Jo Whiley gave over her whole show to an "evening in" with Fontaines D.C., recorded for broadcast rather than live, with Carlos and Curly from the band talking at length about new album Dopamine Chamber and sharing tracks from their orchestral Later… with Jools Holland session at Alexandra Palace.
The most striking moment came when Carlos revealed how he keeps his skateboarding life separate from the band. Asked about going to the skate park unrecognised, he said there's "a couple of guys at the park that I didn't want to tell them that I was in the band, so I told them that I worked in River Island," adding, to Jo's amusement, that he isn't even sure there is a River Island in Brighton.
Listen: Carlos on skateboarding anonymity
Much of the conversation was given over to the band's late manager Trevor, who died earlier this year and whose influence runs through the record. Carlos told Jo that "the spirit of the whole thing is probably 50% him," and that touring without him still feels "surreal," though he said finishing the album felt like "sharing him" with listeners.
Listen: Carlos remembers late manager Trevor
There was a lighter, full-circle story too: Carlos recalled how his old biology teacher Rosa once took him to see Leonard Cohen as a teenager after he mentioned the gig in class, and that he has since tracked her down because Fontaines D.C. are due to play the same Madrid venue in a few weeks.
The pair also discussed their Rosalía collaboration on the track Where's He Gone, Carlos's lost treasured keepsake after his bag was stolen, and childhood memories including a school production of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat.
More from Jo Whiley
Discuss this show and more on our forums and chatbox.
This update was produced using AI transcription. Spotted an error? Get in contact.
