Sweepers, Rope Trick, Spectral Forces, Sun Within
Vox Populi
319 N 11th St.
Philadelphia
April 10, 2026
Philadelphia has a long and storied history of experimental rock music. In the 1960s, the city was an important hub for the East Coast proliferation of underground rock and psychedelia. Touring acts and locals held down sets at Center City venues like The Magic Theatre, 2nd Fret, and The Trauma. By the 1980s, Philly enjoyed thriving punk and post-punk scenes that laid an important foundation for the flurry of activity that sprang up around the psych and noise bands of the 90s and 2000s.
This past Friday, April 10, Vox Populi art space in Callowhill kept this legacy alive with a top-notch bill of some of Philly’s best and freakiest bands. Grunge/Punk trio Sun Within opened with a violent and punishing set. Last year, Sun Within recorded a fantastic single called “Synthesis + Realization,” so I’m looking forward to hearing more of their heavy and otherworldly sound. Next, free-jazz/punk/spoken word warriors Spectral Forces played a dynamic set full of deft improvisation and musical interplay. Upright bassist Pete Dennis and drummer Julius Masri’s communication was impressive as they used their instruments to converse through a thorny maze of tempo and meter changes. Alex Smith held it down on vocals and synths, conjuring the holy, cosmic spirit of beat poets Ted Joans and Bob Kaufman.
Psychedelic-Metal duo Rope Trick came through, conjuring up unbridled power from just guitar and drums. Their set opened with a heavy drone augmented by some gorgeous melodic guitar lines. Singer Indy Shome’s wordless wails cut through the room, before they were consumed by a thunderous wall of drums and guitars. With their heavy riffs, odd-metered breakdowns and controlled feedback, Rope Trick takes the heavy, stoner, and space rock sound of bands like Hawkwind and Kyuss to another level.
Philly No-Wave, art-punkers Sweepers rounded out the evening with a refreshingly funny and manic set. As I sat in the lobby chatting with Katy, Leah, and Geeta of Sun Within, Sweepers vocalist Renée Gavitt ran out into the lobby sweeping with a giant broom. We took that to mean that the band’s set had started, so we hurried into the black box performance space to watch. Sweepers members barked like dogs and referenced DMX in between songs, and treated the audience to some of the strangest and most delightful, cleaning-themed punk songs you’re likely to hear. Overall, it was a great night, keeping with Philly’s grand tradition of weird, fucked up, and brilliant rock music.
