Fai Laci Had the Room Packed Before the Headliner

Fai Laci are still finding their footing as a live band, but the energy, personality and connection with a sold-out crowd were already there—even if the music was not completely my thing.

Fai Laci is not really my style, and I’m not going to pretend otherwise. I had never heard of them before they opened for Schur at Cat’s Cradle, but by the end of their set I understood why so many people in that room were into them.

Their sound has flashes of Cage the Elephant and some of the swagger of Aerosmith, mixed with indie rock, hip-hop and reggae. Even that description does not fully cover it. They have their own thing going on, and trying to force it into one clean category misses the point.

Fai Laci’s lineup is Luke Faillaci on vocals and guitar, Anthony Cervone and Michael “Goldie” Goldblatt on guitar, Cal Hamandi on bass and Zack Putnam on drums.

You could tell they are still fairly new to performing together and working out exactly who they want to be onstage. There were moments that could have been tighter, but the energy never disappeared. Luke, Anthony, Goldie, Cal and Zack all went for it, and nobody looked like they were simply going through the motions.

Luke Faillaci stopped at one point to talk about the importance of human connection and live music, especially in a world where AI is becoming more common. The band’s position was not subtle: “Fuck AI.” The crowd roared in agreement. Their set also included covers of the Beatles’ “Come Together” and Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.”

Songs including “Cure,” “Elephant” and “Headlights” gave me a better sense of what they are building. Their debut album, Elephant in the Room, came out June 26, and there are some genuinely good songs on it even if the overall sound is not something I would normally put on myself.

The sold-out crowd did not share my hesitation. The Back Room was packed from the floor to the balcony, with people standing shoulder to shoulder and spilling into the hallways. Cat’s Cradle is tucked down an alley behind a small door, with the stage opening up in front of you and the bar in the rear. The lighting was not great for photography, but the history of the place—including Nirvana playing there—makes it feel like a real rock room instead of a polished event space.

One of the best moments had nothing to do with a perfect note or guitar solo. A kid named Wyatt, probably 13 or 14, was up front moshing by himself and having the time of his life. Fai Laci brought him onto the stage during the set, and the entire room loved it. That moment said more about the band’s connection with the crowd than any rehearsed speech could.

The band also stuck around afterward, talking with fans and being genuinely friendly. That matters. It is easy to perform, disappear backstage and call it a night. They made sure the people who showed up felt like part of it.

Overall, I’d give Fai Laci a 6.1 out of 10. That score is not a knock on their effort. Their music just is not completely for me, and they still have some growing to do as a live band. The energy is there, the crowd clearly loves them, and I would absolutely photograph or see them again.