FRIKO: Concert Review
- Andres Galvez
- Jul 27, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 1, 2025
May 9, 2025
Review By Andres Galvez
On May 9th, I had the opportunity to photograph FRIKO live at the Lodge Room in Highland Park. This concert, I can confidently say, was probably one of the best ones I have been to in quite some time. For those of you who aren't familiar with FRIKO, the band is made up of Chicago-based Vocalist / Guitarist Niko Kapetan and Drummer Bailey Minzenberger. They have taken a blend of post-punk, pop, and rock to create something unique.
The Lodge Room could not have been a better fit for FRIKO. The room is the perfect size to feel the intimate vibes of the slower songs such as “For Ella”. The lights and excellent sound throughout the room helped deliver the experience of the performance.
When FRIKO took the stage, the venue was packed to the brim. Front stage, the audience was locked in, ready for a performance. In the back of the venue, people were trying to get any vantage point they could to get the best view. The show started with higher energy songs such as "Dirty Diamond" and "Chemical". The crowd was loving it!
After a few upbeat songs, FRIKO got very intimate with the crowd. At one point, sitting on the floor singing "For Ella" (My favorite of their songs). The song was slow, soft and seemed to be tugging everyone’s heart. The crowd appeared to be in a trance.
What amazed me most about FRIKO is their versatility. The way they could have the crowd jumping one second and then slow everything down the next was impressive. They had full control and the crowd loved every second of it.
Once the show was over, the hype wasn't done. The line for the merch booth was out the door, by far the busiest I’ve ever seen. Luckily, I was able to get a signed copy of their 2024 Vinyl Where We've Been, Where We Go from Here. This is definitely a band that I will being seeing again when they make their way back to Orange County / LA.
Credits
Venue: Lodge Room
Artist: FRIKO
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