Fontaines D.C. at the Phoenix Concert Theatre

Photos by Matt Forsythe.

Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, Fontaines D.C. are among the latest wave of hyped guitar bands with the potential to save rock music.  Their debut album, Dogrel, is poised to invade many best-of lists at the end of the year.

Last night they made their debut in Toronto at a sold out Phoenix Concert Theatre.  Originally the show was booked for the Horseshoe Tavern but was upgraded due to swift demand.

Things got off to a shaky start for the first couple of songs.  “Chequeless Reckless” and “Sha Sha Sha” just couldn’t find their legs sound wise and possibly even with the band themselves.  But it was Friday night and the band soldiered on as did the crowd drinking and warming up themselves.

As thunder and lightning lashed the outdoors, Fontaines D.C. finally built up to their own version of thunder at least when everything seemed to be firing up nicely, unleashing ferocious versions of “Too Real” and “Boys in the Better Land”.

The band tore through virtually the entire album, only leaving one track out, but playing one track not found on Dogrel; “Televised Mind” which began getting live airings around the time that Dogrel hit the shelves.  

The five-piece brought their 45 minute set to a close with “Dublin City Sky”.  I couldn’t help but think what a stormer of a gig this would have been at the Horseshoe, the original venue booked.  Fontaines D.C. were just too new to work such a big room and seemed to be a bit overwhelmed, especially at the beginning.  But they do have enormous potential that they can realize with more miles on the road.