Future Islands on MBE

Jason Bentley is a huge fan of Future Islands’ album “In Evening Air” and called it a “compelling work of art” when he introduced the band for their Morning Becomes Eclectic debut. Goth-influenced synth pop is not the easiest music to channel at 11am in a well-lit studio but the trio impressively made it happen, and even treated us to a track they don’t play live very often, “As I Fall” — dedicating it to Glenn Danzig.

Heavy metal was definitely an influence on singer Samuel Herring, who told Jason he was a big Slayer fan. But synth-pop is definitely the most pervasive influence. He told the LA Times that synth was their “punk rock” and even channeled some Ian Curtis-style dance moves towards the end of the set. Fittingly, Herring tells us the album’s lyrics were inspired by “personal strife” and lost love.

The Baltimore-based band plays at The Smell on Saturday night if you want to catch a club show and check them out in the archives here.

RR