AUTOHEART
Autoheart, Warehouse on Watts, Philadelphia, PA 12/3/2025
I’ve been to plenty of shows at Warehouse on Watts, but not many upstairs. Earlier this year, I attended a DJ set with The Dare, but this was my first time seeing a live band in the upstairs space. It’s always interesting how, even when you live in a city and go to multiple shows a month, you can still discover new venues each year. This time around, I was there to see Autoheart, with openers Wild Party.
I remember having Autoheart’s song “Moscow” on my playlist back in high school, so it was exciting to finally hear it live. I was also already a big fan of Wild Party and had seen them once before in early 2024.
Before the show started, I ran into Lincoln from Wild Party and wished him luck. Once the band took the stage, I made my way into the pit. Hearing Wild Party’s new album live was a special treat, especially since it’s their first release in over ten years. Despite a few technical difficulties, the crowd responded enthusiastically to their set. It’s always a highlight to hear my favorite song, “Outright,” performed live.
After their set, I went downstairs to hang out with the band for a bit. We caught up, and I spoke with Lincoln about his family and time on tour. He shared that this has been their best tour yet and that they couldn’t be happier with all the new friends they’ve made along the way. I also talked with Cary, the band’s drummer, about work-life balance while touring, working in music, and running a business. Cary runs his own clothing company in California under the name Cary LaScala. While we were downstairs, a young girl and her mother approached the band and asked them to sign her broken arm cast. The band happily obliged and even complimented her Autoheart merchandise.
I headed back upstairs and admired all of the fans’ homemade merchandise—hand-painted denim jackets always put a smile on my face. Autoheart jumped right into their set as fans crowded the floor. The band was incredibly interactive and gracious with the audience. “Thank you to all of you who have been just radiating good vibes,” Barney said.
Of course, hearing “Moscow” live for the first time was a highlight, but my favorite moment came when the band dedicated the song “Anniversary” to not one, but two different couples in the crowd who got engaged during the show. “For all those who are honoring something special,” Barney said. “This one is for you.”
After the set, the crowd erupted into chants for an encore. The band returned to the stage and agreed to play three more songs. “The first song we’re going to do is the first original song we’ve ever recorded, ‘The Sailor Song,’” Barney announced, sending the crowd into a frenzy. They closed the night on a high note with fan favorites. “We’re going to end this show with one of our best songs. Oh my God, there’s so many of them, but can you beat ‘Factories’?” Jody joked. During the song, they handed the microphone to a fan in the front row, letting her sing along with the band.
After the stage cleared, the band moved to the side of the room to meet every fan who wanted to talk. It was genuinely heartwarming. I thanked them for inviting me to the show and took a few portraits of the three core band members. Downstairs, I ran into the fan who had sung during “Factories.” Her name was Peressa, and she was with her friend Riya. When I asked her favorite song from the set, she said it had to be “Factories” since she got to sing with the band, though she also loved “We Can Build a Fire” and “Wretch.”
As I left the venue, I said goodbye to my friends in Wild Party one last time. They mentioned they have an upcoming headlining tour in April, and I’m excited to see them return to Philadelphia. Autoheart’s tour wrapped up shortly after in Chicago, and they seem eager to get back on the road soon. Definitely give both bands a listen.
Shot and Written by Dylan Sheridan
