The Key’s Year End Mania: Ellen Miller’s top five gig foods

Superiority Burger | photo by Ellen Miller

Year-End Mania is the Key’s annual survey of the things below the surface that made 2017 incredible. Today, photographer Ellen Miller thinks back on her best concert sustenance of the year.

As I think back to all the different concerts and live music I saw over the last 12 months (about 60+) my mind floods with memories of not only the shows themselves but also the food I ate before or after. Whether it was a quick bite between the end of work and heading to the venue or an afternoon spent in NYC before the show, I can’t go to a concert without it involving food. I’ve even made the joke that I only go to concerts in order to have an excuse to try all this fun food! While that may not actually true, coming up with a new or fun food place to try is definitely something I look forward to just as much as whichever show I’m going to. At times I may even get more excited by the food I’m planning to eat than the actual gig itself.

After scrolling through my Instagram page and finding all the pre-show food photos I took (and post-show) throughout the year, I’ve managed to narrow the list down.

Februrary 1st | Eric Bazilian and Wesley Stace at Tin Angel | Pizza at Margherita Pizzeria

It’s a cold winter day. I’ve just spent the day walking across center city. I needed a quick bite to eat after warming up in a coffee shop and before heading in to the Tin Angel for the 2nd to last time. Margherita Pizzeria was the first spot I came to that wasn’t an expensive bar/restaurant so I went in. After the brief greetings with the employees, my eyes studied each pizza they had on the counter as I tried to decide what I was in the mood for. I spotted one with mushrooms and settled on that one. As the slice came out of their oven I took the plate from the pizza chef and sprinkled garlic powder and oregano on top.

There are different categories of pizza in my mind: quick, inexpensive pizza shops and the “artisan” pizza restaurants. This being the quick, inexpensive kind it had the crispy crust as all pizzas should have! Once finished I walked down the block to spend the night listening to Eric Bazilian and Wesley Stace sing together, alternating between songs ranging from romantic love songs to goofy comic songs.

May 19th | Real Estate at Union Transfer | Kati Rolls at Spice End

I walked in and the aroma of spices took over my senses immediately. Indian food is possibly my favorite cuisine currently. This past year on the Friday of NonComm, I got takeout from Spice End after seeing Paul Shaffer perform at the Friday midday set and before heading over the Union Transfer to take photos of Real Estate (whom had also played the night before at NonComm).

Spice End is a little Kati Rolls Indian restaurant near 20th and Chestnut streets. I had had kati rolls from other places in the city but as I think back to this meal I remember it tasting so good, so much that I’d say I’d choose these rolls over the others I’ve had. The meal was followed by being packed in to Union Transfer on Spring Garden street seeing Real Estate pleasing all of their biggest fans who were filling the room.

June 5th | Blossoms at The Foundry | Pulled Pork at Sketch Burger

There were a few times over the last 12 months when I went to see a band I hadn’t heard of before because a friend had told me they are good. This was one of those gigs. It was also one of times where I needed to find dinner after leaving work before going to the show; the perfect set up for trying a new place I’ve been wanting to try for while. I got off the El in Fishtown, did a quick Google Maps search to refresh my memory of places I haven’t been yet, and walked over to Sketch Burger to try their Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork sandwich!

Pulled Pork is one of those foods I’ve tried everywhere and each person makes it so differently from the next person. This one had so much flavor. The pork was tender and and had almost a perfect amount of sauce. The meal was followed by a night at The Foundry where the local band Petunia opened for the British band Blossoms. This was my first time seeing both bands and despite the small crowd on this Monday night it was a good show.

June 8th | Circa Waves at Mercury Lounge | Veggie Burger at Superiority Burger

If there’s one thing I’ve discovered over this past year it is that spending a day in NYC exploring on my own is a great way to cure a travel caving without spending a ton of money or having to take a lot of time off work. There are always new food and coffee spots I want to try, causing me to look for any opportunity to take the bus to NYC. This time though I went specifically to see Circa Waves, a British band whom a friend told me about. Right before getting in line outside Mercury Lounge I stopped at Superiority Burger to try their veggie burger. Superiority Burger is an all veggie place near Tompkins Square Park. I ordered their regular veggie burger and a broccoli salad, then walked over to the park to eat my pre-show dinner on a bench. Similar to the pulled pork, veggie burgers are another food that I try everywhere I go. This one was very tasty. They are on the small side but ordering it with one of their side salads and it is a satisfying lunch or dinner!

This meal was followed by seeing Circa Waves visiting from across the pond to play for their New York fans. This was my first time at Mercury Lounge and it is a cool little venue on Houston street.

October 26th | This is the Kit at Johnny Brenda’s | Pizza at Wm. Mulherin’s

Johnny Brenda’s is without a doubt one of my favorite venues in Philadelphia. Being located right at the corner of Frankford and Girard ave there are numerous options for pre-show meals or post-show snacks. Last October I was going to Johnny Brenda’s with my family to see This is the Kit and stopped for some pre-show pizza at Wm. Mulherin’s on front street in Fishtown. We shared a couple of pizzas on of which was their “fall pie” with brussels sprouts and pumpkin. It was not your typical pizza but I think that only helped to make it taste so good!

This meal was followed by an excellent show by This is the Kit during their US tour while visiting from across the pond. Following the opening band Flat Mary Road, This is the Kit serenaded the weeknight Johnny Brenda’s crowd.