Open Session with KJ McNeill
W Philadelphia
1439 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia
Aug. 10, 2026
With a lifetime of experience playing and attending shows at basements, dilapidated punk houses, and warehouses alike, it’s rare that I get to hear live music in an environment that could be described as “upscale.” On Monday, Aug. 10, I ventured out to The W Philadelphia hotel to catch Open Session, a free event featuring live performances from some of the city’s best emerging local artists.
Next to The W’s lobby is The Living Room, a luxurious sunken bar offering drinks and light food. Last night, The Living Room welcomed singer and multi-instrumentalist KJ McNeill for an evening of soulful classics and virtuosic guitar playing. A gifted musician in the studio and on stage, McNeill has worked with everyone from Brenda K Starr to the trumpeter Lee Hogans. McNeill’s resume includes a stint on tour singing background for Stevie Wonder. Needless to say I was excited to settle into The W’s plush surroundings and take in the show.
McNeill warmed up with some lovely blues licks before sliding into some lovely Mayfield-esque chords. I didn't recognize the instrumental piece, but McNeill’s playing coaxed the maximum amount of feeling out of each melodic line. From there, he seamlessly transitioned into Outkast's psychedelic soul epic “SpottieOttieDopaliscious.” As McNeill played, he introduced each element of the piece incrementally, first the baseline, then the chords, then the melodic line. It’s a testament to McNeill’s skill that he took such a big and colorful arrangement and pared it down to solo guitar without losing any of the song's musicality.
An inspired and eclectic set, McNeil also played lovely versions of Lenny Kravitz’s “Again” and Dionne Farris’ '90s alt-rock gem “I Know.” Amidst the tasteful lighting and expensive-looking art on the walls, The W Philadelphia offered a nice vibe for McNeill’s emotive and soulful music.
