Townie Tour Out at the Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia

This post has been sitting in my drafts for weeks now because well life has been happening quite intensely and I just needed to take a breather from everything. I would spend countless hours sitting in silence and just focusing on breathing and clearing my head. Journaling has been helpful and being outside and going for walks really does work. Even for my mental health. And by the time this post would go up – you’ll also have read the latest life post titled “003 - I quit Photography…almost”. So for now this is one of the last shows I will be photographing for a bit as I work to fall in love with photography again. I hope you enjoy. It was quite therapeutic. 

The weather might have been a cool, 66* weather but it was the perfect backdrop for a night out at the Brooklyn Bowl. Philadelphia is such a vibrant city and X Ambassadors were the ideal complement to the moody weather. Townie is the latest from X Ambassadors, an intimate collection of introspective songs from the town of Ithaca in Upstate New York. Having spent quite some time in the area I grew to love the idyllic landscape with its beautiful views and its even more personable towns. So of course this would be a great way to celebrate those moments of pride in landing on something that makes you feel alive. The crowd was multi-generational with parents taking children, mothers coming to spend the night with their daughters, and couples spending a nice night out. Brooklyn Bowl is a unique space and the sounds of rolling pins coupled with the crowd singing along to openers Rowan Drake and headliners X Ambassadors. It made for quite the experience.

Having this be the first time you’re hearing this band, you’ll likely leave a fan with a huge smile on your face. The lead singer of New West was energetic as he danced and sang his way across the stage. Making sure to acknowledge fans from the front and center, to the back of the room by the bar. During the early part of their set, he even hopped into the pit to sing alongside his fans. And even shared some epic moments with a few of them. Having that moment etched into your brain is something that makes a lasting impression on one’s mind. The entire set was fueled by high octane energy with layered moments of soulful ballads. They were witty and personable and engaging with the crowd. And won many new fans along the way. 

As the lights dim, and the crowd fades to a silent hum. The band walked on stage and immediately jumped into their set for the night. It was a mixture of old and new, and celebrating their latest release TOWNIE. Which in itself is a very memorable album title as it is an interpretation of one’s own experiences living in their hometown. But mixed with the nostalgia of summer nights with the windows rolled down. Late night drive thru’s fueled by the euphoria of a good night out. “Renegades” is one of those songs that just makes you sing along at the top of your lungs. With the cares of the world left at the venue doors. Everyone just reveled in the moment and it was as if a balm was placed on the crowd. Just pure joy emitted throughout the venue. The atmosphere of the crowd was electrifying as the band went through selections from the album TOWNIE including Smoke on the Highway, Half-Life (a ballad dedicated to a loved one), and Your Town. They also included Home (their collaboration with Machine Gun Kelly and Bebe Rexha) and Happy People (co-written with Teddy Swims and Jac Ross). 

If you were to tell me that one day I’d have an emotional attachment to a song — I’d have laughed. But it is a reoccurring theme in my life as a fan of music. For me, and I suspect many others, songs like Unsteady are the epitome of what heartbreak sounds like in a song. The first time I heard that song, it was in my late twenties and my relationship with my parents was not as it is today. And despite that I still feel that love for them throughout my entire existence. Fast forward to years later, and that song has a newer meaning as it is a therapeutic way to come to terms with grief and anger. And how to deal with a loss like one of my parents. “Dad I know you’re trying to fight when you feel like crying” feels like a gut punch but one that is almost relieving. So I stood there, listening to it in real time, forgiving myself and just being in the moment. And I think for many people- concerts are a way to just forgive themselves and be in the moment. To embrace that bit of respite from a crazy world. And that’s what makes being at an X Ambassadors show so special. It moves you to feel and smile and not be so critical of oneself. 

So if you’re in the mood for a good time, and to celebrate the beauty that is TOWNIE — go out and see the band live in a city near you.