British indie-rock / post-punk band Yard Act came through Philadelphia Thursday night during their trip across the pond. Based in Leeds, UK the band — made up of James Smith, Ryan Needham, Sam Shipstone, and Jay Russell — put out their debut album The Overload at the start of 2022. Now the quartet is touring internationally with their latest release, Where’s My Utopia? which they released in March of 2024.
The Thursday night crowd filtered in off Spring Garden Street as Atlanta-based trio OMNI kicked off the night. The band, made up of guitarist Franki Broles, vocalist / bassist Philip Frobos, and drummer Chris Yonker, released their latest Souvenir back in February of 2024, and recorded an Indie Rock Hit Parade session at WXPN while touring in support of it. They filled their 30-minute opening set with both old and new songs, and the chill crowd was both very attentive and getting more visibly into the set as the floor filled up.
OMNI | photo by Ellen C Miller for WXPN
While most around the greater Philadelphia area were out staring at the night sky trying to catch glimpses and photos of the Northern Lights, one could argue that those who chose to be inside Union Transfer were treated to the “artificial northern lights show” during Yard Act’s headlining performance. The energy Smith and the rest of the band were giving on stage paired with the stage lights that (at times) resembled the same color scheme of the “real” Northern Lights show, and there were a lot of happy fans leaving the venue at the end of the night. (They definitely planned that, right?)
The (lucky) thirteen track setlist was split between songs off their 2024 album and older favorites. Leading up to their 2023 single and 8-minute dance-punk hit, “Trenchcoat Museum” which ended the set, they included a brilliant and lengthy guitar solo by Shipstone during “Land of the Blind” off the 2022 album The Overload. They mixed it up with newer favorites like “We Make Hits” and “Dream Job” off of Where’s My Utopia? as part of the mid-set peak.
Yard Act | photo by Ellen C Miller for WXPN
“Time flies when you’re having fun,” Smith told everyone after an energetic performance of “When the Laughter Ends” as they neared the end of their set. The set definitely did not feel like it was dragging on either. While the band didn’t talk too much in between songs they did make sure to give just enough “Thank You, Philly” comments and a quick cheers towards the end which included “Philly’s been good to us!” to make the fans feel loved.
Check out photos from the show in the gallery below, along with the setlist. Yard Act’s tour continues tonight at The Sinclair in Cambridge; dates here.