XPN Fest Recap: Swift Technique bring Funky Friday to the Marina Stage

Swift Technique | photo by Natalie Piserchio | nataliepiserchio.com

“Happy Funky Friday y’all” Swift Technique vocalist Nik Greeley shouted to greet the Marina Stage crowd Friday afternoon. Opening the the 25th XPoNential Music Festival was the funky nine-piece Philly group, and while David Dye’s Funky Friday may be taking a week off for the festival, Swift Technique promptly started the weekend on a funky note nonetheless.The band’s deep grooves rallied the early fest attendees, the crowd forming a stage-side dance circle 30 people deep from the moment the band started performing.

The set was comprised of four songs total, but each of the jams got the crowd moving in a unique way. Tambourine-slapping, booty-shaking opener “Lucky Bump” kicked off the set on a high note, while XPN-fave “Annawanna” featured a heavy beat change breakdown to the song’s outro. The Key’s Shannon Vo dubbed the track a summertime jam earlier this month, and it certainly lives up to the claim. Elsewhere, the band performed their slow-grooving ode to the regional rail, singing “Take that train, baby, down the Main Line.” The unreleased song, “Main Line,” was a stand-out from the band’s set, highlighting their penchant for deep instrumental grooves and insanely catchy hooks.

Check out pictures from band’s festival-opening set below.

Setlist: 
Lucky Bump
Main Line
Annawanna
Reason to Be