Future Islands’ extended roller coaster ride rolls into Columbia

After eight years of flying under the radar, synthpop band Future Islands broke through with one mesmerizing performance on “The Late Show with David Letterman.”

Audiences were transfixed by vocalist Samuel Herring’s peculiar, theatrical dance moves and powerful voice, which alternates between a smooth, velvety baritone and a guttural growl. One year and nearly 4 million YouTube views of hit single “Seasons (Waiting on You)” later, the crowds have grown and the touring has been nearly non-stop for the Baltimore-based band, who will stop at the Music Farm on Monday, April 13.

“We’re on a wild ride. It’s a lot of fun and a lot of work,” said Gerrit Welmers, the band’s keyboardist and programmer. “We’re still on the roller coaster.”

Future Islands’ breakthrough performance wasn’t an anomaly, according to Welmers. Herring is a passionate performer, dancing all over the stage with his signature side-to-side crouched shuffle and commanding vocals.

“Nothing has really changed since the beginning. One thing that has changed is that we have better lights and a better backdrop,” Welmers said.

The band had three full-length albums and almost a decade of touring under its belt before hitting critical and commercial success with 2014’s “Singles.” The album’s leadoff single “Seasons (Waiting on You),” was named the best song of 2014 by indie music tastemakers Pitchfork, the Pazz & Jop critics’ poll and Consequence of Sound. The Letterman performance opened up the band’s fan base, formerly consisting of a core set of long-term fans, to a larger, more diverse group, Welmers said.

“It’s definitely grown and also changed,” Welmers said. “The age gap has widened. There’s definitely an older audience coming to our shows and a younger audience coming to our shows.”

The band recently played the South by Southwest Interactive Festival, opening for the Flaming Lips, and performed six shows in Europe before beginning a swing through the Southeast, which they haven’t played for a while, Welmers said.

“Which is funny, because that’s where we toured almost exclusively for a while,” he said. Future Islands first formed in 2006 when Welmers, Herring and bassist William Cashion were studying art at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C.

While, like most bands, Future Islands sought early success, Welmers said he now is glad his band took a slower route to fame.

“We moved forward a little slowly and gained actual fans who love the music and not just what they read on Pitchfork,” Welmers said. “We were prepared to handle all the touring we’re doing now.”

Amanda Coyne

This story was originally published April 8, 2015 at 11:19 AM with the headline "Future Islands’ extended roller coaster ride rolls into Columbia."