© Ethan Carey
Going in a skeptic and coming out a believer, I found myself completely floored by Fontaines D.C.'s hypnotic performance at Neumünster Abbey.
Going into Fontaines D.C.'s show at Neumünster Abbey, I’ll be honest – I wasn't expecting to be blown away. Even with two members hailing from my own hometown, I’d never fully connected with the band’s records.
The talk-sung vocals, the cold post-punk veneer – it all felt a bit distant, more cerebral than emotional. I respected their rise, but I doubted their music would translate into something that truly moved me live.
I was wrong. Massively wrong.
From the moment they hit the stage, it was like the air changed. Fontaines D.C. didn't ease the crowd in – they detonated the set with a tidal wave of noise and urgency. Their live sound was far heavier and more visceral than I'd imagined, drawing not just from post-punk influences like Joy Division but also weaving in the crushing emotional dynamics of Deftones and the scorched-earth energy of noise rock.
A major part of that weight came from their Moog synths, which weren't just decorative addition, they were vital weapons in the band's sonic arsenal. Each line of synth felt like it was slicing through the mix, with a raw industrial grind that added an eerie, dystopian texture. Rather than filling space, they carved it open, giving the music an edge that bordered on apocalyptic at times.
At the centre of it all was Grian Chatten, a frontman with enough intensity to make even the most cynical onlooker stop and stare. He didn't pander to the crowd or charm his way through the set, he owned the stage with a sort of simmering ferocity, pacing like a caged animal, clutching the mic with white knuckles, spitting lyrics like warnings. His performance was electrifying, more like a conduit for something infinitely more volatile than a traditional singer.
But make no mistake – the vocals were incredible, not just from Grian, but from the backing vocalists as well, who delivered punchy, perfectly timed support that filled out the sound beautifully. Their voices rose like chants during the peaks, adding layers of weight and intensity that elevated the whole set.
And the crowd? Unhinged in the best way. Every song was met with a wave of movement and roaring voices. It felt like being caught in the middle of something tribal – louder, more emotional, more connected than I ever expected.
The highlight of the night for me came with Romance. From the moment that track kicked in, something shifted. The song felt like a moment of clarity amid chaos: anthemic, brooding, and absolutely hypnotic. The driving rhythm, the haunting synth textures, the way Grian delivered the chorus like a revelation – it was live music at its best.
I came into Neumünster Abbey a skeptic. I left with new respect for Fontaines D.C. Heavier, darker, and infinitely more powerful than I expected, they didn’t just win me over. They made me a fan.
