How Samuel T Herring's life changed in four minutes and 23 seconds

A legendary performance on US television helped Samuel T Herring and Future Islands gain their reputation as one of the planet’s most uplifting bands, writes Ed Power.

Fourminutes and 23 seconds was all it took for Samuel Herring’s life to change forever. In 2014, the singer, an everyman with widow’s peak and stocky physique, was invited to perform with his band Future Islands on David Letterman’s Late Show. Seizing the moment, Herring put in a raw, big-hearted turn that lit up the internet.

Watching the ‘Seasons’ clip today you see a star being born in real time. “Buddy — come on!” enthuses the usually phlegmatic Letterman, striding from the wings to shake Herring’s hand. “How about that? I’ll take all of that you got!”