Future Islands marks 20 years with performance at Pier Six – Baltimore Magazine
This year, Future Islands celebrates its 20th anniversary as a band. Their journey began in the early 2000s when the members met at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. The lineup of Samuel T. Herring, William Cashion, Gerrit Welmers, and Mike Lowry came together and eventually made the move north to Baltimore in 2008. This upcoming milestone is marked by the release of a new compilation album titled “From a Hole in the Floor to a Fountain of Youth.” The album, available as a double LP through 4AD, showcases 20 songs that never quite made it onto previous albums.
Their journey back to North Carolina for a mini-tour of their home state has been a nostalgic one, reflecting on the early days of the band. However, they will be concluding this tour with a much-anticipated outdoor show at Pier Six Pavilion in Baltimore on May 28th, presented by Unregistered Nurse Booking. This performance will be a homecoming of sorts, bringing them back to where their roots began.
The process of selecting songs for the compilation album was a meticulous one. Future Islands curated a list of tracks that had only been released on seven inches or as Japanese bonus tracks, ensuring that the recordings were of studio quality. The band wanted to provide fans with a glimpse of their musical evolution over two decades, capturing the raw energy and creativity that fueled their early work.
With favorites like “Pinocchio,” “The Ink Well,” and “Find Love,” the band members reflected on the songs that held special meaning for them. Each track on the album tells a story of a different era in the band’s history, showcasing their growth and experimentation as musicians. The process of revisiting these songs for their upcoming tour has been both nostalgic and invigorating, allowing them to rediscover forgotten gems and breathe new life into old favorites.
Looking back on their time in Baltimore, the band recalls the DIY ethos that permeated the music scene when they first arrived. Influenced by the spirit of experimentation and freedom that characterized the city, Future Islands embraced a unique approach to their music. From recording albums in makeshift studios to pushing the boundaries of their live performances, Baltimore played a significant role in shaping the band’s creative process.
As they prepare to take the stage at Pier Six Pavilion, Future Islands remains grateful for the journey that has brought them to this moment. Twenty years of music-making is no small feat, and the band’s dedication to their craft is evident in every note they play. Their upcoming performance promises to be a celebration of all that they have accomplished, a testament to the enduring power of music and the bond that connects them as artists.