Last night, The Breeders played their instant classic Last Splash in its entirety for a sold out crowd at The Fillmore Philly. Beginning with “New Year,” the band went in sequential order — which surprised some folks in the crowd when their biggest hit, the slinky “Cannonball,” was the second song of the night, causing a rush of people to the front.
The rest of the performance of Last Splash — which celebrates its 30th anniversary with a new deluxe repress this year — was ragged and energetic. “Invisible Man,” was a spacey epic complete with bubbles, “No Aloha” was bright and booming. Hits like “Divine Hammer” and “Saints” kept spirits high with sisters Kim and Kelly Deal’s harmonies and vocal counterpoints guiding the way.
The Breeders | photo by John Vettese for WXPN
The album’s deeper tracks sounded great too, from “Driving on 9” — punctuated by a rocking fiddle solo from touring bandmate Sophie Galpin — and “Roi,” where drummer Jim Macpherson and bassist Josephine Wiggs switched instruments.
Once “Roi (Reprise),” ended, The Breeders returned for an encore that included “Wait in the Car “and “Nervous Mary” from 2018’s All Nerve, as well as Pod favorites “Doe” and “Iris.”
Screaming Females | photo by John Vettese for WXPN
New Jersey heroes Screaming Females played heavily from their latest album Desire Pathway in their opening set, hitting poppy jams like “Mourning Dove” and ragers like “Brass Bell.” They also dug into older favorites such as “Bird in Space,” and “Wishing Well.” The band was solid and in a tight groove, with guitarist and singer Marissa Paternoster providing explosive guitar solos throughout.
A solid night of heavy rock was had by all; check out more photos in the gallery below. The Last Splash anniversary tour continues tonight in Silver Spring, Maryland, and tomorrow in Brooklyn; full dates can be found here.