CONCERT REVIEW: Frankie Cosmos at Soundwell!

Photos by Danni Monterroso

It’s always a special night when a band you love comes to town, but they’re always planned so far in advance that they often catch me by surprise. Your life doesn’t automatically get put on pause just because you bought concert tickets, ya know? That’s what I was reflecting on while I was waiting for Frankie Cosmos to take the stage on Monday, October 14th at Soundwell. But just a few songs into their set and I was feeling rejuvenated. 

Frankie Cosmos started as the solo project of Greta Kline, but as time went on, her collaborators in-studio became her bandmates. Taking the stage with Kline was Hugo Stanley on drums, Alex Bailey on bass, and Katie Von Schleicher on guitar. The indie rock stylings of The Cosmos is laid-back by nature, but the four of them combined created a tight live sound with plenty of motion. Artists that play music that are relaxed and downtempo really leave me confused with what to do with myself as an audience member- especially in a standing room only venue. But the band managed to keep me fully engaged throughout their performance.

The group were touring to promote their new album, “Different Talking,” and all the new songs sounded great with their live band arrangements. Every time they played a song from later down in their catalog, they introduced it as "a lil chestnut from mom’s kitchen.” The whole experience was so wholesome and inviting. Even small technical mishaps couldn’t dull the vibe- when a mic cord started breaking down, they replaced it incredibly quickly and got right back to playing. True professionalism on display!

For me, the highlight of the night was hearing "Outside with the Cuties," a simple, acoustic track from their 2016 album "Next Thing." The song features a famously unfinished chorus hook, "I haven't finished this part yet/Will you help me write it?" The track is nearly a decade old, and with every passing year, that line hits a little harder. Putting such a sincere plea in a song is a risky move, but Frankie Cosmos really succeeded at striking a balance between interesting songwriting meta-commentary and a sincere desire for human connection.

Overall, I had an excellent trip to The Cosmos. It was a great break from the stresses of daily life, and a wonderful reminder of how powerful live music can be. Special thanks to S&S Presents for letting us into the show!