(Artist Report )

Written by: Ginny Gaines 

Friday Pilots Club’s story starts in Chicago, a city that’s never been short on loud guitars or big ideas. Around 2017, two friends, Caleb Hiltunen, who loved singing and writing lyrics, and Drew Polivick, a bass player with strong instincts, started making music together. At first, it was just the two of them, writing songs and figuring out what kind of band they wanted to be. Pretty quickly, they realized they needed more people to bring their sound to life. They added Sean Burke and James Kourafas on guitars and Eric Doar on drums, turning Friday Pilots Club into a full five-piece band. With that lineup locked in, the songs started getting bigger, louder, and more confident.

n the early days, the band released songs on their own, without a big record label behind them. Tracks like “End of It,” “Gold and Bones,” and “Bad As Hell” helped them build a name locally and online. They played shows, gained fans the old-fashioned way, and slowly started getting attention outside Chicago. A big turning point came in 2019, when Friday Pilots Club won a national music competition called NEXT2ROCK. That win put them on the radar of Big Machine / John Varvatos Records, and soon after, they signed a record deal. It was a huge step up from grinding independently to suddenly having real industry support.

Not long after signing, they released the song “Glory,” which helped define their sound: rock music that hits hard but still feels emotional and catchy. Over the next few years, they put out several EPs, each one showing growth and experimentation. They mixed alternative rock with a little bit of pop, some jams to get your feet moving, and just enough edge to keep things interesting. By 2022, the band released an EP called I LOVE YOU, ROBOT SUPERSTAR!, which leaned into bolder sounds and more playful energy. Songs like “Poison or Patience” showed a band comfortable taking risks and pushing their style forward.

By 2022, the band released an EP called I LOVE YOU, ROBOT SUPERSTAR!, which leaned into bolder sounds and more playful energy. Songs like “Poison or Patience” showed a band comfortable taking risks and pushing their style forward. All of this led up to their biggest moment yet. In May 2024, Friday Pilots Club released their first full-length album, Nowhere. This album felt like the payoff for years of work. The songs were more layered, more emotional, and more polished than ever before. Tracks like “Vampire Disco,” “We Don’t Wanna Talk,” and “Ultraviolet (Obsession)” quickly became fan favorites, helping the band reach a wider audience.

The album also helped define who Friday Pilots Club really is. They are a band that blends alternative rock energy with catchy melodies, emotional lyrics, and a little glam-style confidence. Their songs often talk about relationships, self-doubt, and trying to figure out where you belong—things most people can relate to. On stage, they’re known for being loud, energetic, and fully committed. Touring behind Nowhere, they played shows across the country, turning curious listeners into loyal fans night after night.

Today, Friday Pilots Club stands as a band that worked their way up step by step—starting small, sticking together, and steadily building something real. They’re not an overnight success story. They’re a reminder that persistence, chemistry, and good songs can still take a band a long way. The band is still touring, still releasing new music, and still growing their fanbase. Their debut album Nowhere remains their biggest project so far, and they continue to build momentum in the alt‑rock world.

That will do it for this report on Friday Pilots Club. Thank you for reading!! In closing, please just know, Soundwave Music Media will be here and I will always do my best to bring you the rock music report! Please consider supporting me and the crew by purchasing a Soundwave shirt or hat and support our sponsors! Until next time... Rock on friends🤘

ATTENTION ALL MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS!

If you're passionate about your music and you're ready to take your career to the next level, you need to reading this. In today's world, getting your music out there isn't just a dream; it's a reality. You don't need a big record label holding you back. You need freedom, control, and the tools to succeed. Soundwave Music Media has a special deal just for you. Use this link and code below to receive  20% off your DistroKid membership. Get your music out there and you maybe the next artist we report on.