On Jan. 30, Friday Night Rock — a student club that brings independent and alternative artists to Dartmouth — hosted a performance by the Philadelphia-based indie-rock band Florry. The band performed a selection of their songs that add a higher-energy spin to indie music, drawing from folk and country as well as rock elements. The night marked the second event featuring indie artists this term, following a performance by the indie-folk band Racing Mount Pleasant on Jan. 23.
Chris Hoather, an indie singer-songwriter and musician based in Montreal, opened for Florry. In 2025, Hoather released his first singles “Darling” and “Fire.” On Jan. 30, his setlist included soulful and melancholic indie tracks with slow tempos and drawn-out, meditative lyrics reflecting on themes of love and loss. Between songs, Hoather made quips with the audience and made sure everyone was having a good time.
FNR coordinator Sohini Mandal ’26, who serves as a booking manager for FNR artists alongside Lily Levick ’26, said she was compelled to book Florry after seeing them listed under one of the agencies that FNR has worked with before.
Levick said she was inspired to book Hoather after meeting him at Mutual Friends, the artist management company where she worked over the summer. “I think he’s a really talented guy, and his voice is beautiful,” she said.
The pairing of a lesser known, up-and-coming artist with a more well known artist or band is the typical formula for FNR shows, according to Levick. She explained that the arrangement benefits both parties because it allows for increased exposure for the smaller artist and an opening segue for the larger artist or band.
During pauses between songs, the Florry band members bantered with students, creating a lighthearted atmosphere. Lead singer Francie Medosch in particular discussed college life with the audience, joking that it had been some time since she had stepped foot into a party of any sort at a college.
Medosch also carried the band’s energy. Medosch released her first album at 14 and has cited a range of influences from Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Wilco to the house show scene in her hometown of West Philadelphia. On Jan. 30, her singing paired energetic vocals with soul-searching lyrics about different fictional characters trying to find meaning in and make sense of their lives amid struggles. In the way of a good ballad rock song, these songs were narratively structured, and Florry delivered them with their upbeat, almost chaotic energy.
One of the songs Florry played, “Take my Heart,” wrestled with themes of overthinking and learning to trust another person in a relationship. Another song “Hey Baby” described feelings of gut-wrenching regret and confusion over unrequited love.
Mandal explained that FNR seeks to create an alternative social space on campus where all students feel welcome to enjoy live music and have fun.
“We work hard to create a space that’s safer and more equitable than some of the other social scenes on campus,” Mandal said.
Still, she emphasized how unlike events organized by the College, FNR is “still, at the end of the day, a space for students, by students.”
Owen Lee ’28, a member of FNR’s hospitality team that arranges scheduling and accommodations for artists, highlighted the variety of artists with which FNR works.
“It’s always a mixed bag of people, but it’s super interesting to see where everyone’s coming from and what their background is,” Lee said.
Mandal described her involvement with FNR as a rewarding experience that has increased her exposure to new artists.
“I get to learn so much and really experience new music, and I think that’s part of the beauty of the club,” Mandal said.
