Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C. is having to cancel its shows owing to frontman Grian Chatten’s vocal cord injury. On September 22, 2024, the band announced via X that two shows scheduled at Portland’s Roseland Theater and Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom had to be canceled for the same reason.
The statement read:
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“Despite the rest and medication, I can now not even speak without pain. It breaks my heart to have to cancel the show tonight in Portland, and tomorrow in Vancouver, two shows I was really looking forward to.”
Another statement released by Chatten on the band’s official X page indicated that it was not feasible to make the shows happen, expressing his deep appreciation to those who purchased tickets and offering his sincere apologies for being unable to perform.
Fontaines D.C. was set to begin their North American tour on September 20, 2024, in Seattle but canceled the opening show after Chatten disclosed that he had contracted a flu-like illness affecting his voice. Sharing the news on X, he wrote:
“Seattle. I’ve come down with some kind of flu that has affected my throat. Probably picked it up on the flight over here. Despite the rest and medication, I am still not in a position to play tonight without risking vocal injury.”
Reportedly, the US tour is scheduled to continue until October 20, 2024, in Philadelphia. The band intended to start in Seattle before visiting major cities across North America, including Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Brooklyn, and others. In November 2024, the band will kick off their 2024 headline tour in the UK and Ireland.
Fontaines D.C. released their latest album Romance in August
Fontaines D.C., who released their fourth album Romance last month, marking their debut with the new label XL Recordings, have reportedly been called "the best band out there at the moment" by Elton John.
As per an NME report from September 21, 2024, the band was determined to shift towards a different direction with the album, deliberately moving away from the rockier sound of their debut album, Dogrel.
Chatten reflected on Fontaines D.C.’s intention to surprise fans with their new direction. He described the feeling of being too easily understood creatively as overwhelming, suggesting that sometimes it is necessary to shake things off to rediscover one's identity.
Fontaines D.C. often discussed visual references and films, even considering aspects like the "weather" in a song. They aimed to connect on a level that transcended music, arrangements, or instruments, focusing instead on abstract ideas to reach their desired outcome. He believed this approach is more interesting, as it reduces the risk of sounding contrived or unoriginal.
Chatten also elaborated on Fontaines D.C.’s evolving sound and the comparisons to KoRn and cyberpunk, which align with their darker aesthetic. He noted that some of the music is intentionally exaggerated, describing the colors he perceives in it as unnatural neon and absurd.
To effectively convey this concept, he wanted to avoid wearing the same stage attire as during the Dogrel era, aiming instead to create an atmosphere that would attune the audience to the message they were trying to communicate.
Stay tuned to SoapCentral for more updates.
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