The rainy walk from Middle Child Clubhouse to Johnny Brenda’s on Friday night was made bearable thanks to its extreme shortness.

Man, I love living in Fishtown.

As I entered the long-beloved, legendary Philly venue, got my stamp and wristband, and headed upstairs, I was greeted with some unexpected funky jams emanating from the main stage beyond the bar. While the billing for the show was listed as “Dominic Angelella and Eric Slick, The Tisburys, and Twin Princess,” the taped piece of paper by the entrance indicated an additional surprise opener. As I meandered towards the comforting sounds of live music, I discovered four young souls grooving on stage. A drummer, a keyboardist, a bassist, and a saxophonist. They effortlessly made their way through the night’s warm-up set, finally ending with a jazzy rendition of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Good shit.

What I learned in the ensuing MC chat between sets (led by Phillies commentator Scott Franzke) was that these were four dudes from a community program called MIC’d Up Philly. It’s a program dedicated to helping the next generation of music industry talent make the leap from student life to the big leagues with help from the city’s most renowned DJs and other industry players. What I also learned was that these guys had rehearsed their entire surprise set at the last minute via text messages. Most impressive.

Following their set, Twin Princess came to the stage to deliver an ethereal, Phantogram-by-way-of-Warpaint-tinged set that built in intensity. In the midst of their performance, we got a very moody and soulful rendition of Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City.” As is often the case (see any of my other recaps), I found myself entranced by their downtempo soundscapes that leaned slightly more pop than the aforementioned influences I picked up on. The four-piece, led by vocalist Pauli Mia and joined by guitarist Zoe Macdonald, bassist Eri Schueler, and drummer Kirby Vibek, were mostly quiet, opting to remain honed in on their tight set. A few sincere remarks of appreciation were almost all the words that were spoken. This was clearly a band on a mission to deliver an experience matching the vibes of their hypnotic music. And in creating atmosphere and a memorable set, they absolutely succeeded. I can’t wait to see them again.

Next up was local mainstay The Tisburys, an unpretentious indie/alt/folk/jam-rock outfit that has a clear enthusiasm for performance, classic rock vibes, and 90s pop-rock emotion. Emerging from the green room and onto the stage to the sound of Howard Shore’s The Lord of the Rings score (specifically the whimsical scenes from "The Shire"), they wasted no time shifting straight into their signature blend of pop-led rock anthems and catchy indie-alternative melodies. Vocalist and guitarist Tyler Asay, guitarist John Domenico, keyboardist Jason McGovern, bassist Ben Cardine, and drummer Dan Nazario perfectly encapsulate the radio sounds of a 90s summer made contemporary. The days, now long gone, when our worst fears seemed to be a scratch on your favorite CD or your friend’s mom answering the landline, are alive and well with this local rock outfit.

Before finishing their set, they were joined on stage by Eric Slick for a full, energetic, and extremely faithful rendition of Steely Dan’s “Dirty Work,” complete with an unprompted crowd sing-along. I think with some songs, it’s just automatic... The shortest possible single-word review I can give these guys is: fun. It’s not difficult to see why their reputation precedes them in the local scene, why WXPN sings their praises, and how deftly they’ve carved out a place of legitimacy in a community of which they are an increasingly large player.

And finally, the headlining duo of Eric Slick and Dominic Angelella came on stage right around 11 PM (and past this geriatric millennial’s normal bedtime). But if my energy was waning (it was), it was instantly reset with a lightning bolt of loud, dynamic post-punk melodies injected straight into my ear. Performing songs from previous musical projects DRGN KING and Lithuania, in addition to their own material, Eric and Dominic sped through an electric setlist as good as the best of them, evoking big-time PUP and The Menzingers vibes (which is in no way to discredit their own superb songwriting abilities). Everything has a point of reference for me, and I have to admit just how unfamiliar I was with their game. And yet, they made an instant convert out of me.

Joined on stage by local songwriter Lucy Stone and, later, during their “encore,” Hop Along frontperson Frances Quinlan, the duo built upon each subsequent song, coalescing into a full four-piece performance to end the night. All in all, the duo and their hardcore friends are shining examples of how the spirit of rock and roll is alive and well in the city of Philadelphia.

P.S. One of the community organizations also showcased and promoted was the Philadelphia Music Alliance, which, in addition to MIC’d Up Philly, is another great cause. See more details below on both organizations, their respective stories, and how to get involved:

MIC’d Up Philly

https://www.philasd.org/arts/#micdup
MIC’d Up (Music Industry Classrooms) is an artistic, community-based initiative that connects all-star Philly DJs, producers and musicians with the next generation of talent – our District students! MIC’d Up is a new platform for mentors and mentees to discuss their passions for art, music and technology, as well as to learn more about the business, marketing and promotion of music.

Philadelphia Music Alliance

https://www.philadelphiamusicalliance.org/
As Philadelphia’s music authority, The Philadelphia Music Alliance promotes the vast legacy of contributions from Philadelphians to all music genres and encourages emerging artists and students toward achieving musical excellence. In addition, The Alliance creates, supports and sponsors programs and events that enrich and strengthen Philadelphia’s musical community. Their best-known creation is the Walk of Fame, a must-see tourist attraction on Philadelphia’s dazzling Avenue of the Arts.