https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ee4bfu_t3c

While most people might only have discovered Future Islands after seeing lead singer Sam Herring's now .gif-immortalized dance moves on their David Letterman performance of “Seasons (Waiting On You)” earlier this month, it may come as a surprise that they've been putting out incredible material at a constant rate for the past seven to eight years.

Future Islands is a Maryland-based synth-pop trio with a discography that includes five full-length albums and over ten splits, singles, and EPs on labels like Thrill Jockey, Famous Class, and now 4AD with their most recent release, Singles.

It's pretty easy to see how much effort these guys put into this band just based on the sheer amount of material they've released, but that effort doesn't even match the emotion and energy they put into their live shows. Herring truly pours his soul into every note he belts and while it may come off as gimmicky on stage, it's hard not to take him seriously. Think Morrissey with more footwork and growling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twh5HfW9T20

Opening for Future Islands is the maniacal noise-rock duo, Ed Schrader's Music Beat. These guys had been Baltimore's best kept secret until their appearance on the Sub Pop 1000 compilation last year, but even a year before that they put out a fantastic single and full-length on Rhode Island's premier noise/experimental label, Load Records.

Months after the release of their debut album, Jazz Mind, Ed Schrader's Music Beat teamed up with Future Islands to put out a stellar split 7” on Famous Class as a part of the ongoing Less Artists More Condos (LAMC) series. I'm not sure if this split had any influence on Future Islands' decision to take Ed Schrader out on the road, but nonetheless this package is surely not to be missed.

You can catch Future Islands and Ed Schrader's Music Beat live in Madison at the High Noon Saloon on Thursday, March 27th at 8:30 p.m.

-Zack Stafford