Real Friends has an interesting story. They started their career in 2011 with their EP, This Is Honesty, followed by four albums and several EPs and singles, until 2020. This is when lead singer, Dan Lambton decided to part ways with his bandmates to pursue other projects. Most bands would see this as the end of the road and let the music die, but the rest of the members decided to stick it out and find a new lead singer. In 2021, Real Friends welcomed their new frontman, Cody Muraro, who has tried his best to continue the bands’ legacy. The band was known for the unique voice leading all of their tracks, so when they changed their vocalist, it in turn completely changed the sound of their music.

They began their set with their 2013 hit “I've Given Up On You,” which lacked its trademark pitchiness and vocal fry. Don’t get me wrong, Muraro is a great singer with a dynamic, punk range, but it’s just not the same band. It seems like a Real Friends cover band that just so happens to feature every original musician except for the singer.

Real Friends continued their time on the Sad Summer stage with “Tell Me You’re Sorry” off of their 2023 album, There’s Nothing Worse Than Too Late. This was one of the two tracks they sang from their post-Dan albums. The other being their latest single, released in June, “Waiting Room.” These newer tracks have a musically similar sound of course, but they are lyrically less grunge. The new creative direction they are taking may be settling for Muraro’s strengths as a vocalist. You gotta do what you gotta do.

As they played on, Real Friends began to heavily encourage moshing and crowd surfing. Muraro even jumped into the crowd from the stage. Sadly, this quickly went South and caused the venue staff to start enforcing a no crowd surfing rule, which really only stuck until The Maine’s set a couple hours later. Muraro’s energy and willingness to physically join the crowd can be appreciated, and it is evident he has taken the Real Friends fandom as his own and those in the crowd who came to see them seemed to be happy with the performance unfolding.

They closed their set with more pre-breakup songs, “Mess” and “From The Outside,” which again lacked the trademark Midwestern twang on the recorded versions, but new singer Muraro has taken their hits and made them his own. He seems to have chosen to blend a poppier sound with the traditional emo instrumentals behind him.

Although they are missing their original frontman, the rest of the band is still continuing to play with the same passion and energy. Real Friends will continue their full run on the Sad Summer Festival Tour this summer until August 9. They call themselves “Midwest trash,” but anyone who sees their live show would disagree with that description.

Review & Photos by: Emily Tonnessen

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Real Friends Got Crowdsurfing Banned During Their Sad Summer Set