Royel Otis

with Friko
Doors 7 p.m. | Show 8 p.m. | 18+

Information | Tickets

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Royel Otis

After forming in 2019 and drip-feeding music into the world ever since, Royel Otis continue their rise to the top. Recently, they were nominated as Breakthrough Artist for the 2023 ARIA Awards, the recognition following a sold-out multiple-date national tour, a debut performance at Splendour in the Grass, and a rapturous sold out UK and European tour, including performances at Leeds and Reading Festival, Electric Picnic, Pukkelpop, End of the Road and more, all achieved in the first half of 2023 - and in support of their third EP, Sofa Kings. From cleaning up ‘Ones to Watch’ lists by the likes of Matt Wilkinson at Apple Music 1, NME, and the Daily Telegraph, breaking into the US Alternative radio chart top 40, to earning Spotify’s RADAR Artist recognition, and being featured in Vogue and GQ, Royel Otis only continue their ascending trajectory.

Sofa King’s singles “Kool Aid”, “Sofa King”, “Going Kokomo” and “I Wanna Dance With You” were quick to receive international and local press adoration from Paper Mag, Purple Sneakers, NME, consistent airplay from BBC Radio 1, Apple Music 1 and the status of Triple J’s #1 Most Played track. Produced by Chris Collins and Royel Otis, the EP delivered visceral stories and quick wit atop blissful guitar-fuzzed haze, landing in major playlists such as Ultimate Indie, All New Indie, DOPAMINE, and Today’s Indie Rock (including featuring on the cover). The record followed the band’s sophomore EP Bar ‘N Grill in 2022, which saw the pair grace the covers of global playlists including Indie Arrivals and Supersound, Apple Music’s Heaps Indie and more, amassing over 10 million streams, and garnered widespread playlisting support across Australian community radio, US college radio and BBC Radio 6. The band earned a slot in this year’s triple j’s Hottest 200 for “Oysters In My Pocket”. Meanwhile, earlier this year, they joined Groovin the Moo’s 2023 touring lineup and as supports on alt-j's Australian tour.

Friko

Friko, a trio that’s cemented itself as a stalwart in the Chicago music scene, is frontman Niko Kapetan, and drummer Bailey Minzenberger. Their most recent release, “Crimson To Chrome,” is an anthemic offering, Kapetan’s vocals incendiary. It received glowing praise and attention from Pitchfork, Brooklyn Vegan, and Consequence, who wrote “Friko toggle between loud and quiet, thoughtful and self-deprecating, while never expressing anything less than the unbridled joy of noise.” FLOOD wrote the Chicago-based power-pop group is “ certain to stand out among the hundreds of acts gracing the various SXSW stages this year.” And that they did. The band took SXSW 2023 by storm, playing packed showcases over several days that made their Austin debut a must-see occasion. Bolstered by the unwavering support from Chicago’s music scene, the buzz around new music, and the pure excitement witnessed at SXSW, the interest from labels is voracious and ever-increasing.

Over the band's time together, it has become clear they are comfortable embracing multiple musical extremes at once. Their debut self-released 2022 EP, Whenever, Forever, weaves “together heart-on-sleeve folk, tense, smoldering post punk, and soaring, melodramatic chamber pop rooted in 2000s indie” (Chicago Reader). Lyrically, Kapetan explores the possibility and risks of a life given over to music, interrogating what a life well-lived means to him. The duality rings out in the compositions, evoking rock and folk icons such as Leonard Cohen and Nick Drake. The EP found collective support amongst the local music community, championed by their peers Horsegirl, Lifeguard, Free Range, and more.

Friko’s music is complex and dynamic, flickering between explosive rock, chamber pop, and serene sonics. It becomes even more pronounced in their live performances, where a crowd frenzied by wailing guitars finds itself minutes later collectively holding its breath, enamored by hypnotic strings and Kapetan’s emotive vocals. As the band plays out sweeping melodies, held up by thrashing guitar and punchy beats, it feels as if Kapetan sings to you. Crooning about stories you know, memories you had but have somehow forgotten.