Palehound and Weaves’ co-headlining tour kicked off last night at Johnny Brenda’s. After rolling in from the Eagles parade, the elated local crowd fully embraced this perfect indie-rock pairing, who got opening treatment from hometowners Tall Friend. Check out photos and highlights from the night below.
1. Let’s hear it for the amazing frontwomen
Palehound’s Ellen Kempner and Weaves’ Jasmyn Burke led the charge. Kempner’s soulful ruminations break through in guitar frenzies and vocal hushes—especially on her solo performance of “Feeling Fruit.” Burke lets the energy of the song take her to all corners of the stage, with brilliant rushes of aural adrenaline, as was found in her inspired rendition of “Shithole.”
2. Palehound took us on quite the musical ride
Playing behind one of 2017’s finest records, A Place I’ll Always Go, Palehound began with speedy rock (feeding off of the punkier Weaves set), transitioned into contemplative rock and ended with a swoon. Kempner, drummer Jesse Weiss and bassist Larz Brogan gelled to make a superb set.
3. Weaves’ free form was something to behold
Moving from punk to rock to the crevices in between, Weaves was a blast to watch. Opening with “Slicked” from their 2017 LP Wide Open, they stampeded out of the gate with pulses of raw energy. The Toronto-based quartet mixes equal parts Burke, guitarist Morgan Waters, drummer Spencer Cole and bassist Zach Bines into a blender and pours out a wallop of sound and fury. Their set ender, a cover of The Who’s “My Generation,” was a fitting, furious end.
4. Local band Tall Friend put on an apt opener
The Philadelphia-based Tall Friend delivered a lovely opening to the night. Led by the powerful yet understated Charlie Pfaff, the band played a selection of tunes from their 2017 debut record, Safely Nobody’s. Their ethereal, indie-rock was a perfect complement to mix of sounds from Palehound and Weaves that followed. I’d never heard of these guys before, but they left us wanting more.
