Philadelphia is a city that wears many faces. From cheesesteaks to "Rocky," and a sports fan base that is let’s just say very “passionate," there is rarely a dull moment around here. Our streets are decorated with diversity, embodying an entire spectrum of subcultures. We also house some of the most prestigious institutions, from universities to major corporations. Though a bit rough around the edges at times, it's undeniable that this city has got soul. When Philly does something, we do it 100 percent. This is especially true when it comes to our music scene. If you’ve been to a Philly show, you know firsthand that it is an experience unlike any other. In fact, you probably feel wrong attending a concert in any other city. Our underground scene is unmatched, because if there’s one thing Philadelphia has gotten right, it’s rock'n'roll.
Here's a list of bands that prove Philadelphia's rock scene is supreme.
1. Hall & Oates.
This famous duo originated in none other, but Philadelphia. They’ve been rocking since the 70s and their most popular track, “You Make My Dreams”, was featured in "500 Days of Summer."
2. The Starting Line.
Forming in 1999, these guys are officially in their third decade of making music. Thanks for setting a foundation for pop punk and putting Philly on the map.
3. Circa Survive.
This Philly-based band managed to make a name for themselves in the indie scene while bouncing in and out of record labels. They faced much success after deciding to go completely independent, proving just how capable they really are.
4. The War On Drugs.
Out of their three full-length studio albums, their latest "Lost In The Dream" has received the most praise. It was featured in Rolling Stone’s “50 Best Albums of 2014” and appeared in the 2015 American film, "Papertowns." All of their success began right here in Philadelphia.
5. The Wonder Years.
Nothing says “Philly” quite like The Wonder Years. Growing up on other Philadelphian pop punk bands like The Starting Line and Valencia, it’s no surprise The Wonder Years now world touring legends. They wear their city with pride in songs like “Melrose Diner” and “Logan Circle."
6. The Menzingers.
With a strong pop-punk scene already being established in Philly, these guys stepped up to the plate to make a name for punk rock in 2005. They’ve been doing crazy things ever since. You can catch them playing shows throughout New Jersey in 2016.
7. Modern Baseball.
Fairly new to the scene, this band has shown no problem living up to their Philadelphian predecessors. They just concluded their headlining tour with "Knucklepuck," "Crying", and "Somos." They plan to release their next album later this year.
8. Beach Slang
2015 has become a milestone year for punk rock with the release of Beach Slang’s first full-length album. "The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us" has received praise from some of the most reputable publications, from The Telegraph to Rolling Stone. This is the beginning of a very successful journey, and it’s happening right in Philadelphia.
9. Vacationer.
During The Starting Line’s hiatus, frontman and Philadelphia native, Kenny Vasoli began a new project. Vacationer established the nu-hula genre and went on to create two studio albums. They also landed a spot playing Firefly Music Festival in 2015.
10. CRUISR.
Sharing a similar vibe with Vacationer, these new kids on the block have experienced major success early on in their journey. They played Firefly 2015, along with the Made In America Festival. Singer Andy States wrote and recorded their entire first EP in his Philadelphia bedroom.
These are only ten of the countless artists that have begun their music careers in Philadelphia. Such an active timeline reminds us how much the rock scene has evolved and progressed over the years. The city of Philadelphia has played a key role this groundbreaking process. When it comes to our music, sky is the limit. Only time will tell which musical walls Philly artists will break from here, but the future is definitely looking bright.
