Future Islands, Shepherd's Bush Empire, London review • DIY Magazine

Future Islands’ route to Shepherds Bush tonight hasn’t been an overnight surge; far from it. Forming in 2006, Samuel T. Herring and co. have already released several albums to quiet praise. The Baltimore band’s moment in the spotlight only really arrived this year after a game-changing Letterman performance of ‘Seasons (Waiting On You)’. It’s no extravagant stretch to refer to it as a defining moment of 2014. Since their notorious television debut, Future Islands have become infamous as a band who need to be seen to be believed.

As dynamic as Future Islands sound on record, live they morph into an altogether different beast. Much of this comes down to their frontman’s absolutely crackers persona. If Samuel T. Herring were a sim, he wouldn’t need to practice his charisma skills in front of a mirror for even a second. If Samuel T. Herring somehow wound up starring in the next instalment of the Step Up film franchise, he wouldn’t need training up beforehand in the slightest; such is his unique grasp of dance. Long-time Islands enthusiast Peter Crouch is quite right to commend Samuel T. on his moves, because they’re bizarrely captivating. A tirade of euphoric hand clasping, chest-thumping, guttural roars, slightly uncomfortable pelvic thrusting, and even mime routine, it’s safe to say he’s one of a kind.

“I was trying to decide whether to be reverent because this is such a beautiful place,” Samuel T. Herring tells the audience, “or whether to just be like, ‘what the fuck.’” At this point Future Islands haven’t even played a single musical note. “It’s been a crazy year,” he adds, before cracking on at his own pace. He might appear spontaneous and slightly unhinged, veering between intense lunging and faux-sincere chest thumping, but his awareness of the room is fascinating. Whether he’s yelling appreciatively at an excitable man way back on the level one balcony, or cheerfully ushering off the photographers after three songs – “I love you guys..but. I hope you got some good pictures,” – Samuel T. is meticulously in control.

The melodrama only explodes outwards with the likes of ‘Balance’ and ‘Light House’. Future Islands’ ‘thing’ is monumentally ambitious new wave synth-pop that occupies a strange middle ground that never even existed until they came along; a weird new universe hiding in the middle of Ultravox, Tears For Fears, Bruce Springsteen, and General Public.

Tonight’s headline set at Shepherds Bush marks another milestone in the Baltimore band’s career. With their days of tiny arts venues well behind them, Future Islands’ next big moment will be a packed two night stint at London’s Roundhouse next March. Witnessing Future Islands tonight proves nothing except that this untouchable band have earned every last drop of acclaim.