In the heart of Philadelphia is a magical set of venues, The Fillmore and the Brooklyn Bowl. Many a show have been held on these stages, but the Champagne Jam is more than a show. It is a toast to the community, the scene, and everyone who works so hard to make it possible for this magic to continue. This two-night festival combines great music, fortune tellers, caricature artists, and a friendly competition of which Front Bottom member can slam a bottle of champagne the fastest. Brian secured the belt this year.
While it is a two-night event, I only had the pleasure of attending night two meaning I sadly missed out on some great acts such as Palamino (Alt/Emo “Rocking Indie Goodness” from New Jersey), Leisure Hour (Midwest Emo from Muncie Indiana, one of my top 3 bands of 2025), and Balance and Composure (do they need a description? You know them). From the TikToks and Reels I’ve seen, they rocked the city that Friday and the crowd matched right back. The ability to build a lineup of such different but complimentary genres and artists lends to the formation of a fun and energetic crowd.
How could you not want to crowd surf with Reagan Gordon singing her heart out while simultaneously thrashing the drums?
I came into night 2 hoping for the same energy I saw at night 1 and was not let down, but the night began soft, slow, and melancholic. Funambulist, a new band formed by Kevin Devine of Bad Books and Caroline Ross of Brother Bird, opened the Foundry Stage with a soul entrancing set filled with heartfelt songs exploring topics like doubt, self-discovery, and love. These tracks had emotional depth reminiscent of Bright Eyes or Elliott Smith. The two brought the crowd to a quiet focus and allowed us to bath in a range of emotions guided by gentle guitar and piano. You’d never guess it was their first show together if they didn’t tell us. Incredible performance that left me yearning for younger years and past loves.
Over at the Brooklyn Bowl next door, Public Works was setting up for their set following The Lunar Calendar. I sadly missed Lunar Calendar's set, but Saher Khan’s music is fantastic. Her prose-poem songs are filled with topics like identity, belonging, and building a place to be happy to call home. Their folk-punk/indie styles combined with such enthralling lyrical storytelling combine to create songs that get scratch a certain itch for me.
Public Works, a New Jersey Pop-Punk band, has a mastery of getting a crowd excited. With lyrics that touch on topics like addiction, recovery, family trauma, and self worth, Public Works still manages to make you want to dance. “Drywall” has been a staple on my playlists this year. The lyrics “What the fuck is mental health? That’s a silly fucking name for me just wanting to kill myself.” Gets stuck in my head daily. This band has the stage energy to get crowds going at any venue in any slot, excited to see more from them in 2026.
Where Public Works can make the Brooklyn Bowl feel like a stadium, Emperor X can make it feel like an extremely personal basement set (in a good way). Starting the set in the middle of the crowd, Chad Matheny brought the crowd at the Brooklyn Bowl together for an in-pit singalong jam session. His lo-fi indie-folk sound combined with lyrics about the dangers of technology, the greed of capitalism, and urban life experiences lead to a set of comradery and what I could only describe as class-consciousness awakening. I’ve seen Emperor X twice now, and both left me feeling empathetic and melancholic of my fellow working man.
Someone get this man a set on the Daily Show.
Family Dinner was next up on the Brooklyn Bowl stage, and holy cannoli what a set. These indie-alt 90s-vibe rockers from Long Beach Long Island have it. From the moment they hit the stage the crowd knew it was time to jump, yell, and mosh. Danceable dark lyrics seems to be the theme for night 2 and this band fits that puzzle piece perfectly. Nothing makes me prouder of being from Long Island than hearing awesome bands from on the island do big rock shit.
Back over at the Foundry Stage at the Fillmore, Annie DiRusso is keeping the show hype. I sadly missed her set but I know Annie DiRusso killed it if it was anything similar to her recent Tiny Desk set. “Its Always Summer Somewhere” is in my on repeat playlist for good reason. She’s got storytelling nailed and her pop infused garage rock guitar skills match.
I did make it back to the Foundry Stage for Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties. Why did we stop doing big band music? The horns? The Lap Steel? The Accordion? Aaron West of the Wonder Years side project is arguably better than his main project (please don’t hurt me chat, I know this may be a hot take). There is something absolutely magical about putting a dozen insanely talented musicians together and hearing what they come up with. In Leiu of Flowers is a masterpiece, and hearing those horn blasts live is enough to make a man consider celibacy. “Our Apartment” and “Just Sign the Papers” are lyrically devastating but musically entrancing. “Monongahela Park” brought tears to my eyes. This band is a must see for me anytime they play the NY tri-state area. They are probably the best band the have play before The Front Bottoms.
Speaking of The Front Bottoms, our wonderful creators and hosts of the Champagne Jam, they never fail to deliver on an amazing show. Opening with Motorcycle, the crowd immediately erupted. Brian could have stopped singing and we would have carried it for him the whole night. One of my favorite things is when a crowd knows every word and proves it. Shout-out to the hotdog gang for going to hard, you guys were awesome.
Up on stage the band was joined by all the other artists, friends, and family at a small bar cycling through like episodes of Cheers. Seeing the Leisure Hour baddies up there during Laugh Til I Cry, followed by GDP coming out for Historic Cemetery reminded me why The Champagne Jam is more than a show, and it does so much by bringing so many varying sounds together for a weekend.
The set-list included more of their anthems such as “The Plan (Fuck Jobs)”, “Plastic Flowers”, “Joanie”, “Tattooed Tears”, and concluded with the masterpiece Twin Size Mattress. The crowd kept the energy going all night. I watched Hotdogs mosh with Santa and the Grinch, I witnessed friends hold hands dancing and singing, and I think I saw young lovers get engaged? Shout-out to the little kid with the sign saying “My 1st Front Bottom Concert”, I hope you had the best time little dude!
Thank you to all the artists, musician or otherwise, for lending your incredible talents to an amazing event. Thank you to all of the event staff, security, valet/parking attendants, and the city of Philadelphia for putting up with us all. Finally, the biggest thank you to Chloe, the love of my life, for planning our entire trip to this amazing event and somehow keeping it secret from me for several months, I love you!