royel otis at franklin music hall

Australian indie duo Royel Otis kicked off the meet me in the car tour following the release of their album hickey at Philadelphia’s Franklin Music Hall. For fans, there was no better way to spend their Friday night.

Just like the first track on their new record, “i hate this tune” launched the set, with the majority of the setlist featuring songs from Royel Otis’ new album, hickey. Crowd favorites like “who’s your boyfriend,” “moody,” and “car” were played, among other deep cuts like “Bull Breed” and “Foam.” A little halfway through the set, the guys went for a stripped-back few songs, including a cover of The Cranberries’ “Linger.”

It wasn’t a true Royel Otis show without their signature cover, featured on Triple J’s Like A Version: their cover of “Murder On The Dancefloor.” The duo signed off with an energetic encore of "Oysters In My Pocket,” leaving the crowd absolutely buzzing.

The meet me in the car tour follows an impressive run for the pair, as Royel Otis solidify their spot in the indie-rock music scene, not only in Australia where they are based, but all over the world. You can find tickets to the remaining tour dates here and find a gallery of photos from the opening night below:

Words and photos by Shauna