FIDLAR Brings a Party To Varsity Theater on Friday Night

There are certain bands that I get overly excited to see live. Maybe it’s because it’s a band that I’ve been dying to catch live, or, in the case of Friday night at The Varsity Theater, it was because I knew the band I was about to see always absolutely kills it. There were a lot of choices when it came to what show to go to on Friday night, but I knew that I would be kicking myself for weeks (if not months) if I passed up a chance to see FIDLAR live for the umpteenth time. Before the audience was treated to a flawless performance by FIDLAR, we were gifted a high-energy and flawless set by Sugar Pit. Dubbed as “grimey, sarcastic indie-punk” from Los Angeles, Sugar Pit instantly had me stuck in the palm of their hand. They took the stage with a sense of fervor and, yes, a sense of sarcasm. This is one of those bands where I didn’t know where to look. Did I want to watch the high energy of vocalist Kian Stevens-Winston, or did I want to hone in on the backup singers, which included Chloe Chaidez (of power pop band Kitten fame)? Did I want to watch how calmly the drummer kept the set together with the heavy yet infectious beat? Or maybe I watch the other members of this super tight group? Long story short, my eyes were darting all over the place, and there was never a moment in Sugar Pit’s opening set when I felt bored watching any of the six members on stage. What do I mean when I say that they brought a sense of sarcasm to the stage? Well, honestly, I don’t quite know. There was just something slightly avant-garde and very quirky about Sugar Pit’s sound as well as their performance. From a song that was about working a dead-end job to a song about data, there’s really no way to put this group into one box. What I can tell you is that many of the songs started with a statement that was then repeated over and over again by many members as a sort of round or something. It was interesting and definitely pulled you into each song’s world in a super mesmerizing way. Add the endless amount of energy that this band brought to the stage, and you were left with a set that left you in love but also a bit confused as to what just happened. Friday night was Sugar Pit’s first night on this tour, and you could feel that. Not only was this their first date with the legendary FIDLAR, but it was also the first date of their first-ever U.S. tour. You could feel that green excitement throughout their set, adding a sense of charm to an already charming set. Sugar Pit may be just starting their journey as a touring act, but I thoroughly hope that journey includes many more visits to the Twin Cities. Now, let’s talk about FIDLAR. FIDLAR (an acronym for Fuck It Dawg, Life’s a Risk) is a skate punk band from Los Angeles. As mentioned. I have seen this band multiple times, and they always kill it, but beyond that, this band has become a staple in the daily playlist of my life. Their songs are quirky and fun, but they also talk about real issues if you want to get deep into them. From mental health to just trying to live your life, something about FIDLAR’s music speaks deep into my soul even if, at face value, their songs feel fun and carefree (which is something I could really use more of in my life– carefree energy). My favorite thing about a FIDLAR show is how the band translates that carefree energy into a room. I love how the band clearly does not take themselves too seriously yet provides audiences with a flawless performance of their iconic songs. It’s as if they are just so good that they can dink around playing and still pull every song off perfectly. I know that feels so dramatic, and I’m putting this band on such a pedestal just because of my personal bias, but I swear I’m not. Even my brother (who showed up with his wife all dolled up from a wedding they had bailed on because, although he and I don’t agree on everything, we both know it’s not worth anything to miss a FIDLAR show) turned to me at one point and all he could really say was something to the extent of, “Dang, they are so damn good live!” and, honestly, that’s the best way to put it. With five full-length albums and seven EPs, FIDLAR had more than enough material to cover an entire night of music. They narrowed their set list down to about twenty of their hits and favorites, creating a perfectly curated track. Sure, I got to hear the classics like “40 Oz on Repeat” and “Cheap Beer,” but I also got to hear some of the songs from their newest release ‘Surviving The Dream’ which just came out last month. Regardless of what song the band was playing and whether or not I could sing along to the lyrics, I was enamored by the group and just stood there a little lost in all of the right ways. My only complaint about the show was that it was so short. Sure, the band played for a little over an hour and definitely packed the songs into their set while still allowing time to banter back and forth with the audience, but it wasn’t enough for me. That being said, would it have ever been enough? There’s just something about FIDLAR, their sound, and their performance that always leaves me wanting more, which is why I will never miss a chance to see them live. I know there was a lot happening in the Twin Cities on Friday night, but I feel sorry for all of the people who made the wrong decision about how to spend the night.