Friday nights are for dancing, apparently, so it’s a good thing that Future Islands are in town. Before even playing a song, frontman Samuel T Herring lets the crowd know that tonight is their first-ever show in Cardiff – despite them being a band for nearly 17 years – and that they’re here to have a good time.
Herring and co then burst into opener For Sure, where the vocalist shows off the dance moves that made the band go viral in 2014 – even throwing in a few air kicks for good measure. Herring’s moves, however, feel rightfully restrained for the band’s brand of melancholic synthpop, but judging from the growls Herring sometimes lets out, he’s almost certainly the best hardcore punk frontman we never had.
The Future Islands figurehead is as much a storyteller as he is a performer too, explaining the stories and reasonings behind nearly every song before playing them this evening. For example, Ran is “about a couple of friends of mine with big dreams”, Plastic Beach is about tearing yourself apart when looking in the mirror, and King Of Sweden is about “plans that don’t turn out right”. Herring’s passion shines through on each and every song, as his voice breaks or he spins or dances on stage just to get his emotions out.
Understandably, Seasons (Waiting On You) gets a big ol’ reaction from the crowd, being both the band’s biggest song and a tip-top, god-tier banger. Herring soaks up the love from the crowd’s extended applause before the band jump into Long Flight. Finishing the main set with Tin Man, more is obviously demanded, and the band does not hesitate to provide an encore, starting with Inch Of Dust.
Before playing Vireo’s Eye, Herring asks the crowd, “This song is about a long goodbye, why don’t you dance with us one last time?” to which the room happily obliges. Ending the show with Little Dreamer, Future Islands have provided an enjoyable gig – one worth the 17-year wait for Cardiff.
Future Islands, Great Hall, Cardiff University Students Union, Fri 11 Nov
words JOSHUA WILLIAMS photos TIM ALBAN
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