Future Islands Keeps It Moving at The Fillmore
...with Open Mike Eagle; May 1, 2025
Shuffling. Spinning. Jumping. Air punching. Twisting. Crouching. Kicking.
Future Islands singer Samuel T. Herring rarely stops moving from the opening notes to the closing salvo of a show. In Charlotte on Thursday night at The Fillmore, Herring was a bundle of energy per usual. Part of it might have been due to the Queen City show being the opener for their spring tour, but it’s more likely that’s just who he is.
Herring noted that he’s been performing in Charlotte for more than two decades. The Baltimore-based Future Islands was once a frequenter of the world-famous Milestone Club in west Charlotte, but it was a performance on the Late Show with David Letterman in 2014 that catapulted the band into stardom.
The synth-pop band has become a live music staple at festivals and a great find for anyone who just wants to have a good time. Fans rarely stop moving during a show — though they’re not dancing nearly as much as Herring is. His black T-shirt on this night was thoroughly soaked within the first few songs as sweat could also be seen dripping down his face.
As the quartet bounced from song to song — “King of Sweden,” “Light House” and “Seasons (Waiting on You)” among them — the energy was relentless. Yeah, if you haven’t seen Future Islands live before, you’ll want to fix that ASAP.
Luckily for you, they’ll swing back through North Carolina later this month before their People Who Aren’t There Anymore tour heads overseas for the summer. Catch them at Burial Beer Co.’s Forestry Camp in Asheville on May 23.
Be sure to check out Queen City Nerve’s Soundwave, Charlotte’s most comprehensive live music listing, so you don’t miss out on any shows or concerts coming up. And hell, if you’re looking for something else to do, you can check out our events page as well, which runs the gamut of things to do in Charlotte. You don’t ever have to be bored again. You can check out more of Jeff’s pics and live reviews here.
