Review: Royel Otis and Friko in Minneapolis
ROYEL OTIS MADE THEIR SECOND APPEARANCE in the Twin Cities this year at an incredibly sold-out First Avenue in downtown Minneapolis on September 15th. Accompanying the up-and-coming indie duo was a personal favorite of mine, Chicago-based rockers, Friko. This year has been massive for both bands, each releasing their first full-length albums within the last seven months. Coincidentally, this was also my second time catching both acts this year and I can vouch that they never disappoint.
First up on the bill was, of course, Friko. The duo of Niko Kapetan and Bailey Minzenberger has caused quite a stir in the industry as of late, being labeled by some as the “next big thing”. With their distinct sound falling somewhere between Radiohead and Big Thief, attending a show will leave you understanding why they’ve acquired such a reputation. Their debut album Where We’ve Been, Where We Go From Here takes the listener on a sonic journey through high-energy tracks like “Chemical” and “Get Numb to It!” to introspective, emotion-filled tracks like “For Ella” and “Until I’m With You Again”.
Friko’s live show at First Avenue took onlookers through a similar journey, as the group has managed to curate a perfect setlist that gives first-timers a taste of everything they have to offer. This year also marked their first appearances at several iconic festivals like Lollapalooza and Newport Folk Festival. I would highly recommend hopping on the train and getting ahead of the Friko wave so that you can claim to be an “og fan” when the group undoubtedly makes it big.
Headlining the evening to one of the most packed rooms I’ve seen in a while was Royel Otis. Taking the stage in front of a giant fried shrimp, the duo ripped into the evening with one of the most popular songs off of their new album, PRATTS & PAIN, titled, “Heading for the Door”. I had managed to make my way into the pit after shooting Friko’s set and was immediately surrounded by jumping, dancing, screaming fans on all sides as soon as the introductory riff sounded through the air. A few songs in, I was stoked to learn that a personal favorite track of mine, “Foam”, had made the setlist. The song features an immaculate baseline and I was forced (happily joined) one of the many dancing fans next to me in the pit.
The rest of the setlist followed a similar pattern, primarily featuring songs off PRATTS & PAIN, with the occasional wildcard. Fans seemed to be having the time of their life. Royel Otis of course finished off the evening with their hit single “Oysters In My Pocket” (hence the giant shrimp), making for the perfect finale to an incredible night of music. There are still quite a few dates left on the Royel Otis / Friko tour and you absolutely cannot miss their stop in a city near you!
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