CA – Fox Theater
Sep 30 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
Oct 2 – Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre (SOLD OUT)
Oct 4 – Lawrence, KS – The Granada
Oct 5 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown
Oct 6 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee
Oct 8 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore
Oct 9 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed
Oct 11 – Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Oct 12 – Montreal, QC – MTELUS
Oct 13 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner
Oct 15 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount (SOLD OUT)
Oct 16 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
Oct 18 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club (SOLD OUT)
Oct 19 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
Oct 20 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore
Nov 1 – Lisbon, PT – Sagres Campo Pequeno
Nov 2 – Madrid, ES – WiZink Center
Nov 4 – Milan, IT – Alcatraz
Nov 5 – Zurich, CH – X-TRA
Nov 7 – Munich, DE – Zenith
Nov 8 – Berlin, DE – Uber Eats Music Hall
Nov 9 – Copenhagen, DK – K.B. Hallen
Nov 11 – Hamburg, DE – Sporthalle
Nov 12 – Cologne, DE – E-Werk
Nov 13 – Paris, FR – Zénith Paris-La Villette
Nov 15 – Brussels, BE – Forest National
Nov 16 – Amsterdam, NL – AFAS (SOLD OUT)
Nov 17 – Amsterdam, NL – AFAS
Nov 20 – Wolverhampton, UK – The Halls (SOLD OUT)
Nov 22 – London, UK – Alexandra Palace (SOLD OUT)
Nov 23 – London, UK – Alexandra Palace (SOLD OUT)
Nov 24 – Cardiff, UK – Utilita Arena
Nov 26 – Plymouth, UK – Pavilions
Nov 27 – Nottingham, UK – Motorpoint Arena
Nov 29 – Manchester, UK – Aviva Studios (SOLD OUT)
Nov 30– Manchester, UK – Aviva Studios (SOLD OUT)
Dec 1 – Manchester, UK – Aviva Studios (SOLD OUT)
Dec 3 – Leeds, UK – First Direct Arena
Dec 4 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
Dec 6 – Dublin, IE – 3Arena (SOLD OUT)
Dec 7 – Dublin, IE – 3Arena
July 5, 2025 – Finsbury Park, London (NEW DATE – ON SALE Aug 9 via Ticketmaster)
