Let There Be Rock Vol. 3
Secret Address, Sappers, Swamp City Rockers
JT's Burgers & Brews
1940 W Passyunk Ave.
Philadelphia
Oct. 18, 2026
You might know Luk Henderik as the singer for local band Gripper. They're the tall one with curly hair and sunglasses throwing absolutely everything they got into microphone, and Luk has a lot to offer. Beside singing in Gripper, they also lend talent to Teenage Halloween and Nylon and have been busy booking shows in Philly, North Jersey and Asbury Park for 10 years at this point. One recent night after a Gripper gig at Brewery ARS in South Philly, Frank, the manager of the joint across the street at JT's Burgers & Brews approached and asked if they might want to book shows at JT's. Thus birthed the monthly "Let There Be Rock" series, which has been taking place there since July. This last round, Let There Be Rock Vol. 3 featured the likes of Secret Address, a young crew that are putting a big-sound spin on twee, and also threw us a curveball in the form of Sappers, a high energy four-piece that took me by surprise.
If you haven't been to JT's, it's a very comfy laid back bar/burger joint down Passyunk Ave. It has a sizable patio area outside, perfect for the high percentage of smokers that frequent DIY shows and a much older, local feel to it lacking the vacuous Starr-esque malaise so many bars and restaurants in this city seem drifted towards these days. It reminds me a little of the infamous, locally owned (and probably illegal) dive called JR's situated further south on Passyunk that years back that hosted all manner of wild DIY noise.
Secret Address is the main vehicle for Emerson Bright (singer/guitarist), with help from Will Vani (bass). The whole band, however, is much bigger than the two of them and involves a collective of friends featuring members from other great bands like Tongue Relaxer. The lineup at JT's had six people onstage, not including the tambourine-obsessed man who was having the time of life helping with the rhythm section. The band had two organists coming through, creating an omniscient, noisy warble behind the catchy pop structures. Most of the crew seem adept at great vocal harmony; Emerson dominated the singing with a pretty and clear falsetto. I've heard the band describe themselves as "Noise Twee" and I can think of no better term to describe the group. I can hear a catchy mix of jangle, dream-pop, and '60s pop/garage/surf. They played a great Weezer cover and seem able to really breath enthusiasm and life into covers most bands would struggle to make unique, often blending them effortlessly with original numbers. I once heard them knock a version of Alvvays' "Archie, Marry Me" out of the park at Minimart. Every time this band plays I see the whole room entranced.
Both openers were a little less on the pop end but still high on enthusiasm. Jersey band Swamp City Rockers was seasoned and had some really intense moments playing straight up Punk Rock & Roll (delivered shirtless nonetheless). Sappers are newer kids on the block forming in April this year and they really grabbed me. I should have known from the WWII helmet the drummer donned that I was about to be assaulted with their sharp, tight staccato attack. The vocals were run through mild processing and had a fun echoey effect similar (in my mind) to early Coachwhips. There was a little call and response between the singer and guitarist, which added stabby psyche-flanged lines in-between verses. The keyboard really helped to achieve an eggy frenetic energy. The drums and bass were tight and punchy, giving them a disciplined sound. The drummer informed me after the show that a sapper was an army post and in WWII they acted as military engineers who cleared mines by detonating them; the helmet was his grandfather's. Sounds like the spirit of the helmet is being put to good use.
