Philadelphia’s Brutal Panda Records hosted a series of showcase performances this month that featured several band’s on their current roster including renowned Pacific Northwest rock crew Harkonen who reunited to play three shows in Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia with The Atlas Moth and Whores. These reunion dates also featured a special guest on each bill including Zozobra, Ladder Devils and Fight Amp. We caught up with this showcase series at Philadelphia’s Kung Fu Necktie venue as Ladder Devils broke off a feature performance.
Harkonen guitarist/vocalist Ben Verellen had this to say about the band’s first East Cost shows in almost a decade:
“The last time Harkonen was on the East Coast, I think Matt had a broken wrist, so Casey and I toured out with a CD of Matt playing drums through a bunch of amps. Last time Harkonen tried to fly anywhere to do a show, the plane had a malfunction and almost went down. It’s been about 10 years since all that and I’m hoping the curse has lifted. Bout to find out!”
Indeed the curse was lifted as the band put in a jaw dropping performance that made it hard to believe it has been a ten year lapse since their last live outing. With a limited new vinyl repress of seminal album Shake Harder Boy in hand, fans got more than their money’s worth at this standing-room-only show. Atlas Moth were accompanied by an engaging light show that fit the tone of their music quite well and made for some incredible pictures below. Ladder Devils brought along a sturdy hometown following and complimented this gathering with a performance to remember. Whores rounded out the bill for what proved to be a bulletproof showcase.
We’ve included listening samples and links of all the guilty parties, so be sure to check out the tunes and links below.
Our ever-talented Senior Staff Photographer, Dante Torrieri, of Useless Rebel Imaging was on hand to deliver a dense set of photos for your viewing pleasure.
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