FRIKO // KING TUT'S WAH WAH HUT, GLASGOW
FRIKO LIVE AT GLASGOW’S KING TUT’S
★★★★☆ (4/5)
FRIKO
Friko hail from Chicago the hyped duo play high energy emo rock. Friko take cues form post rock and experimental noise rock creating dreamt yet powerful guitars lead by lead by spirited vocals providing a cathartic and moving sound. For me they combine the heart on sleeve emotional intensity of Titus Andronicus with the experimental song structures of Sonic Youth.
Though King Tuts is only half full on this cold midweek evening the energy the and give off makes up for it. The duo are filled out by an additional bass guitar. Supported by two well received local bands an acoustic show from local band levengrove and then the driving indie rock of the Denver National Hockey Team.
There’s nothing subtle about Friko, they take a sledgehammer approach sounding all in from the off. Bodly opening there set with from a new song Guess. This immediately introduces the frontman, Niko Kapetan impassioned vocals transmitting feelings of uncertainly and lyrically demonstrating an aching to achieve happiness. The acclaimed debut album, Where we’ve been, Where we go from here makes up most the band set as well as a couple of songs from Whenever Forever EP . Some of the songs appears as washed out dream state with minimal backing and vocals, such as Cardinal and For Ella which has some lovely piano. While on the opposite end of the scale Crashing Through is a behemoth of distortion and Chemical, is urgent driving bass and unnerving vocal intensity. Regardless the songs operate at an extreme emotional capacity which keeps the audience buzzed and on the same page throughout.
The best moments of the evening combine the two facets of Frikos sound. Such as, outstanding closers Where We’ve Been and clear highlight Get Numb To It, both songs achieve a transcendent catharsis. The latter reminiscent of Jeff Rosenstock, with it’s defeatists lyrics “it doesn’t get better, it just gets twice as bad because you let it so, you better get numb to it” repeated til it becomes a thrilling manifesto and captures a feeling of magnificent abandon. With that the stellar show comes to an end and Friko take their leave. Then, generously spend some time chatting to fans and signing CDs, certainly the next time they play on these shores the venue will surely not be half full.