Red Aunts, RunHideFight & Control Top – Boot & Saddle – Philadelphia, PA – June 1, 2018 (A P

Updated: Jun 27, 2022

Red Aunts, RunHideFight & Control Top – Boot & Saddle – Philadelphia, PA – June 1, 2018

Punk rock was alive and well during last Friday’s Red Aunts show at Boot & Saddle. Playing a rare East Coast show, the quartet of Terri Wahl, Kerry Davis, Debi Martini and Lesley Ishino put on an explosive show. Joking with each other and ready to move into the crowd or rock with each other, they led a three-band bill that was one of the best of the year. Wahl was brilliantly caustic on vocals and guitar while Davis brought the banter and guitar theatrics as well. Martini’s slick bass and Ishino’s drums rounded out a solid punk sound that would reverberate in the Boot and Saddle for some time to come.

The other two brilliant acts are Philly-based and should be experience live as much as possible. To watch Geeta Dalal Simons of RunHideFight shred on a double-neck guitar while Brother JT backs on guitar, Christine Weiser backs on bass and Jon Kois brings it home on percussion is a thing of garage rock beauty. Quickly becoming one of my favorite Philly bands, they are a treat live.

Control Top is super-charged post-punk. Ali Carter steers the ship with forthright delivery and unassuming hooks that get you when you least expect it. Al Creedon’s guitar and hair theatrics work to rev up the sound while Alex Licktenhour’s drums seal the deal on the excitement that is Control Top.

Chris Sikich