Baltimore’s finest purveyors of heart and soul synth Future Islands, finish their tour a with triumphant show in Glasgow.
Future Islands have been crafting dreamy idiosyncratic music since 2007 combining driving bass, elegiac 80s keyboard and synthesisers with Samuel T. Herrings earnest lyrics to produce powerful and stirring heartfelt music. There rise in the music industry was in thanks to a consistent discography and this unique ability to connect audiences. (I will not mention the viral performance that must be mentioned in every Future Islands article, I will not, this band are way to good to be a meme, so I will not mention it).
Finally getting to tour 2020s As Long As You Are, Future Islands arrive for their last show of a short UK and Ireland tour. Tonight, ably supported by experimental composer, Dan Deacon who receives a good reaction from an appreciative crowd for his experimental pop music.
Shortly afterwards, Future Islands are welcomed on to the stage and quickly hit their stride with the bouncing rhythm of Hit the Coast from the aforementioned As Long As You Are. Future Islands lean heavily on As Long As You Are which continued the long established Future Islands formula of heart rending lyrical emotion and driving synth and keyboards influenced by 80s new wave. Waking, from the new record is an early standout as Future Islands get reflective, the synths rise and fall in the background providing majestic melody. Samuel is dripping with sweat already as he ferociously beats his chest.
Samuel T Herring the lead singer and talisman of Future Islands, is not a difficult man to read, wearing the emotional power of his songs on in his body and in his voice. He varies between howling in anguish, smiling with cathartic joy, tearing up wistfully or screaming in delight sometimes. Always, always sweating as he bounds across the stage, contorting his body to the music, his legs kick higher than thought possible in tight jeans. His unashamedly expressive dancing brings theatrics to the proceedings and highlight the energy that the frontmen gives to live performances. Samuel is an artist who gives his all to his audience and tonight the crowd respond with fervent adoration.
As the show continues with barely a breath between charming new wave synth, new song King of Sweden highlights Future Islands have a formula that they rarely veer. King of Sweden is all gurgling synths and bright but heart wrenching melodies it’s driving chorus and lyrical devotion is the perfect soundtrack for more outlandish dancing from Samuel and the crowd lap it up like proverbial seals. Tellingly, the biggest reaction is not for the ubiquitous Seasons (Waiting on You), though that does get a huge roar from the crowd but the main set closer Tin Man. From the 2nd album In Evening Air gets a raucous reception. In Evening Air gets even more of an airing in the encore as Inch of Dust and Vireo’s Eye prove to be highlights with dramatic shifts from atmospheric felt by the audience particularly the former.
Though the formula for Future Islands is unchanging it strikes a tremendous chord, I don’t see them changing any time soon and they certainly shouldn’t as long as they can keep delivering heartfelt, engaging, life affirming live shows such as this.
Words; Ben Lamont @badphotosfromgoodgigs
Picture: Tom Adam (Stock Image)