Idiot Glee is the guise of Lexington, Ky.-based musician/singer/songwriter James Friley, whose passionate Pop sound has garnered attention from all over the world. Though he largely uses electronic instrumentation, Idiot Glee’s recordings can hardly be described as “Synth Pop,” showing a more classic sensibility inspired by the likes of Harry Nilsson and Roxy Music.
In 2013, Friley received a lot of attention for his EP, Life Without Jazz, the much-anticipated follow-up to Paddywhack, Idiot Glee’s full-length debut from 2011. After steady touring in support of the EP, Friley closed out 2013 with the December release of The Prairie, a cassette/digital album that is largely instrumental, featuring Friley’s impressive piano playing/composing front and center. The latest album has more of an Ambient vibe, which is fitting for an artist whose pseudonym is borrowed from a Brian Eno quote about the surge of joy humans feel when being creative.
IDIOT GLEE joins Tweens and Mardou for a free show Saturday, Jan. 11 at Northside Tavern. Click here for details .