Frankie Cosmos @ Brighton Music Hall 9/19

Photography by Liana Snow

Review by Simone DiNota

I stepped through a portal into my sophomore year of high school last Friday at Frankie Cosmos’ “Different Talking” tour. Yes, I was standing in a packed audience at Brighton Music Hall, but I was also in my hometown bedroom during the COVID-19 pandemic with “Fool” playing on repeat. 

Frankie Cosmos is a New York City-based indie pop band that was founded by the group’s front runner, Greta Kline. Though the band has been releasing music since 2014, Frankie Cosmos had a moment in 2022 when its song “Sappho” was featured on one of Netflix’s hit coming of age series, “Heartstopper.” Other songs from its early albums started blowing up on TikTok around the same time, which is when I became a listener. Admittedly, the band was off my radar for a few years, but this show made it clear that Frankie Cosmos is not going anywhere, and is only continuing to expand its artistry.

Two acts took the stage before Frankie Cosmos’ set began, each performing for around 30 minutes. First was Moontype, an indie rock band from Chicago, followed by Fantasy of a Broken Heart, an art pop duo from Brooklyn. I felt like each group represented a different side of Frankie Cosmos’s vibe; Moontype had a laid-back, soft sound, while Fantasy of a Broken Heart played with a more assertive edge. In succession, the groups juxtaposed each other nicely, getting the crowd excited for Kline and her band to take the stage.

You wouldn’t have known Frankie Cosmos had stepped onstage if the audience hadn’t erupted in cheers. From the get-go, all members felt very down-to-earth and didn’t seem big on any extravagant showmanship. I didn’t mind, and appreciated the opportunity to connect with the music on a deeper level. 

Frankie Cosmos opened with “Tomorrow,” a fast-paced, though quietly gloomy song from their new album. I was immediately impressed by Kline’s voice, which, like her stage presence, felt very stripped-down and bare, but packed a resounding punch. 

“Tomorrow” was followed by a synth-heavy track, “One Year Stand,” from the band’s 2022 album, which didn’t do much for me. I was glad when Kline returned to “Different Talking” for a solid stretch. Each of these songs had a distinct sound, but “Vanity” felt the most musically adventurous, featuring a wide range of percussive instruments—from cowbells, to tambourines.

“So Blue” followed and was a total crowd-pleaser. With delightfully yellable lyrics like, “I’m so blue, I make everyone else blue,” layered over low, piercing guitar strums, Kline had the crowd uniformly headbanging to the beat (myself included). 

Kline’s band moved through some slower ballads before getting to its older hits, starting with “Sappho.” As I was listening, I couldn’t help but think back to the “Heartstopper” scene the song is featured in, where the two love interests are slowly realizing their feelings for one another. Its chatty, self-deprecating lyrics capture the kind of trepidation that can only be attributed to a first love. 

The band returned to its new music before playing another well-known track, “Outside with the Cuties,” which is one of my personal favorites. Its slow pace and dramatic, elongated pauses establish an air of anticipation. I love how the song’s final lyrics break the fourth wall “I haven’t finished the song yet / Will you help me fix it,” inviting listeners to reflect on their own lives—to consider fixing whatever might be unfinished. 

The next song, “Is it Possible / Sleep Song,” gave the band members a chance to show off their multi-instrumentalism, as Kline switched places with drummer Hugo Stanley, letting him take over on guitar. Afterward, someone shouted from the audience, “She’s really good!” which was a lighthearted interjection from an otherwise tame crowd.

Kline’s band played a solid mix of songs from both “Different Talking” and “Next Thing” before performing “Leonie,” the only song it played from its debut album, “Zentropy.” “Leonie” was a welcome callback to Frankie Cosmos’ beginnings. Though I do appreciate this song, the band’s newer music, particularly on “Different Talking,” felt a bit more lyrically and musically intricate.

Finally, Frankie Cosmos played its highly anticipated hit, “Fool.” I am happy to report that it sounds exactly as it does on the recording, which can sometimes be a tough ask. “Being Alive” closed out the show and was the most upbeat, joyful song of the evening. The band invited its openers on stage to sing the repeating lyrics, “Matters quite a bit…Being alive.” 

I walked out of the concert with plans to add “Tomorrow” to my playlist and thinking about just how much it matters to be alive.