Fontaines D.C. at Nottingham's Rock City review

Fontaines D.C. at Nottingham's Rock City review - the Dublin 'saviours of rock and roll'

They're wonderfully introverted and incredibly lairy - and this compelling juxtaposition in itself is part of the reason why Dublin's Fontaines D.C. are seen as one of the most exciting live acts around right now. Between songs frontman Grian Chatten barely says anything - but the social commentary through his monotonous, and somewhat magnetic, drawl packs a powerful message.

In front of a sold-out Rock City on Tuesday evening (November 22), the post-punk five-piece are touring their third album Skinty Fia, which explores a number of themes - including Irish people adjusting to life abroad; the band now live in London. They rattle through the 20-song set like a steam train as Chatten, clad in a baggy shirt, delivers some life advice for himself in second track A Hero's Death, singing chorus "life ain't always easy..."

There's a look of Ian Brown about Chatten - not least because of his use of the tambourine as he paces the stage with purpose. Whilst lines early on in Skinty Fia - "but we can talk about it later, you can read it in the paper" - have been likened to something off an Oasis song. Other tracks have been compared to Pogues songs.

The catchy Sha Sha Sha is an early highlight from 2019 Mercury-nominated debut record Dogrel. And Chatten slams down the mic stand at the end of the honest and reflective I Don't Belong. The atmosphere is very good, and rapturous at times, and the crowd demographic mixed - young lads with mullet haircuts crowd surf, the odd football chant erupts between songs (You Reds!), mums and dads are towards the back and there are quite a few women in their late teens and early 20s wearing Fontaines T-shirts.

There's a widespread appeal - and at one point a bra is thrown and seemingly lands on Chatten's mic stand. He doesn't say anything, nor batter an eyelid, and cracks on.

Roy's Tune and Jackie Down the Line are performed beautifully by the band who have been hailed by some commentators as the 'saviours of rock and roll’, plying their trade against the mainstream. In the latter number, Chatten sings about someone who got away with murder.

Since they burst onto the scene to critical acclaim, the Dubliners have headlined festivals and travelled the world. Their ceiling is high and they're supporting Arctic Monkeys on the North American leg of the Sheffield band's world tour next year.

The Irish tricolour of green, white and orange lights up the stage and beckons the band back on for the encore. They finish with Big, Boys in the Better Land and I Love You. Boys in the Better Land, their big hitter, is energetic and by no surprise a huge fan favourite which really gets the mosh pit going. But it's the final track which is utterly brilliant off the latest album - an authentic and personal love-and-hate ode to Ireland.

There's something endearing, raw and edgy about the band. They have great potential - where they go from here is up to them.