Fo Daniels
Songbyrd - DC
Photos & Review by Haruka Guan
Fo Daniels’ show kicked off with a simple request: everyone take a step closer. People did, and just like that, the room felt smaller. Intimate, grounded, and alive from the first note.
In the days leading up to the show, the DC area had been hit with a historic snowstorm. Nearly a foot of snow that later froze over by the night of the performance, making the journey to the venue feel uncertain at best. But once inside, the cold disappeared, replaced by warmth, noise and the low buzz of anticipation.
The night opened with Tyler Drager of The Dun Flower, performing solo after his bandmates were unable to make it. What could have felt sparse became a memorable introduction. Drager kept the crowd laughing, sarcastically describing one song as “insanely creative” because it was just the same chorus repeated three times, and introducing another about his ex-wife, whose marriage to him lasted only two weeks. His dry humor and candid commentary gave the set a light, conversational feel that quickly pulled the room in.
Fo Daniels, a band out of Charleston, South Carolina, took the stage next,bringing a sound that blends indie rock, post punk urgency, and a touch of emo nostalgia. Their music thrives on contrast, with melodic guitar lines colliding with driving rhythm sections and clean hooks giving way to raw, shouted vocals.
They opened with songs from their album King of Swords, easing the crowd before quickly building momentum. The bassist was head banging like it was pure muscle memory, while the drummer played with a GoPro strapped to his chest, making the whole show feel immediate and unfiltered. Nothing felt stiff or overly polished. It felt alive.
As the set went on, the bass and drums took control of the room. Clapping grew louder, and the band moved effortlessly between brighter, more upbeat tracks and heavier moments without losing momentum. The vocals leaned into yelling at times, but it never felt forced. It matched the intensity in the room and translated especially well live..
”Scrape” stood out as one of the most fun moments of the night. Upbeat and slightly nostalgic, it was the kind of song that makes you want to move without realizing it. Fo Faniels also shared unreleased material from an upcoming album, including “Black” and “The Rain”. While “The Rain” slowed the pace slightly, it still landed with weight, driven by full guitars and steady, deliberate drums.
What lingered most was the band's presence onstage. Sweaty, and fully committed, they exchanged smiles after each song, checking in with one another before diving back in. When they closed up with “Hold On Tight” and returned for an encore to loud, insistent clapping, it felt like a room united by the same thought: no one was ready for the night to end.
