march 24, 2025 - indianapolis - photos by regan jones

Freak Slug is ringing in the spring season with their second ever US tour leg, traveling to cities far away from their home base in Manchester, England. The tour celebrates their experimental debut album and its subsequent deluxe tracks, “I Blow Out Big Candles (But With a Cherry on Top)”, which was originally released last winter via Future Classic and topped off at the beginning of March. Off the Record had the pleasure of seeing their show at Turntable in Indianapolis, an offshoot for Broad Ripple’s #1 live venue, The Vogue.

The band has been touring with Huron John, a Chicago-born, LA-based project and duo that warmed up the audience with their electronic and alt-rock “grab-bag” sound. Freak Slug, whose lead singer is multimedia artist Xenya Genovese, and her band of guitar, keyboard (Nico “niquo” Thompson), drums (Caitlin Mounteer), and bass (Alex Martin) took the stage shortly after 9. Flashing video clips accompany them on side-stage screens, paying homage to Genovese’s origins in visual art. Her shirt read “NEARLY FERAL”, and her flaming red guitar was a true cherry on top, sticking out in a sea of shades of gray and black outfits and equipment. The show and its namesake record both start with “Ya Ready”, a shimmering guitar track eerily darkened by brass riffs and confessions of recklessness: “I win it all just to carry on/ just out of spite” she teases before the bridge goes awry.

As a whole, Freak Slug’s debut album dips into some 90s- inspired indie rock undercurrents a la Sleater Kinney, Fiona Apple, and Mazzy Star (whose looks lead singer Xenya Genovese has been likened to). It feels as if they have earnestly found a niche here, stepping playfully away from their west coast/LA inspired sound in early EPs and singles. The set list did, however, allow room for a couple of tracks from this era: “Friday”, “Care”, “Underwater” (“I’m the only girl that loves you this way” repeating is a standout moment from the night), and “Radio” all made special appearances. In the latter, guitar reverb familiar to the 2020 indie pop craze spilled out into the room like distant air waves: “They play your song on the radio/ Your hair over your eyes, I'm hypnotized/ Your body swaying slow/ I can't turn over your show” she muses.

Airy vocals take center stage in “Get Away” and “Be Your Girl”, contrasting the grit of later tracks like “Liquorice” and “Killer”. Her unique and Manchester-accented vocals switch in and out of registers with ease, and are often accompanied with subtle harmonies from bandmates. Hearing the guitar solo in a song like “Witch” live is like being in on a high-level secret between you and the band; everybody is invested in the rapid-fire frenzy.

The night ended with a crowd favorite single, “Spells”. Tension builds between her spectral vocals and muddied pulses from the rhythm section, inching closer and closer to lyrical secrets and revelations: “And we’re both too shy to/ tell each other ‘I love you’” , she suggests in the chorus, and entrancing the audience all the way to the very last lyric with tongue-in-cheek sultriness, “Got you ‘round all the time/ I love playing with your mind”. The band announced that they would be signing merch at their booth afterwards, from which a line immediately formed. Fans were electrified, receiving signatures on t-shirts and stickers on their way out into the night.

Freak Slug will continue their “Big Candles” tour through the US, Canada, and eventually back to Europe through the end of May so be sure to grab one of the fast-selling tickets here, and listen to their debut album wherever you jam out!