As the sun went down on Friday, the temperatures in Philly plummeted into the teens, with the wind making it all the more biting. The temptation to stay home was real, but as Philly podcaster Dan Drago of 25 O’Clock Tweeted, “My advice to anyone who’s supposed to go out tonight to see a band play and are thinking of staying in: Go. They have heat at (most) venues, and the bands will be happy you came. Example: the temperature is so dialled in at @worldcafelive that there are TROPICAL TREES.”
The trees were in fact light-up patio decor chosen by Chestnut Grove, the long-running Perkiomenville rootsy rock and roll outfit who was headlining the Music Hall. And it seems that many folks heeded Drago’s advice, since the room was packed — from the early arrivers dancing to opener Brick Nova, who ramped their set up with funky fluid jam rock into a fervent finale, to the crowd swaying to always-uplifting N’awlins-flavored modern rock of Stella Ruze, and finally an energized reception to Chestnut Grove punctuated by instrumental switch-offs, Eagles jerseys (go birds), inflatable balls bouncing around the room, confetti, and finally, every musician imaginable onstage to close the night.
Check out photos of the show below, care of WXPN photographer Ellen Miller. For more from the bands, revisit Chestnut Grove’s 2022 XPoNential Music Festival performance here, check out Stella Ruze’s 2021 XPoNential Music Festival performance here, and dig into Brick Nova’s Bandcamp page here.
Brick Nova | photo by Ellen Miller
Brick Nova | photo by Ellen Miller
Stella Ruze | photo by Ellen Miller
Stella Ruze | photo by Ellen Miller
Chestnut Grove | photo by Ellen Miller
Chestnut Grove | photo by Ellen Miller