Fat, Evil Children Prove That Yearning Is The Sound Of The Summer

Chicago, Illinois - July 19th, 2026

Nothing compares to a small, intimate venue that feels like you just wandered into a jam session with your favorite band. That's the magic of Schubas Tavern. The Lincoln Park staple has built its reputation on great live music, cold drinks, and a room that somehow makes every show feel personal.

Sunday night, Los Angeles indie band Fat, Evil Children kicked off their summer tour with their first-ever headlining show in Chicago. The four-piece, made up of college friends, has the kind of DIY spirit that the indie scene craves. Fronted by Nic Skrabak on vocals and guitar, alongside Truman Sinclair on guitar, Sebastian Peters on bass, and Diego Fernandez on drums, the band plays in a way that showcases their love for making music together. 

The band pulled heavily from their album Fat Evil Dogs, Fat Evil Cats, Fat Evil Bears, Fat Evil Rats. Don't let the title fool you. Beneath the ear-catching name is a collection of deeply heartfelt songs that make you want to hug the person next to you before dragging them onto the dance floor. Their music is full of bittersweet feelings, but it's delivered in a way that creates so much joy that even the saddest songs feel comforting. It didn't take long for those songs to fill every corner of Schubas.

Conversations in the packed room slowly faded as the band walked onstage. They opened with "Taking Your Place" before following it with a crowd favorite, "I Won't Change My Mind," a beautiful song about how feelings for someone will remain the same even through different phases of life. 

When the audience started shouting back every lyric, vocalist Nic stopped for a second, visibly surprised.

"You guys know the words?"

Another standout moment came during "Fooled." You could feel the wooden floors of Schubas practically shake as the crowd jumped in unison, screaming, "Cause I'm not being fooled!" back at the stage. 

If there was any question about the band's energy, guitarist Truman Sinclair answered it by breaking not one, but two guitar strings during the set. Still, the show carried on without missing a beat.

Fat, Evil Children aren't just good at making people dance and sing along—they're experts at making people yearn.

Before playing "Big Ol’ Bird," Nic dedicated the song to his wife. The room immediately softened as gentle guitar lines floated underneath lyrics that captured the desire to know every single part of someone you love.

"I want to know all the people you've been, and may never be.

Looking at you and seeing my life rolling on by"

You could feel the entire crowd melt. That's what makes Fat, Evil Children special. Their songs are full of longing, love, and growing up, but their live show never feels heavy. It feels like spending an evening with old friends and enjoying every part of it. 

If Sunday night was any indication, Fat, Evil Children is a band you'll want to keep your eye on. Blending alt-country, folk, and indie rock, they write songs about the bittersweet feelings of life. Their live show was a reminder of how yearning can be beautiful and something to dance about.

You can catch Fat, Evil Children on the road for the remainder of their summer tour before joining Wunderhorse and Pixies on select dates this fall.