There’s a certain magic to witnessing a band that should be playing to thousands performing in the confines of a small venue. And when that space is as intimate as Philadelphia’s Underground Arts, you know you’re in for a legendary show.
The stage may have been tiny, but the energy at the venue on Saturday night was immense as die-hard fans packed the space, eager to soak up one of Young Fathers’ rare US appearances. Pulling heavily from 2018’s Cocoa Sugar and last year’s Heavy Heavy, the Edinburgh-based trio and their backing band looked like they were playing a game of Twister as they moved around the stage trading off on vocals, percussion, and synth duties without getting tangled as they unleashed big beats, soulful vocals, and unexpected touches that recall early Massive Attack in their sound system days.
Despite the constraints of the stage, they put on a stadium-sized performance. Their tight set had little banter from the band, maybe as a rehearsal for their upcoming Coachella appearance, where they’re likely to win over many new fans in the desert this weekend.
Check out highlights from their Philly stop by FLOOD photographer David Iskra below.
