The biggest moment of applause came about 30 seconds in to Future Islands biggest hit, their breakthrough hit, right when Sam T Herring was going to sing the first word of the song Seasons and, with expert timing, Gerrit Welmers keyboards completely crapped out. The song completely fell apart and Herring, who had been cracking jokes with the crowd all night, laughed, remarking that theyre still figuring things out after taking almost a year off to make the forthcoming The FarField. They quickly got things working again with the crowd picking back up, too, but Herring had had them in his pocket since walking out on stage.

Future Islands have many very catchy songs, but the bands appeal lives or dies with Herring, who is part Pentecostal preacher, part lounge singer, part Tony Monero, part motivational preacher, and pugilist shadowboxing a title fight. When hes not busting the moves that made Letterman a fan, hes acting out lyrics, frequently picking imaginary cherries from the vine, eating and then admiring the stems. He is 100% in the moment and sometimes, like after playing new song Cave, seemed entirely, emotionally drained. He ripped his pants and his shirt last night. You cannot take your eyes off him.

This surprise Valentines Day gift, complete with free Future Islands grade-school style valentines at the merch table, was one of a few small shows the Baltimore band have been playing to get their sea legs back before the release of The FarField. We got about half that, including first single Ran, and all of which were very much in the mold of 2014s Singles. Solely judging by Sams into it level, Day Glow Fire seems a likely future (islands) single. There were plenty of familiar favorites, too, and main set-ender Spirit seemed to get the biggest crowd reaction. They returned for a three-song encore. Fun show and nice to see them somewhere small, where Sam noted theyve played a few record release shows, unlike their next scheduled NYC date. Bowery Ballroom setlist, and video of them playing Ran, is below.

Opening the night were Future Islands North Carolina buddies Zack Mexico, who came up just for this show and make a new wave-y brand of surf rock with a two-drummer, three-guitar attack. (They seemed like a band who mightve toured with Oingo Boingo in 1982.) What they lacked in Big Hooks they made up for with super tight playing and exuberance. They were a lot of fun. Pictures from their set, and more of Future Islands, in the gallery above.

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SETLIST: Future Islands @ Bowery Ballroom 2/14/2017 Through the Roses Aladdin * Ran * Long Flight Balance Cave * Time on Her Side * Candles * Beauty of the Road * Day Glow Fire * A Dream of You and Me Seasons (Waiting on You) Walking Through That Door Tin Man Spirit

Encore: Light House Vireos Eye Inch of Dust

*new song

photos by Amanda Hatfield

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Future Islands played Valentine's Day @ Bowery Ballroom w/ Zack ... - Brooklyn Vegan (blog)