Idiot Glee at Institute 193

Combining elements of space rock, Arthur Russell, chillwave, and the Beach Boys’ Smile sessions, Lexington, Kentucky-based indie pop crooner James Friley’s echo-laden, keyboard-driven alter ego, Idiot Glee, first appeared in 2008 after the classically trained pianist decided to leave his lo-fi punk outfit for a life of loops and samples. Occupying the same rainy porch milieu as acts like Twin Shadow, Summer Camp, and Perfume Genius, Friley’s debut single, “All Packed Up” was released in 2010. Moody, atmospheric, and tinged with the hymnal colors of a religious upbringing, Idiot Glee’s full-length studio debut, Paddywhack, arrived in March 2011 on Moshi Moshi Records. Riding acclaim for his debut, Friley followed up in 2013 with two new releases, the Life Without Jazz EP and the all-instrumental, classically-minded album, The Prairie. Recording for a number of labels, including his own Hop Hop Records, Friley continued his prolific run with 2014’s more pop-centric and guitar-heavy Four cassette. In 2016, Friley released his most ambitious and polished record to date, the self-titled LP ‘Idiot Glee’ (produced by Stephen Trask) on Hop Hop. After tours of Japan, Europe, and North America, Friley settled down and started a family in Lexington. Recently moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, Friley will be performing at Institute 193 with long time band mates and inspirations Jamie Adkins (bass) and Case Mahan (guitar).

Idiot Glee originally performed at Institute 193 in our original location in 2012, and was also featured on 193 Sound, an album featuring the work of 25 Southern artists and musicians who have played in the gallery or otherwise collaborated with 193 in some way in the past.