Concertgoers lined up around the block waiting for the doors to open at the Vic Theatre in Lakeview on Oct. 5. The event? FIDLAR’s first show in Chicago since the Sept. 20 release of its new album “SURVIVING THE DREAM.”
“I love FIDLAR,” DePaul junior Darci Michon said before the show. “I have for years. I never thought they would (tour) after their last one, and I was just really excited.”
“SURVIVING THE DREAM” is FIDLAR’s first full-length album in five years, though they did release a seven-song album, “unplug,” in 2023. The new album features 13 tracks, including singles like “NUDGE,” “LOW” and “BREAK YOUR HEART.”
“This record is about doubling down on what you love,” FIDLAR (which stands for “F— It Dawg, Life’s A Risk”) frontman Zac Carper said in the press release. “For us, it’s about playing shows and making music. Coming back after a few years away, our intention was to self-make an album that the 3 of us are stoked on.”
With Carper’s raw vocals accompanied by drummer Max Kuehn and bassist Brandon Schwartzel, FIDLAR describes itself as a “SoCal surf-punk trio.” They span a wide variety of genres — from the angsty, crunchy “FIX ME” to the bouncy punk “DOWN N OUT” to the softer, more introspective “HURT.”
The album has received mixed reviews — some have heralded it as a triumphant return, while others call it a failed attempt at a more mature FIDLAR. The album certainly jumps from genre to genre, but also invokes a stylistic playfulness. Regardless of the mixed response, fans expressed excitement about seeing the group’s new songs performed live.
“It’s fun to support them, rather than just buying albums or vinyls or whatnot,” concertgoer Arik Aninos said inside the venue. “We’re just happy to go see them.”
Concertgoer Christopher Valdes came to the show with little prior knowledge of FIDLAR.
“Well, my friend had an extra ticket,” Valdes said. “I just checked out some of their music, and I like it a lot, and I’m just looking for a good time. … I plan to use the Shazam app a lot tonight.”
Valdes attended the concert with his friend Matthew Tiltges, who introduced Valdes to FIDLAR and hits like “40oz. On Repeat” and “Cheap Beer.”
“My first exposure to them was actually in (Grand Theft Auto) 5 with ‘Cocaine,’” Tiltges said. “That got me into them and then I’ve listened to a couple songs here and there, but then I saw they had the concert tonight. I was like, oh, hey, I know some songs. Why not actually get into their discography?”
Valdes and Tiltges, while new to the band’s music, had high expectations for the show.
“Being very close is one of the highlights already,” Valdes said, gesturing around the Vic Theatre. “I didn’t know how this place would look at first. So being so close and seeing how there’s just a lot of people here? We’re gonna have fun tonight.”
Jade Alvarez, like Valdes, was introduced to FIDLAR by a friend, Luke Underwood.
“I started listening because of him,” Alvarez said. “But I just love live music. I love hearing live music and being in the scene.”
Others went to the show as longtime fans, excited for the band’s return.
“I’m really just excited to see them live again,” Michon said from the center of the front barricade just before the show began. “It’ll be my second time seeing them, and they’re just really fun. They put on a great show.”
After an opening performance by Illinois native Sugar Pit and a quick soundcheck, FIDLAR took the stage to cheers and a near-full pit.
With quips and commentary, mosh pits, flashing lights and a moment for bassist Brandon Schwartzel to sign a fan’s copy of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” the performance left fans with hearts pounding and ears ringing — but that’s what they went there for.
“I think it was worth the wait, really,” longtime fan Luke Underwood said. “It was worth the five or six years or however long it took. I think it was genuinely worth it.”
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