3/7/26 at The Pouch
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popped off to a somewhat worrying degree, maybe the most people ive ever seen in The Pouch. i get the feeling Cootie Catcher are gonna be huge in about 18 months.
performers, in order:
Nina Ryser
Mopar Stars
cootie catcher
fib
3/8/26 at Mini Mart
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beautiful evening of fuck rock. in sharp contrast to the last Mini Mart show i went to, this one was on an unseasonably warm day. ira glass were the standout, mostly because i had never seen them before, and was unprepared. they sound like crushing emptyness, and the saxophone is a wonderful addition.
performers, in order:
Scrimblo
babybaby_explores
ira glass
mICROgOBLET
3/13/26 at the Orpheus Garden
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Lola.5 playing a Naked Lightbulb joint, as tradition. LA!KA were on tour from Columbia, MO.
performers, in order:
Mila Culpa
LA!KA
Lola.5 (not pictured)
3/14/26 at the Ukrainian Club
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this show was a wedding celebration for Ethan @coupleghouls, former Philly diy lynchpin turned Delaware diy lynchpin. as such it was one of his classic mixed bills, featuring two hardcore bands sandwiched with current shoegaze.
performers, in order:
Big Nick
The Damage
RASKOL
they are gutting a body of water
3/20/26 at Cambria House
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a showcase of (mostly) local talent organized by the fine folks at Outside Noise. Mr Beast Death 2030 were my highlight, with their vocalist running back and forth and crawling around on the not particularly clean floor of Cambria House.
performers, in order:
Scopolia
Sub Sober
milkspiller
Mr Beast Death 2030
tongue relaxer
3/22/26 at the Philadelphia Ethical Society
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Naked Lightbulb joint at a fascinating spot right off of Rittenhouse Square. the upstairs was being used for an AA meeting concurrently, which is a fascinating vibe combo. this show got me considering the idea of trying to deliniate a new sort of genre schism in current shoegaze, with bands combining the rhythmic style of 2020s shoegaze with no wave inflected guitar styles. Her New Knife are arguably the most prominent band in this style, but you could make a case for every band on this bill being what im getting at. also i filmed the Taurus Judge set so theres no photos of them here.
performers, in order:
Taurus Judge (not pictured)
Chemical
bloodsports
Her New Knife
3/26/26 at The Kennel
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really interesting bill. initially watercopy favorites The DOJD were supposed to play, but their drummer had a prior commitment and couldn't make it. so Claire reached out to me and my brother Rowan and suggested we start a previously discussed ""digital hardcore"" project to play it under the DOJD name. hence, THE POWER NEVER STOPS FORMING. other than that, Siobhan was also playing her first set of orginals, and Red Die Number Nine have been going for 40 full years. Druid Stone should also get some acknowledgement for being maybe the loudest i've ever seen them somehow.
performers, in order:
Siobhan
Red Die Number Nine
Druid Stone
THE POWER NEVER STOPS FORMING (not pictured)
3/27/26 at Greenhaus
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one of those bills that just kind of fits together. nice to see Power Over Ethernet, a band i was very obsessed with in 2023 but haven't seen in 2 full years, again. Hat were the undeniable stunners of the evening, a bass/drums/keyboards/vocals+sample quartet featuring members of RONG and Beverly Tender. sonically they're like if crabs tried to split the difference between Guerilla Toss and Henry Cow. absolutely keep an eye out for their album whenever it materializes.
performers, in order:
Will Henriksen
Gun It
Hat
Power Over Ethernet
3/29/26 at Greenhaus
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another one of those weekends where i end up at Greenhaus multiple times. finally got the chance to drag Claire and Kelly to a Cowpokes set.
performers, in order:
Hennen
birdeater
night moth
Cowpokes