I’ll admit that I am extremely rusty—with both concert-going and writing reviews. A slew of changes in my personal life have made it hard for me to focus on either for the last year or two. But last Friday’s Friendship show at the Empty Bottle fit the bill perfectly for breaking that streak: one of my most beloved Chicago venues, packed to capacity with a polite crowd keen to hear some quality tunes.
The openers were Krill 2 and Natalie Jane Hill, a singer-songwriter from North Carolina with a show-stopping, haunting voice reminiscent of Angel Olsen. When I asked her about that comparison, she said she’s drawn inspiration from many folk singers, especially when she first started 10–15 years ago. Hill is joining Friendship for the second half of the tour, opening as a solo artist.
“All the shows we’ve played on this tour have been great,” said bassist Jon Samuels when I talked to him after the show. Well—the ones they got to play, that is. It’s a good thing they were able to make it, after having to cancel some shows in Texas due to the winter storm. Who would have thought Chicago, with a low of 2 degrees, would be the more temperate climate? At least, as guitarist Peter Gill joked about during a break between songs, the downtime gave them a chance to watch the best movies Tubi has to offer.
The show kicked off with a moody “Artex,” followed by a funky “Betty Ford” that appealed to my jam-band–loving sensibilities. The thing I love most about Friendship is the way their songs describe the mundane minutiae that make up a life; with Dan Wriggins’ lyricism bound tight in the band’s folksy indie sound. The lyrics show instead of tell in a way that feels like reading an atmospheric novel. Next up was St. Bonaventure, doing just that, with Wriggins singing in a baritone reminiscent of Matt Berninger and Gill on backup: “Still getting up every day / Keep from brooding, keep it moving / To the end of the week.”
After a powerful “Tree of Heaven,” Wiggins announced they’d be moving into some older songs: a contemplative “Skip to the Good Part,” followed by “...Dusky” from their 2019 album Dreamin’. Samuels, who joined the band in 2016, said this was the highlight for him.
The band then pivoted to songs from their 2025 Caveman Wakes Up, starting with “Love Vape,” the song that got me into this band (shoutout to whichever barista was playing it at Electric Mud recently!). Again, this song captures those small moments as a relationship dies: “You were telling me about a show you like / Resting your head on my shoulder / Every time we stop at a light,” followed by “If you don’t know how to end it / You can just fade out.” The apathetically accepting lyrics are juxtaposed with an upbeat, dancey drumline.
Next up was “Hollow Skulls,” then “Workhorse”; there were cheers at the “I believe in vacation days and the annual raise” line, which made my friend and I exchange a dubious glance about its interpretation. This was followed by “Genius,” a new unreleased song, then “Free Association,” their current top song on Spotify with a chorus that’s been stuck in my head all day.
As the show came close to the end we were treated “Resident Evil,” a song about the post-lease–signing clarity when you realize your roommate is a sentient being with their own set of values and habits that may not align with your own. The final song was a slower “All Over the World,” and after a brief interlude, the band closed out with a “Mr. Chill” encore.
Friendship at Empty Bottle was definitely worth braving the low temps and staying up past my bedtime on a Thursday to “keep it moving to the end of the week.” I can’t wait to see these guys next time they’re in town.
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