Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C. brought their vivid intensity to a sold-out Mission Ballroom in Denver last week. The group includes Grian Chatten (vocals), Conor Curley (guitar), Conor Deegan III (bass), Tom Coll (drums), and Carlos O’Connell (guitar). They’re currently touring North America once again, this time sharing their latest album Romance with U.S. audiences.

Lead vocalist Grian Chatten took the stage in a simple grey t-shirt embroidered with the words “f*** you very much,” while Carlos O’Connell wore a beaded necklace and a bold, colorful jacket. On paper, their individual aesthetics might seem like they’d clash, but in person, it all made sense. Their looks, much like their music, managed to blend contradiction into cohesion.

Fontaines D.C. carry an aura that’s both enigmatic and intense. Their songs are drenched in raw, unfiltered emotion: moody, confrontational, and unapologetically honest. Watching them live, I found myself both captivated and slightly unnerved by their presence — not in a bad way, but in that electric, goosebumps-on-your-arms kind of way that only truly commanding performers can deliver. Their stage presence demanded attention. When Chatten raised his arms and called on the crowd to let loose, it felt less like a request and more like a spark igniting a fire; and everyone followed without hesitation, swept up in the chaos.

Pulling from all four of their albums, the band delivered a dynamic setlist that showcased a little bit of everything, including one of their newest songs “It’s Amazing To Be Young” from the deluxe version of their latest album, Romance. With lyrics like:

“Sometimes I wake up and it’s dark
Perform the ritual that puts me in the part
But I sang them every word I had
Seems like they’re never gonna understand
That the cost
Brings you down
But it’s amazing
To be young”

The song captures the bittersweet, cinematic feeling of youth, the kind that makes you feel like you’re living inside a movie. And I feel like so many of their songs carry that same vivid, storytelling quality. Listening to “Starbuster” feels like standing at the beginning of a conflict arc. “In The Modern World” sounds like the soundtrack to a story’s climactic turning point. And “Favourite” plays like a wistful, sentimental, love-driven montage. Each track feels like a scene waiting to unfold; rich with emotion yet open enough for listeners to use as the soundtrack to their own lives. Perhaps I daydream too much. Maybe I romanticize things more than I should. But why else is the music here, if not to soundtrack the lives we imagine for ourselves? 

I find it really cool when bands draw inspiration from their favorites of the past and mold it into something uniquely their own. It creates a sound that’s not only fresh but also pays homage to what came before. When it’s done well, the result is truly phenomenal. Because of that, their audience spans across generations. At the show, there were middle-aged couples, younger punk adults, and everyone in between, all coming together to experience the music. The venue was packed, the show sold out, and the energy was electric. 

And all in all, that’s one of the things I love most about live music, its ability to connect people from all over. Different ages, different countries, different languages and cultures, all coming together to celebrate a shared love for good music and a good time. It’s really just the music, the energy, and the feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself. 

You can tell that every part of their presence is an ode to what they love and believe in. Even their name carries meaning — “Fontaines” is taken from The Godfather character Johnny Fontane, while “D.C.” stands for Dublin City. Chatten’s microphone had a sticker of the Irish flag on one side and the Palestinian flag on the other. It’s a small but powerful reminder that this is a band unapologetically rooted in who they are; proud of their Irish identity and unafraid to stand in solidarity with causes they care about. Their song “I Love You” reads like a conflicted love letter to Ireland — full of passion, pride, and pain.

That same unapologetic sense of conviction was felt throughout the entire show. A large Palestinian flag was draped across the stage from beginning to end, setting the tone before a single note was played. And during the encore, Chatten took a moment to offer a brief but impactful “Free Palestine.” They closed the night with a four-song encore, ending the set on a high with their explosive track “Starbuster.”

It’s rare to see a band so true to themselves and authentically raw in both sound and presence. It’s no shocker that Fontaines D.C. has come so far in just the past few years; their rise feels not only well-earned, but inevitable. They make music that moves people, that sparks thought, that lingers long after the last note rings out. And in a world where so much feels fleeting, that kind of honesty is something worth holding onto. If you have the opportunity to catch Fontaines D.C. on their tour, I couldn’t recommend it enough. Their live show is an experience that leaves a lasting impression, maybe one that makes you feel like you’re in a movie.