Spotlight: Future Islands

Over the last eight years Baltimore’s most quixotic and emotionally involving trio have maintained an admirable level of skill and pace, never slowing down for the corners. It’s vocalist Samuel T. Herring, William Cashion (bass, guitars), and Gerrit Welmers (keyboards, programming, guitars) who find themselves responsible. Their sound is at once beguiling and irresistible. It’s one part melancholic, one part euphoric; full of animated basslines, robust drum machines and questing keyboards, all set off by Sam’s remarkably distinct, soaring vocals. Future Islands came to life after all three members had served their tenure in the overtly conceptual Art Lord & The Self-Portraits, a waggish band as comical as it was tender. With Art Lord they found themselves in a world of borrowed gear and frenzied house parties, spending endless hours booking tours in notebooks, burning CDRs in the van, xeroxing sleeves. It’s the same DIY spirit that informs Future Islands to this day. Having toured tirelessly since the band’s inception in Greenville, NC back in 2006, Future Islands have now played in excess of 800 shows, often touring with their friends, most notably Dan Deacon, Ed Schrader’s Music Beat and Talk Normal. Sam, William and Gerrit all hail from small towns so they’ve made it their aim on tour to play as many off-the-radar places as possible. It’s this dedicated groundwork that sets Future Islands apart from most, they’ve kept things traditional, converting people on the road, putting the time in, making friends first then fans. With each landmark album, they’ve been growing, loving, losing and leaving us wanting more. Their latest album, Singles, the band’s fourth full length, is a decidedly polished sounding album, it’s glossy like unapologetic pop, silken and lustrous, but check it’s pockets for the stockpile of realism. The band’s recent success was highlighted by a much buzzed-about appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, a performance which now has more than 2 million views on YouTube. Please join us for the latest installment of our Spotlight series as we welcome Future Islands to the Clive Davis Theater for an interview and performance.