Known for its historic Frank Furness–designed building and boasting former attendees as diverse as Martin Luther King Jr. and Kevin Bacon, the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia may seem like an unlikely setting to host a raucous punk show from London outfit Shame. Yet over the past few decades, the church has ushered in scores of indie, punk, and metal bands for performances in the basement thanks to independent promoter R5, including the likes of TV on the Radio, Mission of Burma, The xx, IDLES, and Converge.
The British post-punk five-piece were the latest to make their mark on the church basement’s shallow stage, with singer Charlie Steen pronouncing Philly “the City of Brotherly Shove.” Montreal-based indie band Ribbon Skirt opened the proceedings. FLOOD photographer Skylar Watkins was there to document the night. Check out highlights below.
SHAME
RIBBON SKIRT
