On Sunday December 11th, the musical duo FRENSHIP sold out Brooklyn’s Baby’s All Right for their “Big Boys in Small Rooms” tour. The members, Brett Hite and James Sunderland, and their lively drummer fortified a comforting atmosphere on stage. With soft synth sounds and lyrics paying an ode to friendship, love, and the sweetness of relaxing on the weekends, the band hosted an electric night full of dancing and new memories.
Before the band formed, Hite and Sunderland met while working at sportswear store Lululemon in Los Angeles, CA. Their friendship developed as they shared their mutual affinity for music. They started producing together and uploading songs to the music platform SoundCloud. Their song “Knives” produced with Matoma in 2015 earned FRENSHIP a large following. Shortly after their growth spurt, they released their hit “Capsize” with singer/songwriter Emily Warren in June 2016. Their EP “Truce” followed suit in September 2016.
The opener for FRENSHIP, Kate The Dreamer, made a magical first impression on the crowd. Her lyrics spoke to the uncertainty that follows someone throughout their twenties into their thirties. Kate is crafting an insightful conversation with break-ups, career choices, and the youthful creativity she gracefully holds onto.
Towards the end of the show, Kate came back onto stage to perform an acoustic version of FRENSHIP’s “Capsize” with Hite and Sunderland. Afterwards, Sunderland recalled Kate’s origin as a FRENSHIP fan who shared her work with them after a show she attended, which they took an immediate liking to. Hite then told the crowd to expect a single with Kate The Dreamer to come out during the new year.
After Kate’s short but dreamy set, FRENSHIP kicked off their performance with one of their eldest hits, “1000 Nights,” released in 2016. A perfect introduction to their sound with powerful percussion and soulful guitar riffs. The setlist rolled through with songs old and new: their newest single “Songs for The Weekend” seemed to be a crowd favorite, for the energy on the floor was contagious. The space was alive with electronic grooving and loving embraces. There was no choice but to dance with strangers, because FRENSHIP’s music undeniably surfaces a kindness within those listening.
The band found it hard to leave the stage, as the crowd begged for more songs. Chants requesting their song “Swim,” released in 2019 on their album “Vacation,” echoed amongst the audience. Hite and Sunderland happily deviated from their setlist, and gave the song their all. When it came time for them to conclude the show, it felt like saying goodbye to dear friends. After all, their voice is founded on the intimacy of friendship.
Setlist: 1000 Nights, Carpet, Alright, Hurricanes and Sugar Highs, GMGB, Wide Open (acoustic), Anywhere but Here, Songs for The Weekend, Capsize, Remind You, How a Man Dies, Meet Again, Swim**
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