Friendly Thieves

Friendly Thieves is a five piece funk rock band based in Kansas City. Think Alabama Shakes and Young The Giant have a Vulfpeck inspired love child.

Fronted by Sam Wells’ villainous and intoxicating voice, this quintet is accompanied by Ben Baker sporting crunchy sax lines dripping with effects, Sam Millard’s stanky mid-focused bass, Jamae Breeze’s colorful lead guitar and Matt Chipman’s poly-in-the-pocket style drumming.

Their sound debuted at the 2021 Midwest Music Foundation for its annual Spring Donation Drive at The Record Bar. Since, they have headlined venues like The Rino, Lemonade Park, and The Ship, and have shared the stage with the likes of The Back Alley Brass Band, Kadesh Flow & Jessica Paige, Slights, Chalis O’Neil, and The Uncouth. Reconing themself as "Liquid Grit" - their sound holds the best of funk psychedelia and alternative rock