Future Islands Performs "Seasons (Waiting On You)" | Letterman
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- The Baltimore band blows Dave away with their debut performance.
(From "Late Show," air date: 3/3/14)
#futureislands #music #letterman
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Welcome to the Letterman TH-cam Channel, home to all your favorite clips from Late Night and Late Show - as well as conversations with the writers, producers and performers who helped make it all happen. These highlights have been artisanally-produced, carefully-curated, and chosen completely at random by an old computer that used to pick numbers for the New York Lotto back in the 90’s.
Most videos on TH-cam have many people watching once or twice. I think this video is just 1000 of us watching it until eternity
Just popped back for my monthly viewing
@@tommytucker9000 haha, same :)
Yes all the time!
True 😂
Can confirm. Back for my fix.
Woke up at 5am randomly feeling the need to watch this after years.
Me right now
yeah me too, this guy is a performer
Yeah it’s 5:29am rn
Holy cow it’s 5:18am and that’s exactly what I just did.
LOL IM WATCHING THIS @ 5am
I still watch this like once a month.
How can one not!!
Same.
Me too
somehow it's a ..... masterpiece !!!
Me too Garrett, me too
Maybe the most authentic thing I've ever seen someone do on a stage.
Haven’t been to many shows, huh?
Right? I mean, the idiot in me wants to laugh at him but he's not being phony at all. He's WAY into it and feeling every one of those emotions. I don't care of it's not my style of music, I'll take true passion over a fake artist any day.
@@akrause2004 Oh, I had the exact same initial reaction. Then I just couldn't quit watching it, and the fact that they had so much riding on it and he just left it all out there on the field, fully aware how most people would see it but gambling that authenticity and earnestness would get through to just the right people.
And it definitely got through to Dave. Since I was a kid, I loved how he was with music. He knew when he was seeing something real.
All four members of the band express their emotions through the vocalist
Well said!
this comment killed me 😂
Like a Voltron of emotions.
😄
OMG, they’re so stoic, hilarious 😅 thanks for pointing to it!
I love that Dave gets it. 100% Rare Performance. Raises my Spirit every time.
crazy that he is actually holding back here. just saw them live all these years later and this not even his final form. Incredible performer.
Yo I think I went to the same performance
The way you said it's not even his final form maaan I just laughed hard because it is true ahahahahahahahaahahaha
Always love a DBZ reference
That's what makes is so special.
Lol omg wow you got a real treat then
something about him beating his chest so hard that the mic picks it up is what really does me in
%1000 I feel that
Cocaine is a helluva drug
The off tempo chest beating and the cannibal corpse growls.
Think Letterman picked it up too
One way you can tell it wasn't just a lip sync performance
There is a cookie monster within that man that randomly escapes from time to time.
i love that you said "a" cookie monster, implying there is an entire species of cookie monsters out there.
@@thejesseeveryone has a cookie monster inside them. This one is just stronger, angrier
Cookie monster can't sing either! Lol
@@TheBeezusjonesidk what youre talking about! His voice is just different, not beautiful. There is a difference between good and beautiful.
In a unique and phenomenal way, for sure. Will take all of it they have
Back in 2015 I met the singer, Sam, at a bar in Baltimore. We had a cigarette outside together, and I told him that the first time I had ever heard their music was when I saw this performance. I was at work, watching it in a computer lab- And I felt so moved that I was crying. He laughed so hard then said, "I CANNOT BELIEVE WE MADE YOU CRY IN A COMPUTER LAB!"
His passion makes him sexy...
sad in a way i read in an interview his voice problems come from cigs.
LOL what a smooth comeback
Roasted! 😂😂😂
@@adrianmercado4796 hahahahahhaha
One of my favorite things I've ever read about this performance is "it's like if the high school PE teacher was given a slot at the talent show and blew everyone away."
I just laughed so hard at this. Lolol
It’s like the PE Teacher took his band on American Idol and won.
It’s like the PE Teacher took his band on American Idol and won.
😊
I was thinking Henry Rollin's younger brother went to drama school.
How am I only seeing this now??? I've wasted ten years... This is brilliant.
You’re not the only one. A meme brought me here. Lol
Haha, same. A meme
He’s been waiting on you
Hahaha me too. Glad it did@@blackened300a
Me too, man! I first heard of them a week ago from a friend who happened by the rock under which I’d been living.
"I'll take all of that, that you've got!" Dave said it best. I don't know how many times I've watched this performance and it always lifts me up.
YES!
Agreed. I have come back so, so many times to watch this. My son was going to appear on a TV show to sing a song. I forced him to watch this just to show him how somebody can really lay at all out.
I miss Dave. So much better than Colbert.
The fact that he gets it just completes the experience. Every time I re-watch this, there's still this fear that he won't, you know? That he could be one of those people who could only see something to mock instead of a performance of pure heart.
True mate sends a shiver every time ..
👍
Revisiting. A friend loved this song . RIP James
Didn't ask
@@racelox How about you stop reflecting your inner flaws on other people, believe me, you don't look cool.
@@racelox someone's mom dropped them
@@undertakr Poor James. Wondered how he died.
He’s been waiting on you
I used to work at CBS and I saw every Letterman episode. This was hands down the greatest live performance not only on Letterman but that I have ever seen.
No one cares that you have garbage taste… congrats
I was there the same night. It was a little weird. Alabama Shakes was Great. The Heavy was Great.
Agreed. Knocked me off my chair. Still does.
This one was amazing. The First Aid Kit performance blew me away as well.
Janelle Monet > this > all the rest...
I love the lead singer's weird little shuffle. He's so passionate and captivating, the music literally flows through his body
Totally agreed. That shuffle is awesome in its uniqueness
He looks like the coolest dad in the world.
he's like a speed skater without any ice
Future Islands answers the question "What if New Order was fronted by On the Waterfront-era Marlon Brando?" All kidding aside, this is one of the defining musical performances in Letterman history, right up there with R.E.M.'s 1983 debut.
Yes. I always think of Brando when I watch this. It's a remarkable performance. Utterly mesmerising.
It's the hairline and the shirt doing all the Brando work. This performance is more upfront and powerful than Brando. Maybe Kirk Douglas fronting lcd sound system?
"Everytime I think of you, I coulda been a contender!"
Yeh right dude. These nerds couldn’t write something legendary and iconic like New Order. This band is terrible. This music is a$$. You’re delusional.
This is supposed to sound good melodically @2:24 ? So bad. It’s fun to laugh @, that’s for sure.
The best part of this performance is seeing David Letterman after the song and how excited he was. He knew when he saw greatness.
Not often you see Dave genuinely chuffed by a band-great stuff
LMaO Ok dud
@@rokrV? He’s right
Watch Eddie Vedder doing Better Man.
Similar reaction but ten fold.
And you’re right, he’s not that genuinely excited about everyone.
@@jasoncora1 thanks for the great recommendation
@@soumage my pleasure
The great thing about Dave…he was genuinely excited to have new and varied bands on his show. It was never calculated for ratings…he just wanted the best live music every night.
He was really at that. I gotta give you that. Its cool that people like this but I wouldn't have imagined it? Very interesting.
@@tedcantu4741 I love all of Mandy Patinkin's times on the show, had no idea he was a stage actor til I saw him belt out Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
I think he also really enjoyed promoting NYC music. He always seemed to have a soft spot for Yeah yeah yeahs.
I love Dave's reaction. I think he was caught off guard by the emotion. Epic performance.
I watch this probably once every two weeks. Such an intangible, unexplainable couple minutes of human existence. Maybe that's laying it on a bit thick, but even Dave knew something special just happened at the end.
That is what total commitment looks like
So true
this performance is the definition of "shooting your shot"
Pure emotion and talent. Unreal.
He shot and he did not miss
The final show with letterman, a picture of this performance is in the montage of best musical performances in the show. Just incredible that Dave gets this
I’m a musical normie, and even my poor taste ass can recognize this is capital A art
Who is back here watching this amazing band again?
Back again, my guy
Me.
yes
Heyo!
Always
This performance never gets old. It’s such a mood lifter!
You know Letterman genuinely loved that performance. That huge beaming smile doesn't lie.
no doubt. that was all genuine. Freaking love Dave, and I love HIS love of this performance.
Dave genuinely could not hold in that "Oh buddy, come on!"
It’s not just the fact they swung for the fences on their network TV debut, it’s the reaction from Dave afterward that makes it. He effing loved it.
That growl at the end fits right in with death metal
That’s his inner Zuul coming out!
He does that same voice on the song Fall From Grace which is on the same album as Seasons
@@markh.9822 he reminds me of Mike Patton on that track :)
If you've never heard death metal.
@@racelox whatever you say, Sally.
"I'll take all of THAT you GOT!"
Captures a moment many of us had at once, with a simple catch phrase. It marks a sentiment in *TIME* and place.
That was an all timer Letterman moment. That Dave reaction. Pure joy in what he had just watched and listened to.
We were gifted this performance 10 years ago today! Thank you Samuel T. Herring & Future Islands.☺🎶
Was it really 10 years ago today?! Wow crazy... I was watching a movie called Past Lives today there was a line in the movie "If you leave something behind, you gain something too". Made me think of this song, which brought me back to watch this video, which I haven't seen in years...
Saw this for the first time 2 days ago. I was instantly taken aback and had to dive into their catalog.
@@kilo-watt same here never heard of them before.. watched an Earth Quaker Devices doco a day or two ago and this performance was mentioned in that and then there it was just manifested on the tube..
9 years later and this still rips.
It's timeless like all great music
I can’t forget this song, this band…
10 yrs
Totes
Their entire tour sold out after this. You should have seen the venue in Vancouver. Wall to wall people, I've still never seen it as packed as that night. Truly one of the most monumental late night band performances of all time.
Saw F.I. at Dicks’s on Dicks. Yo La Tengo and Dan Deacan rounded out the bill. Special night for all concerned.
God knows why
You won't even say the venue name in Vancouver, why you being so vague lie baby
@@brockmccaw4259original air date is March of 2014. Go to Setlist fm and search Future Islands Vancouver 2014 to find out the venue. It was one month later. I arrived late to the show because I was across town seeing Dum Dum Girls at a smaller venue on the same night. Back then I always tried to do multiple shows in a night. Still can't believe how packed that other venue was for Future Islands. Sardines man. What a sight.
Never fails to impress me. You get one shot. Leave it all on the field.
So true, if only we all realised this- especially when you realise you failed to impress someone you think of every second, and the chance was gone...
I still go back to the original posting of this haha. And I just love how Letterman really enjoyed it himself, as well.
Me too!
I'm going to find the original posting now. I reckon it's better somehow!!
Have they taken down the original upload? I can't find it. Only this one
@@jonstern7511 they might’ve scraped it since the Letterman show can claim copyright and do the version they want. Shame when it happens. The comments and conversations that people have had are wiped. Sometimes it’s true connection they’ve got rid of
this performance is so top tier, the growl , the bass, the synths, the dancing, the vocals, sheeesh!! banger
Not everyone understands this performance, but those who get it, get it. I love coming back to this comment section as much as I love rewatching the video.
What a performance, what a band, what a song.
This was the first time I’d seen/heard this band, and this performance not only made me a fan but was one of the most memorable ones ever to grace the letterman stage. A cool moment in history.
Never seen them before, this was so amazing holy cow.
@@yasseford Fantastic !
gotta come back to this video every couple of years to sustain me
A performance for the ages.
I don't know why, but this guy makes me have faith in humanity.
Out of all the late night hosts, Dave honestly had the best taste in music
Yes! Dave always had great music and you could tell when he really enjoyed the performance. This is one of the great examples. I can think of a few others like Solomon Burke singing “Don’t Give Up On Me” from a giant throne and Paul of St Paul and the Broken Bones, rocking out doing Call Me. And of course, Darlene Love every Christmas.
@@smithtyg TV on the Radio on letterman is also ridiculously good.
Agreed 💯 l stayed up to watch him when he was on later
Ed Sullivan is honestly underrated. went out of his way to higlight Black musicians and groups and they were almost always bangers
He brought so many great artists into the spotlight. Always had the best musical acts, great taste!
Letterman's earnest reaction to this makes me happy cry
same ....
it's honestly one of the big things that makes me always happy when i remember to watch it again
I only discovered Future Islands literally yesterday and feel like I’ve known them my entire life
Check out Austin City Limits "Lighthouse" by Future Islands!
A knot in the throat, tears in my eyes, and quivering right now. The tamborine on the floor--I felt and feel ecerything in this song.❤
Just saw them tonight in Asbury. He has that same energy and stage presence, it’s incredible. A must-see live
saw them for the very first time at just like heaven. incredible performance
I saw them 4 times this year and the asbury show was my favorite of them - they were on fire that night
The TV debut of Future Islands on Letterman was ten years ago today! (3/3/2014--3/3/2024) Who else is watching this today on the tenth anniversary? (You have wonderful taste in music, by the way.)
I just saw them live at FEP in Bogota. Amazing how they perform live
🎉🎉
Great me birthday present!!🎉
I love Dave's reaction to this performance. You can tell he really appreciates when a band 'goes for it'--there's something very rock star about it. Just fully committing and putting every piece of your soul into your performance.
There's nothing better than when Dave really loves a band
I agree with Dave: "I'll take all of that you got!"
one of the greatest late night performances of all time
One of the most unintentionally funny ones you mean 😂 he’s ridiculous and so fake
@@tobyb1018 one of the least fake people I've ever seen!
Slow down, William. this singer dude can’t even sing without demolishing his own melody like @2:24 …What are you talking about? It makes for a great, embarrassed-for-him laugh whenever I can get my hands on a future islands live performance. They’re all a$$cheeks, the ones I’ve seen so far. Pretty excellent for a comedy of sound!
Something about it touches deep inside. This is what music is about
Dave is only this enthusiastic for the best performances.
I love Daves genuine reaction at the end!
I only just discovered Future Islands in March 2022, and I've already watched this particular performance too many times to count. The honesty and raw emotions in this rendition give me chills every time. A phenomenal display from a phenomenal band. And the dance moves are legendary. I love Dave's reaction, he knows talent when he sees it.
The great thing about Samuel is that he's like this all the time on stage. Puts everything into it. Which is why he's had a few breaks over the years from straining his voice!
What a jolt! I knew I was caught immediately.--even being 10 years late to the party.
Almost Daves age now. Unless you know where to look, finding new, raw, viwsceral musical moments like this become ever more rare. Thanks be for Mr Letterman and his bespoke tastes. His show lost edge, but he never did.
Happened to catch a 5 second clip of the band on the show and had to track it down in full. Did I see Marlon Brando channeling Chubby Checker and Joe Cocker?
Only discovered them last year on TH-cam, and then by a pure miracle saw them last night in a 1500-person venue here in Perth, Western Australia. Sam mentioned they were celebrating 17 years; well, they performed as fresh and humble as if it was year 1. They played for almost two hours and were extraordinary! The crowd noise that followed Seasons was the loudest I have ever heard in my 54 years. I see why long-time fans worship Sam; he's like a peace-loving tornado on stage. I honestly felt like I had somehow evolved after this gig. If you get a chance, go! Thanks, Gerrit, William, Sam, and Michael, for an incredible show.
I was there too and it was one of the best live performances I've ever seen. By the end of the second song he was already POURING sweat, I can't believe how much he puts into it. His face, eyes, his movements, his voice, it was incredible. He cried multiple times throughout the show too which is just amazing, I didn't know it was possible to pour so much emotion into a performance. Truly incredible, I'm so grateful I got to go. It was an intimate show too, the capacity of the entire rechabite may be 1500, but I can't imagine more than a few hundred fitting into that room.
Peace Loving Tornado is a great description of him! 👍
Nice. I had no idea they were in Perth. Missed out.
@funnybenvids8540 I just looked up the capacit, haha, I had no idea the crowd.
It’s incredible how he performs showing both beauty and the beast that hides within
I fee like he’s trying to show that he’s hiding the beast
Incredible 🎉
Very yin and Yang just like their music. He also said that he plays with gender norms on stage which I love
what a true artist and performer
After all these years. Still stunning. Mesmerising.
Possibly the best performance I've ever seen.
This dude's intensity and passion are rivaled by no one. Great song and great performance. I love how genuinely excited Dave and Paul were after the band was done.
YES
We LOVED this performance since the day it aired; it also was wonderful seeing Dave call back to it various times moving forward over the next few weeks, and even having Future Islands back near the end of the Late show’s run.
Belinda Carlisle? When?
Dave's THE BEST! Glad to hear this. He was definitely beaming like he enjoyed it. It was well earned too; Future Island really brought it!
YES
Is it just me, or is he the embodiment of both Neil Diamond and Meatloaf? So much charisma and drama! I love his passion.
And a pinch of Elton John.
There is a little Morrissey in there as well.
With the looks of Steve Martin 😂
Reminds me of a young Marlon Brando.
Ricky Gervais and morrissey if they had a love child 😅
Just saw them live for the 3rd time. They still got it
So jealous, on my bucket list to see them
Just saw them live opening for Weezer, they were fantastic!
This is one of the most beautiful performances ever put on TV. You can tell Dave is blown away, and he is not an easy man to impress.
I just happened to be watching that night and don't think I blinked through their entire performance. Just stunning. One of the most memorable moments in the entire history of the show.
What's so stunning about it?
@@tvviewer4500 just a personal thing.. if you feel it you feel it.. if not no prob
@@hollowmoon9 if you feel it you’re a clown wandering through life with zero music taste. How bout that?
me too, i just happened to catch it that night
CORRECT SIR.
Never fails to bring a huge smile to my face. One of the all time greatest TV musical performances.
Revisiting after a few years and WOW! still get the goosebumps watching this. One of the best live performances I've ever witnessed.
I often try to listen to this live version while working, but I always end up getting completely absorbed and watching the whole thing instead. It's such a mesmerizing performance-honestly, one of the best live shows I've ever seen. All the emotions through his voice and body, amazing.
the Tv On The Radio sessions were amazing as well Dave had some amazing musical guests
Have you tried the Jools Holland version?
@@Leasrobi i have, but there is something different about the way he shows his emotions in this live performance, also better filmed.
He feels music in its most primal way…raw reactions to moving music
Nothing hits harder than "People change, but you know some people never do"
Yeah, if you're 12.
What’s profound about that?
I guess these guys never changed. 🤷🏽♀️
And pounding his chest while he sings it.
He's saying that HE never changes.
Yes, that is a great line.
I’ve been watching this performance and sending it to my coworkers for 10 years. They still play this song where I work.
I'm so glad they uploaded an HD version this. I'm not even really a Future Islands listener, but I think this specific performance is one of the greatest moments in music history.
Yeah, I don’t care for this band or even this song particularly. If you don’t love what you’re seeing here though, I legit might not have anything for you. I don’t know that we see eye to eye or hear ear to ear.
The song actually gets in emotionally, makes me think of all the lost loved ones. Remember them with joy.
Saw them live a few months ago - they have not lost a step.
Saw them in Gothenburg in october last year, they are still good as ever!
I come back to this “now-and-then,” and regardless of how long I stay away, seeing this performance still invokes powerful feelings. This is one of the greatest performances (arguably) ever! Small nugget of TH-cam gold!
My all time favorite live performance on Letterman.
Love how much David loved it!
Pretty sure Dave thought it was really bad .like most normal people.
@@oskarpichler2930I saw this live as a fan for some time. It was great, the imperfections make things so much better. Also, music is subjective and nobody is right or wrong. The the small peanut minded people that casts their own failures on anything. Hope you’ll one day be happy and your family will live you.
He liked it so much that they were included in his final episode compilation of musical acts.. decades of acts and he wanted their performance on there, so you couldn't be more wrong @@oskarpichler2930
One of the best moments on television.
Letterman had some of the greates live performances i've ever seen... this and "Wolf like me" are the best i've entcountert so far...
Had never heard of Wolf like me" after reading your comment, so I looked for it, Wow I'd agree, incredible. I'm going to go through their albums from tomorrow.
Pretty sure I've never seen a performance as honest as that. EVER..
Well put.
There are a few songs that awaken a sense of what’s deeper in life. This song is good, but watching it live, you can feel the connection to what’s just beyond the things we can normally sense. You don’t have to know any of the words to feel it, see it in his eyes, and hear it in his voice. I think Dave felt the same. Just takes your breath away.
The only other song I can think of that did the same for me is Dream Academy’s Life in a Northern Town
I love Dream Academy!
great comment
This one and TV on the Radios performance are the two best live shows that there ever was on Letterman. Both of them are just a force of nature performance, just amazing.
Doesn't even matter that I've never been able to tell what he's singing because that performance is just awesome
Night in on my own - have a couple beers and toss on this masterpiece. Doesn’t get better
3:20 Mad props to the director for switching to that close up at the perfect moment .
MAD PROPS. When they close up on his eyes, and the cameraman has to pull back because Samuel was dancing out of frame, but he pulled back juuust enough, but not too much. Amazing work there
I can’t believe I’ve only just discovered this. I was driving along and the song came on the radio. I instantly liked it because of my time in the 70’s and 80’s and the synth really caught my ear. The radio DJ said you have to go online and see the performance on Letterman (note that I’m in the UK). I did just that when I got home and saw an exceptional front man performance - great vocals, unique moves … wow!
This is my all time favorite live performance from any band, and it always will be.
This song and this performance is mesmerizing, something absolute genuine about it. He gave it his all with 0 pretense. True art.
That is a living example of seizing the moment. Holy cow.
One of the greatest performances ever, I still come back to this video often.
Mesmerising. Wow.
Stunningly emotional track. Love it
When I'm feeling down and depressed I watch this and I feel a little better ❤️
There’s something strangely hypnotic and intriguing about this performance. The singer is amazing is his movements and emotional performance. Wow!
I agree completely.
Just found them. Brilliant. Play all the time in car and home. Singer is unique. A star.
Dave genuinely loved this performance. Have to agree. It was awesome. And I do watch this a few times a year when this pops into my mind. I just walked out of a store that was playing this song. Couldn’t believe my ears and here I am again.
What the hell is this?! I love it.
Back AGAIN to watch this. I feel it in my soul every time. I can't think of another live performance that hits me the way this does. Magic.