Fontaines D.C. Play a Room Inside a Cemetery

Fontaines D.C. formed in Dublin and built four records of post punk that moved steadily away from the first album's speed. Rew opens the night. The Masonic Lodge sits on the Hollywood Forever grounds and holds a fraction of the rooms this band usually fills. The lodge has no barricade between the stage and the front row, which changes the whole shape of a set like this. The billing runs as one night rather than a residency.

You enter the cemetery gates on Santa Monica Boulevard and walk in past the lawns and mausoleums to reach the lodge. Staff check tickets at the building rather than at the gate. Inside, a wood panelled hall with a low stage holds a standing crowd. The walk from the gate takes several minutes in the dark, worth allowing for on a first visit. People gather outside between sets, and the grounds stay quiet even with a full room inside.

The night starts at 6 in the evening on Friday, September 25, at 5970 Santa Monica Boulevard. Arrive early, the early start catches people out and the walk in adds time. Bring a layer, evenings on the grounds cool down fast once the sun drops. Rideshare drop off works better than parking here, which the cemetery lots make clear on a busy night. It suits anyone who wants a big band in a small room. If you were hoping for a late finish, this is not that.