As punters walked into Melbourne's open air Palace Foreshore, the sea breeze and a sweltering summer afternoon made it the perfect mix for Irish post-punk legends Fontaines D.C..
Under bright blues skies, Naarm/ Melbourne's own ENOLA opened the stage for an explosive night (8 March). The music – a gut punch with attitude – oozed anger, ENOLA the perfect Australian addition to the European line-up.Although people were still flooding through the gates with ENOLA onstage, the people who saw this homegrown opening act were given a treat. The grit of their lyrics were stuck to the back of my mind and before I knew it, they had left without a trace.
ENOLA - image © Danielle Annetts
ENOLA set the tone for the evening, before London-based Shame crashed the stage. Shame is everything but shameless. They are cheeky, they are full of energy, and anyone can see they really command the stage and their audiences.
The whole time I felt like I was getting whiplash from dancing, while trying to keep up with their bassist Josh Finerty doing some flipping action and running the length of the stage. Meanwhile, lead singer Charlie Steen took control and got right into the crowd.
Crowd surfing and being propped up by members of the audience at different parts of their set made them demand the attention of the audience. The set was fully charged.
shame - image © Danielle Annetts
Anticipation rose and the crowd started to push towards the barrier to get as close to Fontaines D.C. as they could. Legs were shuffling, people were talking and I somehow found myself five or so rows from the barrier. This was a show I was willing to come out of mosh retirement for, as I think many others were as the audience were filled with people ranging from 18 into their 50s.
Opening the set, a green wash set over the audience as the iconic 'Romance' guitar riff started before a roar from the audience. The perfect mixture of gentle opening and blinding lights, lead singer Grian Chatten walked onstage, a silhouetted figure. "Maybe romance is a place for me, and you," and he was right.
Fontaines D.C. - image © Danielle Annetts
At that moment, everyone was in love with what was going on, onstage. Playing through their highly regarded album 'Romance', and earlier releases 'Skinty Fia' and 'Dogrel', Chatten shared very few words with the crowd – it wasn't necessary either. Everyone heard what he needed to say through each track.
Steam rose through the air from bodies packed together dancing and chanting to the words of their favourites: 'Jackie Down The Line', 'Sundowner', 'Bug' and 'Boys In The Better Land', as well as their newest release 'It's Amazing To Be Young'.
Sounding exactly like their records, the band's performance did not waver. Each track was seamless and the production gorgeous with washes of greens, reds, blues and purples that managed to echo the weight in the songs and only amplify the experience.
Fontaines D.C. - image © Danielle Annetts
Finishing with 'Favourite', the band walked off stage and was met with many chants from the crowd pleading for more. It felt like a lifetime since they had left the stage, everyone waiting patiently, wanting the show to go on; and it did.
Joining us for four more tracks – 'In The Modern World', 'Desire', 'I Love You' and the grand finale of 'Starburster' – Palace Foreshore was alive. Post punk is alive and very well, due to bands like Fontaines D.C.. You can feel the blood, sweat and soul in each word handed to you on a platter. It only makes you want more.
- written by Gabby Zgrajewski
More photos from the concert.
