REVIEW: French Police @ Ukie Club
WRITTEN BY: Ariana Droz- Santiago
PHOTOS BY: Ariana Droz-Santiago
Goths, Darkwave enthusiasts and creatures of the night congregated on Nov. 11, 2025, a chilly Tuesday evening at the Ukie Club to welcome the French Police back to Philly on their 2025 North American Tour. The room filled with bodies contorting and swaying under hues of dark blue and purple. The crowd chanted and cheered in harmony with the start and end of each song. Community came together to enjoy a night of post-punk renaissance through this up-and-coming group.
The opening act, Social Order, came on around 8:30 p.m. and performed a great set with some humorous remarks and gratitude between every few songs. Prior to the show, I had not previously listened to Social Order, but after the show the Vegas-native group made a fan of me. They performed songs from their new EP called Strangers, released this past Halloween. Their overall sound is a blend of synthpop and gothic rock. One thing I really liked about this group was that they had great crowd interaction and stayed to meet members of the audience after their set. They were a great choice to open for the headliner, French Police, who made their way to the stage shortly after.
The Chicago-based bilingual band lit up the night while maintaining their icy cool and mysterious characters. Founding member and vocalist Brian Flores entranced the audience with his deep and commanding voice floating amongst the spine-chilling bass lines of Ronaldo Donjuan, and the haunting chorus guitar by Manny Herrera. French Police have been slowly gaining popularity over the past few years, and they did not disappoint with Tuesday’s performance. Their sound is darkwave, and they incorporate brooding romantic spells of words in English and Spanish.
Behind their sunglasses and slick suits, they delivered a set that was filled with dark moody lyrics and atmospheric instrumentals. The group was originally formed in 2018 and has since released five projects together. They performed songs across their entire discography, including their most popular song, Vampiro, and their newest single, LIBRA. The production of the show was simple and intimate, fitting for the venue. The trio put on a great performance despite a venue change and minor technical issues. They truly transformed the Ukie Club into a goth club for the night.
After wrapping up their North American tour, French Police will make their way to Europe early next year, and they deserve all the love they’re getting from fans around the world. I, for one, will be looking out for what they do next and hoping that I can see them live again soon. If you are fond of bands like New Order, The Cure, and Boy Harsher, you might find something you like by French Police.
(Stream LIBRA by French Police everywhere now!)
