Real Friends returned to Houston this Fall for the ‘Forever and Ever and Ever and Ever and Ever and Ever and Ever’ Tour with support from Can’t Swim, Carly Cosgrove and Slowjoy.
Earlier in 2024, Real Friends released their 4th album titled Blue Hour, which marked the first album with new lead singer Cody Muraro. After the departure of Dan Lambton in 2020, Muraro formerly of Youth Fountain & Parting Ways, took over as the lead vocalist and he was the absolute perfect fit. While his vocal range doesn’t match Lambton’s grittiness, Muraro brings a new tone to the Real Friends sound, all while keeping the pop-punk vibes of the band alive.
Real Friends sound much more sure of themselves, especially after releasing Blue Hour as independent artists. The album serves as an personal and musical evolution of their pop-punk roots, showing their growth since their introduction to the scene back in 2010. Blue Hour is a perfect encapsulation of pop-punk melodies, killer hooks and introspective lyrics, all made for the day-one fans and new listeners tuning in.
Along with the album’s release, the band announced a headline tour, which included a stop in Houston. The venue was surely an interesting choice for the show, as they took the stage at Last Concert Cafe’s small outdoor amphitheater, much resembling to Mohawk in Austin. It was no problem though, as it felt more intimate with no barricade, an artificial grass turf, and even fans to keep everyone cool. Real Friends brought along Texas darlings Slowjoy, indie-rock band Carly Cosgrove (where they dedicate their name and certain song names to iCarly and other shows) and punk newcomers Can’t Swim.
Before taking the stage, an honorable mention goes to the pre-show playlist tracks, which include “I Wanna Go Home” by Sandy Cheeks of Spongebob Squarepants, “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan and “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter. Real Friends took the stage and opened with new tracks like “Our Love Was Like a Sad Song” and “Cold Blooded.” They then took us back to the classic Real Friends hits like “Late Nights in My Car” and “I Don’t Love You Anymore,” where Muraro crowdsurfed during the last chorus.
All members of the band were in-sync and locked in – they often urged the crowd to open circle pits and mosh pits, as well as asked fans to crowdsurf when they could. On top of performing newer songs like “Six Feet,” “Wish You Were Here,” and “Waiting Room” (dedicated to Kyle Fasel’s dad who recently passed away), they continued to play older hits like “Colder Quicker” and “Me First,” and everyone was absolutely vibing.
We Love Texas. The last tour we had was Sad Summer Festival, and y’all wouldn’t believe the amount of messages we got that said THERE’S NO TEXAS! So we decided to come back and you guys surely did not disappoint.
Cody Muraro of Real Friends to the Houston Crowd
The show also contained its super intimate moments. During the track “Teeth,” Muraro brought his mic stand down to the crowd and sang from the middle of the venue. He stayed there as the band performed the heart-wrenching “I’ve Given Up on You,” where every fan shined a light on Muraro and sang the lyrics from the top of their lungs. Kyle Fasel stated how the band wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for their fans, and everyone cheered. Later, they also performed “Sixteen,” where everyone stood quiet and just swayed, as this was the peak of the night’s emotional journey.
Throughout the set, fans knew every single song – it felt like nothing has changed within the band, as if no lineup ever changed. Everyone was simply there for one reason, to have an amazing time. The show definitely felt like an escape away from everything going on in the real world. Once fans were transported back, we all were left with wanting more.
Real Friends are one of the biggest staples in pop-punk, and its incredible to see how much they still love and care about their fanbase. Band members continue to sell their own merch, all members came out after the show to talk to fans. It was hilarious seeing how they were casually walking around the venue as if they weren’t in the headlining band. They keep true to their DIY and independent name and stay close to their pop-punk community. Real Friends are an absolute gem that we must preserve at all times. They put on a new show every single time, and every single time, they strike gold.
Note from the Author: Personally, I’ve been a fan since I first saw them at Warped Tour Houston in 2014. I’ve been to more than 10 RF shows, and I’ve yet to see a single BAD show from them. They are just that incredible.
Listen to Blue Hour by Real Friends, out now on all platforms. You can also catch them a city near you, get tickets here.
I'm a full-time music journalist/photographer from Houston, number one Paramore fan and Husky dog owner. I have a B.S in Radio-Television-Film from UT Austin and a M.A in Mass Communications from the University of Houston, which makes me smart! On top of being an avid concert-goer and movie fanatic, I love bonding with others over the power of local music and media.
