2014 was the year of Future Islands, so it felt right that they celebrated their massive year with a pair of sold out shows at Terminal 5, which were their largest (non-festival) shows of their career. Although there was no way for it to match the intimacy of their intimate showing at Death By Audio last November, their performance at the large Terminal 5 proved that they are more than deserving of their long overdue success.
Baltimore trio Wing Dam kicked things off. This served as my introduction to the group, who chugged through a digestible set of 90s-influenced garage rock tunes with plenty of fuzz to go around. Their new record Shifter Bliss can be heard on bandcamp.
Operators, who have been opening for Future Islands for almost all of their tour, were up next. They’re now a 4-piece with Dustin Hawthorne (formerly of Hot Hot Heat) joining Dan Boeckner, Devojka, and Sam Brown. They sounded even tighter than they did last fall when they opened for Spoon. Hawthorne’s presence was really felt this time, giving their frantic electro-rock a tighter sound then ever before. I can’t wait until they release their debut album, something tells me it’s going to be all I listen to once it comes out.
With this show, I’ve seen Future Islands half a dozen times since March. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a band that much in one year, and amazingly, I haven’t even considered the notion of being tired of them. That’s because each time they step on stage, they take the energy from that venue and it’s audience, and feed of it, bringing you along for the ride, forgetting everything about life except what you’re currently witnessing.
At first it was odd to see them playing the huge Terminal 5, but the prolific frontman Samuel Herring makes it seem that much smaller through his passionate moves that connected with fans in the front row just as much as the folks hunkered up on the third floor. Every time he offered his signature dance styling there was an audible cheer from the female portion of the crowd, making it clear that Mr. Herring has become somewhat of an icon. The dichotomy of the flashy Herring to the calmer demeanor of the rest of the band doesn’t feel odd, as Herring provides the audio and visual sprit of the group, while William Cashion, Gerrit Welmers, and Michael Lowry provide the steady backbone. They hold down the fort so Sam can break it down.
In the last year I saw Future Islands play an assortment of different places with different capacities and atmospheres. But each time they came out and delivered a captivating performance that won me over time and time again. They’re one of the best live acts out there at the moment, and it’s great that everyone is starting to recognize this. You could say that they’re at their prime, but they’ve always been there.
I look forward to seeing them again in few short months when they return to New York to play Governors Ball.
Future Islands Setlist:
1. Back in the Tall Grass
2. Sun in the Morning
3. A Dream of You and Me
4. Walking Through That Door
5. Balance
6. Before the Bridge
7. Muligan
8. Doves
9. A Song for Our Grandfathers
10. Light House
11. Seasons (Waiting on You)
12. Tin Man
13. Long Flight
14. One Day
15. Spirit
Encore:
16. Inch of Dust
17. Vireo’s Eye
Wing Dam:
Operators:
Future Islands:
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