Years from now, many people will say they were at the Mint March 13 for the Fridays’ debut. In fact, it was a few Hollywood types, some local musicians and family and friends who filled the place, and every one of them will tell you that it was not a show to miss. The Fridays are a songwriting duo, Jason “SpicyG” Goldman and Sara Niemietz; on this night they were backed by a full band.
Not one to let a moment like this pass her by, Sara, a prolific studio singer who tours with PostModern Jukebox, introduced the first song, Rock & Roll Remedy, saying, “Welcome to the very first Fridays Show!” The band started a groove that didn’t stop until the show was over. The rhythm section of Dr Molly Miller (guitar), Brandon Goldman (drums), Corbin Jones (bass), and Max Garson (percussion) kept the beat powerfully and with excellent musicality. Corbin Jones added another valence of energy to every song – never overplaying but emphasizing each beat.
He’s Not the Answer followed and then Molly Miller got to stretch out on Long Way to Go. Molly, who tours with Zayn and Jason Mraz and teaches guitar at USC, plays on the studio version of Long Way To Go, but she was able to add several dimensions to her solo this outing.
The background vocalists, Hannah Norman and Ayla Claire were able to shine on the Friday’s cover of Freedom by George Michael. On Spotify, Sara overdubs a full choir to fill out this cover; live the vocal performance of all three singers carried the orchestral sound.
“Moving On” is the Fridays signature song and they did not disappoint. After the slow blues start with Jason playing the organ and Molly playing the blues, Sara took it up to the rafters. Sara has shown she can bring the preacher in her worship music with Robby Robinson, and in the coda to Movin On, she went full gospel to resounding Amens! Next up was an unreleased song from the promised 2d album, still in the works, Bad Medicine. It promises an album with the same rock/soul blend as the first.
For Just Don’t Care, recording artist, Sean Holt, like Molly and Jason, a professor at USC Thornton School of Music, sat in for Casey Abrams for a duet with Sara. He stayed on the stage as the show concluded with “With A Little Help from My Friends”, the Joe Cocker version with the supporting acts’ singers joining a very crowded stage. It was a very full single set, and an auspicious debut for this talented act.
This show was a power house of energy from the start to the finish; Sara’s voice was a revelation, going from Janis Joplin rocking to Aretha Franklin soul exactly when the music called for it. The Fridays write strong songs as their first album attests, and their second album promises. But there is one thing to mention- Jason (SpicyG) held down the Farfisa sounds on his keyboard admirably – pumping out the rhythms with the very tight back-up section. But he is a world-class arranger of horns, arranging for Michael Bublé and Wyatt Michael among others. The album – Rock and Roll Remedy- highlights the horns with intricate and powerful parts that take the songs to another level. Unfortunately there’s no way even a small horn section would have fit on this stage (Corbin was off to the side as it was). I hope that next time the Fridays play, it will be at a venue large enough to accommodate the crowds they deserve and to host the full band sound.