The LaFontaines

The LaFontaines are a rock band from Motherwell, Scotland. Their line up consists of Kerr Okan (vocals), Jamie Keenan (drums, vocals) and Darren McCaughey (guitars, production). The band was formed in 2008 and have released three studio albums: Class, Common Problem, and Junior.

The LaFontaines
The LaFontaines in 2019 (Line up left to right: McCaughey, Okan, Keenan)
Background information
OriginMotherwell, Scotland
GenresRock, hip hop
Years active2008–present
Labels
SO Recordings
  • A Wolf at Your Door
  • LAB
  • 889 Records
Associated acts
Websitewww.thelafontaines.co.uk

History

Formation (2008–2012)

The band played their first concert at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut on 26 June 2008[1] opening for American rap duo The Cool Kids. They then went on to build a local following with shows supporting Beardyman, N-Dubz, Chiddy Bang, Mongrel and Example and Festival appearances at RockNess and Live at Loch Lomond.

In 2011, John Gerard replaced bassist Anna Smith and the band embarked on their first tour of the UK supporting Twin Atlantic. They released their first music video for "Paper Chase"[2] and were selected to perform on the T Break stage at T in the Park, making history as the first act to have the tent refuse entry due to being at capacity. A headline Scottish Tour followed this with a sold out date at Stereo in Glasgow.

The following year they continued to tour the UK supporting 3OH!3 and The Blackout and self-released their first single "Light Up the Background".

Early releases (2013–2014)

On 6 April 2013 the band hosted Club Fontaine,[3] a sold out, formal, '50s-inspired show Glasgow's Classic Grand and that summer headlined the BBC Introducing Stage at T in the Park as well as performing at Wickerman Festival and Belladrum Festival.

The single "All She Knows" was released via LAB Records on 27 October 2013[4] and saw the band head out on tour with Canterbury to promote this. The track was played on BBC Radio 1 and playlisted by BBC Radio Scotland.

April 2014 saw the band play their first shows in the United States with shows at both The Mercury Lounge and Bowery Ballroom[5] in New York. Returning from the States they headed out on tour with Bad Rabbits to promote their single "Under the Storm", which was released via LAB Records on 27 April 2014.[6] The single entered the Indie Breakers chart top 20 and is the band's most streamed song to date.

They decamped to Woking that summer to record their debut album Class with producer Matt O'Grady[7] (You Me at Six, Don Broco, Deaf Havana) and headed out on their first tour of Europe with Watsky and Anderson Paak, finishing with a sold-out homecoming headline show at Glasgow's ABC[8] with support from Vukovi and Gerry Cinnamon.

Class (2015–2016)

The band travelled to Marrakesh in early 2015 to film the music video for "King",[9] which would be the first single from their debut album Class.

Class was released on 6 June 2015 via 889 records, a label set up by the band using funding from Creative Scotland and debuted at 10 in the Scottish Album Chart and number 98[10] in the UK Albums Chart. That summer they opened the main stage at T in The Park and headed out on their own headline UK tour to support the album release as well as support tours with Doomtree and Eliza & The Bear, ending with the band's biggest headline show to date at the Glasgow Barrowlands.

The LaFontaines supported The Summer Set on tour in May 2016 which was followed by festival appearances at 2000 Trees, Belladrum and Secret Garden Party. Guitarist Iain Findlay left the band to focus on management and that November they embarked on a headline UK and Ireland tour to support their new single ‘Release The Hounds’

Common Problem (2017–2018)

Common Problem was recorded at the beginning of 2017 in Manchester with Joe Cross[11] (Courteeners, Hurts) and was released on 27 October 2017 via A Wolf at Your Door Records.

That summer the band performed at Download Festival, The Great Escape, TRNSMT, Reehaperbhan and opened the BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage at Leeds & Reading. The first single from the album, "Asleep",[12] was released on 27 August 2017 and was followed by "Common Problem", which saw the band travel to Venice to shoot the music video.[13]

Winter 2017 saw the band head out on their most successful headline tour thus far, including a sold-out show at London's Boston Music Room as well as another sold-out show at Glasgow Barrowlands, where the band were introduced on stage by Game Of Thrones actor Rory McCann.[14]

In April 2018, bassist John Gerard left the band and they continued to perform as a four piece with guitarist Neil Mulholland.

The band toured with Don Broco[15]& Yungblud throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe in April/May 2018.

On 15 June 2018 the band released "Up" via SO Recordings. The song was played[16] on Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show on 18 July 2018. The band then embarked on a headline tour of the UK, Ireland and Europe throughout September and October.[17]

The LaFontaines replaced J Hus on the main stage at TRNSMT festival on 30 June 2018 opening the 2nd day of the festival. They also appeared on the main stage at Belladrum in Scotland and at Hammer Summer & Eier Mit Speck in Germany that summer.[18][19][20][21]

On 9 December 2018, the band performed at the NH7 Weekender in Pune, India and closed out the year with a homecoming show at Motherwell Concert Hall on 23 December.[22]

Junior (2019–2020)

On 8 March 2019, the band announced the departure of guitarist/vocalist Neil Mulholland and announced that drummer Jamie Keenan would be taking on lead vocals as well as continuing drumming duties. Four days later the band released new song "All In" as their debut as a three piece while also announcing that new album Junior would be released in June 2019.[23]

Their first show as a trio was opening up for Mike Shinoda at the Roundhouse (venue) in Camden.[24] In March 2019, they supported Deaf Havana throughout the UK and Ireland.[25]

The band's third studio album Junior was released via SO Recordings on 14 June 2019 to critical acclaim. The album charted at number 33 in the UK Albums Chart, giving the band their first top 40 record. They supported the release of the album with the Junior tour across the UK.[26][27]

That summer the band performed at Y Not Festival, Liverpool Sound City, United Islands of Prague, Home Festival in Venice, Italy, supported Kaiser Chiefs in Inverness & Montrose and opened the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage at Reading and Leeds Festivals.[28][29][30]

In September & October 2019, The LaFontaines embarked on an extensive tour of the UK, Ireland & Europe (dubbed "The Top 40 Tour') in support of Junior which concluded in Paris on the 26th of October [31]

November 2019 saw the band close out the year with an appearance at the VERY TV Festival in Bangkok, Thailand.[32]

On 24 March 2020, the band began releasing a weekly podcast, titled 'The LaFontaines Podcast' where initially, each week they dissect a short story from Jamie Keenan's book The LaFontaines Solve Twelve of Life's Most Common Problems.[33]

The band released a 4 track EP consisting of re-worked acoustic versions of tracks from Junior on August 28th 2020, titled - Junior (Acoustic Tapes) [34]

On 24th November 2020, the band released news of their next gig due to take place on Friday 20th August 2021 at O2 Academy, Glasgow, Scotland.[35] Artist pre-sale tickets went on sale at 9am on the 25th November 2020 and by midday the band reported half of these had been sold.[36]

Musical style

Their style has often been related to genres such as alternative rock, hip hop, pop rock and punk by reviewers. The band are often quoted[37] in interviews saying that the band's sound "really sounds like it shouldn’t work but it does". Infusing hip hop bars in their native Glaswegian tongue with big guitar riffs and anthemic choruses. The band cite being influenced by hip hop, grime, rock and indie music, specifically calling out The Streets, Anderson Paak & Beastie Boys as having an impact on their sound.[38]

Members

Present
  • Kerr Okan – vocals (2008–present)
  • Jamie Keenan – vocals, drums (2008–present)
  • Darren McCaughey – guitar, production (2008–present)

Former
  • Anna Smith – bass guitar (2008–2011)
  • Iain Findlay – guitar (2008–2016)
  • John Gerard – vocals, bass guitar (2011–2018)
  • Neil Mulholland – vocals, guitar (2016–2019)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums
Title Details Peak chart positions
UK SCO
Class 98[39] 10[40]
Common Problem
  • Released: 27 October 2017
  • Label: A Wolf at Your Door
  • Formats: CD, vinyl, download
 — 9[41]
Junior
  • Released: 14 June 2019
  • Label: So Recordings
  • Formats: CD, vinyl, cassette, download
 33[42] 2[43]

Extended plays
Title Details
All She Knows
  • Released: October 27, 2013 [44]
Under the Storm
  • Released: April 27, 2014

Singles
Year Title Album/EP
2012 "Light Up the Background" Non-album single
2013 "All She Knows" All She Knows
2014 "Under the Storm" Under the Storm
2015 "King" Class
"Junior Dragon"
2016 "Release the Hounds" Common Problem
2017 "Asleep"
2018 "Common Problem"
"Armour"
"Up" Junior
2019 "All In"
"Alpha"

References
  1. "Band's debut". Dailyrecord.co.uk. 24 June 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  2. TheLaFontaines (28 July 2011). "The LaFontaines - "Paper Chase"". Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  3. "Live Review : The LaFontaines, Classic Grand, Glasgow (6/4/13) | Fashion and Art Underground | Gutter Magazine". Guttermagazine.com. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  4. "The LaFontaines All She Knows out now". LAB Records. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  5. "The LaFontaines announce first US shows". LAB Records. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  6. "The LaFontaines Under The Storm EP out now". LAB Records. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  7. "Matt O'Grady (@MattOGrady) | Twitter". Retrieved 16 April 2018 – via Twitter.
  8. TheLaFontaines (1 April 2015). "The LaFontaines - Pon De Fonts (Live 02 ABC)". Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  9. TheLaFontainesVEVO (26 April 2015). "The LaFontaines - King". Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  10. "LAFONTAINES | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  11. "The LaFontaines to release new album "Common Problem" on Wolf At Your Door Records". VultureHound + SteelChair Magazine - Music, Film, TV + Wrestling. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  12. TheLaFontainesVEVO (16 August 2017). "The LaFontaines - Asleep". Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  13. TheLaFontainesVEVO (28 September 2017). "The LaFontaines - Common Problem". Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  14. "The LaFontaines brought a very special guest on stage at Glasgow's Barrowlands". glasgowlive. Glasgow Live. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  15. "Rob Damiani on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  17. "The LaFontaines (@TheLaFontaines) | Twitter". Retrieved 13 October 2018 – via Twitter.
  18. "Rapper J Hus pulls out of TRNSMT festival". BBC News. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  19. John H (5 August 2018). "BELLADRUM 2018 - THE LAFONTAINES - UP". Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  20. Westfälischer Anzeiger (29 June 2018). "Glasperlenspiel beim Hammer Summer 2018". Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  21. "The LaFontaines". Eiermitspeck.de (in German). Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  22. "The LaFontaines | CultureNL". CultureNL. 4 July 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  24. "Mike Shinoda -". Roundhouse.org.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  25. "The LaFontaines (@TheLaFontaines) on Twitter". Retrieved 5 February 2019 – via Twitter.
  26. "The LaFontaines Official Online Store : Merch, Music, Downloads & Clothing". thelafontaines.tmstor.es. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  27. Dylan Tuck (10 June 2019). "The LaFontaines album review: Junior". The Skinny. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  28. Festival, Y. Not (14 July 2019). "2019 STAGE TIMES pic.twitter.com/nPEcehcfFh". @ynotfestival. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  29. "Here Are The Stage Times For Reading & Leeds 2019". Kerrang!. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  30. "The LaFontaines to support Kaiser Chiefs at Angus gig this summer". Evening Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  31. NOW, The LaFontaines TOUR ON SALE (18 September 2019). "WIN guest list to a show of your choosing! Our UK/EURO tour kicks off next week. RT & tag with someone you would like to go with and we will pick a couple of winners". Twitter.com. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  32. "VERY Festival". Facebook.com. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  33. "The LaFontaines Podcast Tweet". Twitter.com. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  34. "Junior (Acoustic Tapes) - EP by The LaFontaines". Apple Music. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  35. "https://twitter.com/thelafontaines/status/1331297348807503876". Twitter. Retrieved 25 November 2020. External link in |title= (help)
  36. "https://twitter.com/thelafontaines/status/1331570713518612482". Twitter. Retrieved 25 November 2020. External link in |title= (help)
  37. "Interview: The LaFontaines [July 2015]". Punktastic.com. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  38. "INTERVIEW: All in with the LaFontaines". Source Magazine. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  39. "LAFONTAINES | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.
  40. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.
  41. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.
  42. "Bruce Springsteen's Western Stars outshines Madonna's Madame X to take Number 1 album". Officialcharts.com.
  43. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.
  44. "Stream The New Single From The LaFontaines - News". Rock Sound Magazine. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
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