Carpool brought a whirlwind of energy, humor, and punk attitude to Chicago’s Bottom Lounge as they opened for Heart Attack Man this past week. Performing as the second band on a stacked lineup—following Dear Seattle and setting the stage for The Dirty Nil and Heart Attack Man—Carpool delivered a short but unforgettable set that proved why they’re quickly becoming one of the most exciting live acts in the scene.

Bathed in red light, the upstate New York-based band casually made their way onstage and immediately set the tone. “What the fuck is up, we’re a band called Carpool from upstate New York. Fuck every problem in the world, let’s move!” shouted frontman Chris “Stoph” Colasanto, drawing cheers from a crowd that was clearly ready to let loose.

From that moment, the set felt less like a performance and more like a shared inside joke between the band and their audience. Carpool has a rare gift: they don’t just play songs—they build a vibe. Every show feels unique, yet their signature crowd banter and punk spontaneity remain a constant. It’s like watching a punk band crash a comedy night, and it absolutely works.

They opened with “Come Thru Cool (Punk Ass),” a fast-paced burst of energy that immediately got the crowd moving. Without missing a beat, Stoph leaned into his natural rapport with the audience: “Chicago, Illinois! What the fuck is good. Let’s have some fun, let’s move around, let’s get active.”

As the instrumental intro to “Quitting” began to play, Stoph turned to the crowd and asked, “Do you like your jobs?” The room instantly erupted with a loud, unanimous “No.” Grinning, he responded, “Sick, I hated my job too so I wrote this song about how much I hate working.” He followed up by asking everyone to shout out what they do for work on the count of three. The responses blended into a chaotic blur, prompting him to laugh and say, “I have no idea what any of you guys just said”—then, without missing a beat, he jumped straight into the song.

Subtle personal touches kept the show fresh and local. In “Quitting,” the lyric “I’m going home today” was swapped for “I’m going back to Chicago,” drawing loud approval. The band also took time to shout out Dear Seattle, whose lead singer Brae Fisher was celebrating a birthday. After a fan claimed to have gifted Brae a Burberry coat, Stoph deadpanned, “Damn, you’re a fan.” These moments gave the set a spontaneous, DIY charm that’s impossible to fake.

The band launched into “Can We Just Get High,” a standout from their 2023 album My Life in Subtitles. Before playing it, Stoph paused to thank the crowd, taking a moment to express how grateful they were to be part of the tour. It was one of those rare, sincere moments in a punk set that felt grounded and personal. It served as a reminder that it’s okay to cheer for yourself—because without fans, bands like Carpool wouldn’t get to do what they love.

No Chicago show is complete without a Malört mention, and Carpool delivered: “We’re gonna crush a ton of Malört after this set. People can hate on Malört all they want, but this song is about how much we fucking love it.” That moment kicked off one of the night’s most memorable songs—though it wasn’t their last. They eventually closed the set with their most-streamed hit, “The Salty Song (Erotic Nightmare Summer),” ending the night on a high and leaving the crowd primed for the rest of the lineup.

Carpool may still be working the opener circuit, but their stage presence, musical sharpness, and off-the-cuff charisma suggest it won’t be long before they’re headlining rooms like this themselves. I first saw them last summer opening for Youth Fountain at Cobra Lounge, and each time since, they’ve only gotten tighter, funnier, and more magnetic. If there’s any justice in the touring world, a full-blown Carpool tour is next—and we’ll be there, front and center.