Frog Brings Two Nights of Exuberance to Chicago’s Empty Bottle

With support from Jason Shapiro, Frog brought down the house at the Empty Bottle this past Sunday night in Chicago.

Hailing from Rochelle, New York, the dynamic guitar duo Frog confidently took the stage for their second night at the Empty Bottle, ready to captivate the audience once more. After a sold-out night one, the audience eagerly awaited the exciting closing show of Chicago. As the lights gently illuminated the stage, Frog opened their set with the song “So Twisted Fate” from their iconic 2023 record, GROG.

Frontman Daniel Bateman captivated the audience with his passionate voice, as waves of cheers and excitement filled the air. Fans swayed and bobbed their heads in rhythm, creating an energetic atmosphere that pulsed with the music. Frog engages the crowd with passing jokes and witty banter, creating a genuinely entertaining atmosphere. It’s refreshing to see performers relax and have fun on stage. Jokes about a broken guitar and restarting songs add to the intimacy of the experience, making it feel as if we’re watching close friends perform.

Opening for Frog’s second night in Chicago, Jason Shapiro, a local alternative artist, steps up to the stage. The vibe is electric as he gets ready to share his music with the crowd, bringing his unique sound to life in the heart of the city. As the lights fade and the noise quiets down, Jason begins his performance, setting an exciting tone for the evening. Playing songs from his latest EP, Feb ‘25 Mix, Shapiro shapes the walls of the Empty Bottle with striking guitar riffs and a garage band feel. Light cheering and an overwhelming sense of support, Jason has the crowd amped up for the headliner, Frog.

As the night continued and beers flowed, things at the Empty Bottle were on fire. Mellow harmonizing and incredible bass playing crescendoed from the venue speakers as songs about old high school buddies and 420 brought smiles to the audience’s faces. Playing iconic tracks from the albums Count Batement and 1000 Variations of the Same Song, the energy is high; however, it was time to hear some keyboard-focused hits. Throughout the night, a Nord Grand 2 keyboard remained curiously at center stage, untouched. I was eager to listen to tracks from their latest record, The Count.

After what felt like a lifetime of notable oldies, Daniel finally stepped towards the keys. He starts playing “JUST USE YR HIPS VAR. IV,” and while it isn’t new, it’s a gem that surely gets the crowd moving. The performance was truly vibrant as they continued their set with several enjoyable hits from The Count, including “SAX-A-MA-PHONE VAR. XII” and “SPANISH ARMADA VAR. XV.” Frog was killing their key-focused tracks, and I didn’t want it to end. 

With an almost perfectly curated set list, the group undoubtedly tore up the Empty Bottle stage two nights in a row. The Count was an eagerly awaited album released back in September, attracting many fans from Chicago to this tour, both new and old. It was incredible to see such a group play hit after hit with such energy. Frog is a band you definitely want to catch on tour and add to your fall playlist.