Naked Lightbulb presents:
Smirk, Military School, The III, Marathon '77
The Pouch
Philadelphia
July 29, 2026
Marathon '77 is one of tightest and most well liked live bands playing Philly DIY right now. They situate themselves carefully along the intersection of many different styles and scenes happening currently. They can easily share a bill with groups that are power pop; they also have the raw power to hook a crowd at a punk/metal show and could slot right next to progressive or math-like bands. Tonight was no exception; Marathon was a great ice-breaker for a show that moved from The III's big stoner solos onto Military School's loud, fast hardcore bops.
The III (pronounced "the third") is a side project of Will McAndrews, who plays bass in the well known Philly band Poison Ruïn. Poison Ruïn just returned from a European tour and McAndrews switched rolls up to showcase his guitar skills. Ruïn's front man Mac Kennedy plays support on bass and their friend Pat Canaboy (Sun Organ etc.) on drums. The trio pumps out full-forward guitar music in a style reminiscent of Dinosaur Jr. The songs have big meaty guitar hooks and thick wailing solos. Will's song structures have that driving dirge that you'd find in a Wipers song (think "Doom Town") but slowed down a little, then kissed with a wild psychedelic distortion courtesy of Ron Asheton (Stooges).
It was a pleasure to watch; the band was both locked-in and fluid. People in the audience began wolfishly to slide hardcore style from side to side, slowly working up the courage to body slam. McAndrew's strong domineering solos seemed a suitable soundtrack for being sideswiped by crowd-drilling thrill moshers. Only a few hard thumps were felt, but it was just a taste of what what was coming.
LA touring band Smirk came out fully ready for a rowdy crowd and played short, punchy songs. They were a snappy fast paced group, definitely on the eggier side of the punk spectrum. Live, they were a little more blaring than the recordings might hint at. Front man Nick Vicario threw himself into his performance and all over the basement floor. It had been a while since I'd fended off attack by roving drunk basement hooligans flinging themselves against the wall like sticky hands, but it felt good to work so hard to simply stand upright and film a band. The videos I captured of Smirk demonstrate the frantic energy of the crowd and so will my bruised limbs. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Sims Hardin, who recently finished a new album with local stalwarts Mesh, used this opportunity to blow off some steam with his side project Military School. They added to the general chaos of the evening with some fast and loud little thrashers. Military School was less egg and more from the rip and run end of punk. They sound more in the vein of early California Hardcore like Adolescents, or late 2000s German punks Dean Dirg.
In under three hours, the bands and the crowd acted like a sifter making sure we were all on the same page. It felt more like the chaotic fun basement shows I remember when I first moved to Philly and the sweat and bruises were proof. Tour is over and in Philly week nights are for locals.
