Friko Keeps The Energy Moving At The Vivarium
Milwaukee, Wisconsin — October 16, 2026
Photo by Evan Frawley
After three months, three continents, and thirty-plus shows, one could forgive Friko for not having the energy to give to their fans at the tail end of their tour. Yet when the band takes the stage at the Vivarium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, they waste no time throttling up and getting down to business.
They start with “Guess,” the opening song from their latest album, Something Worth Waiting For. The song demands attention as it builds like a pressure cooker, finally exploding into a burst of catharsis.
Lead singer Niko Kapetan commands the stage, his presence immediately apparent as he seems to lose himself entirely to the music. He rarely opens his eyes as he sings, but it’s not necessarily hostile or rude; it seems more for Kapetan's benefit as he lets the music consume him on stage.
Kapetan briefly pauses to inform the crowd that all the songs are dedicated to the World Series and remarks on the Milwaukee Brewers making it to the series, which is met with uproarious cheers and applause.
From there, the energy inside the venue is electric, as everyone joins them on this journey to the peak of stardom as Kapetan captains the performance and infuses his energy into everyone. He thrashes about the stage and, at times, runs between the piano on the side of the stage and the microphone center stage.
There’s an urgency to their performance; they move quickly and with precision, like a hummingbird feeding, and just as you recognize what is going on, they move on to the next flower.
As they wind down the concert, they give a rather emotional performance of the titular song “Something Worth Waiting For.” You might think this to be their final song of the night, but there are still two more coming. “The train’s comin’ now, can’t be late,” Kapetan sings. It’s almost a reminder that the night has to end; soon the lights will come up, and we’ll return to where we came from, so for now, revel in the energy and community that Friko has built.
As the final song, “Get Numb To It!” begins, the crowd immediately opens up the pit and begins moshing. The whole night has been about rising energy, and now, it’s finally released. The room chants “get numb to it” over and over, a therapeutic release. Perhaps there’s an irony in that, as the band has spent the entire night making the crowd feel everything. Before it can be contemplated, the lights turn on, and the crowd is abuzz with just how amazing that was.
It’s clear Friko refuses to go unnoticed, and their performances show they are willing to work to prove their greatness to the world. The band has had a phenomenal year, and this performance keeps them on track toward, well, something worth waiting for.
Friko’s tour runs through the end of October; you can buy tickets here. They will also return to their hometown of Chicago for a performance at The Salt Shed in December.
Photo by Evan Frawley
Photo by Evan Frawley
Photo by Evan Frawley
