The Crowd Is Ready When You Are

On October 11th in Asbury Park, New Jersey, The Frights took the stage at the House of Independents to a packed, wall-to-wall crowd. The band’s entrance, set to “Pure Imagination,” was a perfect match for both the venue and their style.

Minnesota band Remo Drive kicked off the evening with an exhilarating set, captivating the audience in a way that the show felt like a double headline. As pop-punk veterans, this show was nothing new for them, as they seamlessly played their way through their songs; it was clear why they were the perfect opener for The Frights. As their final notes faded, the crowd waited with bated breath for their favorite band to take the stage.

Formed in 2012, The Frights have been playing shows ever since with bands such as The Story So Far and Taking Back Sunday. This year, they embarked on their North American Ready When You Are Tour with almost 50 shows spanning the US and Canada. The band features Mikey Carnevale as lead vocalist and guitarist, bassist Richard Dotson, guitarist Jojo Clark, and drummer Marc Finn.

The setlist covered fan favorites, biggest hits, and new material from their brand new album, Ready When You Are. Beginning with “Kids”, the band had an explosive start, keeping the energy high until “Kicking Cans”, which featured Carnevale on harmonica and acoustic guitar.

The Frights shows are a special experience, whether you are a fan or a first-time listener, and the members truly know how to make a 200-person show feel like a close friend group hangout. Carnevale broke up the musical performance to genuinely connect with his fans, telling them where to enjoy food in Asbury, playing a game to find the oldest person in the room, and answering fan-requested song suggestions.

The second half of the show reenergized the crowd, traveling through a decade of music with songs including “Puppy Knuckles” and “Crust Bucket”. “The Comfort of Someone in the Other Room” was the final song of the main set, before The Frights were begged for an encore. The crowd was chanting for one more song, but what they didn’t realize was that they would be getting two. “Tungs” and “Submarines” unleashed chaos in the pit, fans moshing to their cherished punk anthems, ending the night with a flawless finale.

If you haven’t caught them yet, there’s still a chance! The Frights are tearing their way through the East Coast until October 19th before heading west for the rest of their tour until December, delivering the same energy and emotion that’s made this tour one of their best yet.