"Dublin in the rain is mine, a pregnant city with a catholic mind, starch those sheets for the birdhouse jail, all mescalined when the past is stale, pale"
So go the opening lines of Fontaines D.C.'s latest release, painting a Hunter S Thompson fever dream image of Ireland's capital city in the mind's eye. Personally, having spent many a night voyaging between some of Dublin's fine hostelries, I can vouch for the city taking on a particular charm when the rain falls (though this may be due to carrying several pints of Arthur's finest in my belly at such occasions).
At under two minutes Big is a short, punchy statement of intent; "but I'm gonna be big" yells the tune's protagonist, over a rolling bassline and pounding beat, railing against his city as only someone who loves their home can. If a flicker of recognition causes your brain to conjure up Professional Widow you wouldn't be alone, though this is a different beast than Tori Amos' tune (but I'd not say no to a mash-up).
The video, below, features a precocious boy stomping around the stalls of Moore Street market, passers-by stumbling into frame as they exit shops along the cobbled street. It's a welcome remove from the usual tropes of Dublin directors fall back on; no sham-rocked stereotypes here, just a lad being himself in the city, and it fits the song well. Yes, the more I hear of Fontaines D.C. the more I like them, and that's no bad thing.
So go the opening lines of Fontaines D.C.'s latest release, painting a Hunter S Thompson fever dream image of Ireland's capital city in the mind's eye. Personally, having spent many a night voyaging between some of Dublin's fine hostelries, I can vouch for the city taking on a particular charm when the rain falls (though this may be due to carrying several pints of Arthur's finest in my belly at such occasions).
At under two minutes Big is a short, punchy statement of intent; "but I'm gonna be big" yells the tune's protagonist, over a rolling bassline and pounding beat, railing against his city as only someone who loves their home can. If a flicker of recognition causes your brain to conjure up Professional Widow you wouldn't be alone, though this is a different beast than Tori Amos' tune (but I'd not say no to a mash-up).
The video, below, features a precocious boy stomping around the stalls of Moore Street market, passers-by stumbling into frame as they exit shops along the cobbled street. It's a welcome remove from the usual tropes of Dublin directors fall back on; no sham-rocked stereotypes here, just a lad being himself in the city, and it fits the song well. Yes, the more I hear of Fontaines D.C. the more I like them, and that's no bad thing.