"Asking For a Friend" Tour in Indianapolis, Indiana
Photos and Review by Laura Fox (LLFoxphotos)
The first time I saw Badflower live was in 2017. It was my first time photographing and reviewing a show, and they opened for Pop Evil. I'll never forget that show; Frontman Josh Katz's stage presence was mesmerizing, Bassist Alex Espiritu's constant motion was exhilarating, Tony's Sonetti's drumming and facials were sensational, and Joey Morrow played so forcefully he broke his guitar!
Six years, ten singles, two albums, a few TV appearances, and numerous tours and festival performances later, Badflower was back at The Deluxe on May 30, 2023, not as the opener but the headliner. Even though I've been to every Badflower gig in Indianapolis since 2017, it was kind of a full circle event for me.
I wasn't at all surprised to note that the majority of the fans in attendance were female, including 99.5% of the people lined up against the barrier. Katz exudes a vulnerable sensuality with his brutally honest lyrics, sardonic smile, and bedroom eyes. It's always interesting to me that when he talks to the audience between songs, he's soft-spoken and laid back. When it's time to sing, however, his intensity level goes up to 11.
The rest of the band is intense, as well. Morrow's licks are powerful, and Sonetti's skillful percussion is the backbone of Badflower's music. His drum solo Tuesday night was impressive, eliciting huge cheers from the fans. Espiritu probably has the most fun of everyone on stage. I absolutely love watching him dance and jump and spin, even though I struggle to photograph him because of that.
Badflower's 14-song setlist included tunes from their first EP, "Temper," as well as their albums, "OK, I'm Sick" and "This is How the World Ends." It's hard to say which songs fans loved the most, because they cheered wildly for all of them. For what it's worth, my personal favorites were "x ANA x," "Girlfriend," and the show's final song, "30."
Badflower's "Asking for a Friend" headlining tour continues through mid June, then they'll be out in support of Incubus for the rest of the summer and into fall. They'll also be playing some festivals, including Aftershock in their home state of California in August.
Warning: Lyrics to the video below are for a mature audience only!