When I arrived at the Exchange on Thursday evening, the venue was full. Half of Bristol had seemingly flocked there to watch Frog’s upcoming gig, and rightfully so! As the third stop on their UK tour, Bristol was treated to a lively setlist and engaging atmosphere, delivered by the popular US indie band.
The band, formed in 2012, come from New York. Frog consists of Daniel Bateman (Vocals, Piano, guitar), Steve Bateman (drums), and Thomas White (bass). Having recently released their new album Frog For Sale (April 2026), the band are on their UK and Ireland tour, promoting their new music. Reflecting artists like Djo and MJ Lenderman, their music blends indie rock, folk, and americana to create a unique and catchy style.
Arriving just as the band began playing, my view was slightly restricted. I was right at the back of the venue, the massive audience in front of me a testament to the band’s popularity. Towards the beginning of the gig, songs such as ‘RIP to the Empire State Flea Market’ (from 2019’s Count Bateman) and newer track ‘Max Von Side-Eye’ were played. Frog’s signature Americana, indie-rock sound was displayed, and the crowd sang along enthusiastically. As most of the band’s songs are quite short in comparison to other indie tracks, the pace of the gig felt fast.
Frog were able to get through multiple tracks, creating a nice rhythm, a varied setlist, and a chance for almost everyone to hear one of their favourites live.
The small size of the Exchange created an intimate atmosphere, crowd members felt close enough to the band to initiate conversations with them. There was a particularly unusual but topical interaction about Al, this causing someone in the crowd to shout, ‘was that Al?’ after every subsequent track. This was funny at first but got a bit tiring after a while. Nevertheless, the fact that interaction was possible reflects both the comfortability of the crowd, and the engaging nature of Frog as a band. Their willingness to speak to their fans created a connection and made the gig feel more like a hang-out with friends who also happen to be very good musicians.
Towards the middle of the set, White began asking for a guitar, which did not materialise for a while. I can only imagine that his had broken. To distract from the lack of the instrument, White switched to the piano, performing songs like ‘Best Buy’. The tracks played on the piano didn’t suffer from this change in pace and instrument; they arguably sounded better than the recorded versions. The crowd seemingly enjoyed them too, nearly everyone was singing along and dancing which further increased the sense of connectivity that was fostered.
I personally thought the staging also really added to the overall experience of the performance. The lights were warmly coloured oranges and reds, which suited the indie Americana vibe of the songs played. The warmer tones made the Exchange, and the gig, feel cosy and comfortable.
Overall, the Exchange managed to host an amazing band yet again. Frog’s popularity and talent were displayed, and the warm, intimate atmosphere of the gig was supplemented by an energetic crowd, and a fast-paced setlist. The bands interaction and talent created a show that the audience will likely remember for a long time. I would highly recommend listening to their new album Frog For Sale, it is undoubtably an enjoyable listen for any indie fan.
Freya Grimley
