by Adam McGrath
A fired-up crowd came out to support Philadelphia band Modern Suits Friday night at Kung Fu Necktie as the band debuted tracks from their new EP, Every Light. From longtime friends to that one weirdly intense dancing girl, everyone joined in the good vibes as Keith Gibbons, Adam Jessamine, Mikal Smith, and Dean Hartley kicked off their effusive set with power rocker “The Road”.
Second cut “Waiting” brought a special guest to the stage in one Fred Mascherino. The former guitarist for Taking Back Sunday, Mascherino has released solo material under the moniker The Color Fred, and produced and recorded Every Light in his West Chester studio. The talented guitarist played a short solo set ahead of Modern Suits, and performed admirably with a shoulder torn in a freak dog-walking accident.
(all photos by Adam McGrath)
The rest of Modern Suits’ performance was full of emotion, as Jessamine walked his tatted hands all over the fretboard and Gibbons thanked the crowd repeatedly in between gulps of air. Tracks like “Home”, “Tunnels”, and “Every Light” were greeted with tons of cheers and applause, and the band’s tight-knit effort proved they are ready for the next step. With plenty of fans, famous or otherwise, Modern Suits is in store for a wild ride.
Also on the bill were Those Mockingbirds, which added a nice twist to their straight-forward rock sound with the addition of keys and violin, and Moxy, which were returning to the stage for the first time in three years. Neither of these acts necesssarily tore the place down, but provided ample support for the impressive headliners. When you’re making your playlists for the week, make sure to add Every Light to the queue.
Mikal Smith
Adam Jessamine
Fred Mascherino
