For Philly noisemakers The Out-Sect, autumn is their season.

Not to say this band doesn’t work hard the whole year round; I first saw them at an Anchor Rock Club gig a couple Aprils back, after all, and they’re readying an album for release in the first half of 2025. But something about their moody garage punk tones and gritty aesthetic — both indebted to heroes of the 80s and 90s underground, from The Cramps to The Make-Up — make The Out-Sect fit perfectly in the chilly air and dark skies of the fall, and ahead of a run of shows over the next month, we’re excited to welcome them to WXPN’s performance space for this week’s Key Studio Session.

Made up of Lisa Livewire and Grey Haas on guitar and vocals, Laura Lawless on bass and vocals, Romain Paumard on crushing drums and Todd Fausnacht ominous keys, the band shares a trio of brand new songs in this set. “You’re Bugged” is a gnarly rager taking on folks who use a hot-shit pose to mask their own mediocrity; “Hopped Up” is a throwback party anthem about living on the edge; in between, “The Drag” is a rip-roaring instrumental with a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it harmonica solo. The band also throws in a fired-up deep-cut cover of “I Like To Die,” an early single by the little-known 90s Albuquerque four-piece The Drags.

Watch The Out-Sect’s Key Studio Session below, and see them live and in person tonight at Johnny Brenda’s for a Philly Music Fest bill with Sheer Mag. (Details here.) You can also catch the band November 1st at Underground Arts opening a post-Halloween show headlined by The Mummies, and on November 16th with Reckless Randy and Party Nerves. Tickets and info on those shows at the XPN Concert Calendar.

The Out-Sect - The Key Studio Sessions (Full Set)

Setlist
“You’re Bugged”
“The Drag”
“Hopped Up”
“I Like To Die”