The “moderately gay, post-ironic bummer pop” of Coping Skills led a five-band, Philadelphia-centric bill at batting cages/concert venue Everybody Hits on Saturday. The show was a way to show off their latest album, Worst New Music, but also benefit a good cause: Proceeds from the night went to nonprofit No More Dysphoria. Here are some photos and highlights from the night.
1. Coping Skills’ Lauren DeLucca and Rachel Dispenza are a delight to watch.
The duo joyously introduced songs and harmonized about not wanting to go to work, giving us awesome, relatable observational rock that spiraled into solid guitar solos. Despite the name of the new album, the work spawned a collection of infectious earworms that you’ll want to digest again and again—and they translate wonderfully when performed live.
2. Album opener “Bagel Fruit Water” is one of the best tracks of 2018.
Direct and oblique at the same time, it proclaims that the subject of the song’s body has been “declared unfit for occupancy” and is “all boarded up and completely worn down.” It is a sad but relatable entry point for the remainder of the album, and it certainly stood out live.
3. We dug openers So Totally and Vivian K.
The four piece of So Totally delivered a solid set of savory fuzz rock. And trio Vivian K., who are now in Philly via Orlando, unleashed a set straight out of punk heaven.
4. Venezuelan band Zeta put on a psychedelic rock clinic in the second slot of the night.
Their stirring rock moments followed Pat Quigley’s project Big Quig, which started the night with some jovial Philadelphia rock.
