BROTHERKENZIE
Brotherkenzie, Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA 6/2/2026
Over the weekend, I received a message on Substack. I'm still pretty new to the platform, having discovered it through Hippo Campus when they announced Demos III. The message was from my buddy Cody.
"Hey dude! I'm not active on Instagram anymore and figured you'd be on here (and in the Demos III Substack)! I wanted to ask if you were gonna be at the Brotherkenzie show on Tuesday?"
I immediately realized it was a friend I had met during the Flood tour last year. I eagerly replied that I was planning to attend if it lined up with my work schedule, and luckily, it did.
A few days later, I found myself driving to the show. I ran into Cody outside the venue while he waited for his girlfriend, Martha, to arrive. As we caught up, he told me about his weekend meeting members of the cast of The Lord of the Rings. Once Martha arrived, we headed inside. We made our way upstairs, grabbed drinks, and stopped by the merch table. There we ran into Nathan, better known as Brotherkenzie, as he was setting up shirts and vinyl for the night.Cody and Martha approached him first while I hung back. After a few minutes, Nathan caught my eye and looked like he'd seen a ghost.
"I know you! You're a legend."
Honestly, he seemed more surprised to see me than I was to see him.
For those who don't know, I'm a massive Hippo Campus fan and have followed the band and their side projects for years. I interviewed them back in 2015 around the release of Bashful Creatures, and since then I've crossed paths with them numerous times through shows, interviews, and the online fan community. The last time I saw Nathan in person was in 2019 on tour with his band, Hippo Campus, so it had been quite a while.
We spent the next few minutes catching up, sharing stories about past concerts, favorite albums, and eventually explaining how Cody and I had become friends at a Hippo Campus show. As showtime approached, Nathan stepped away to prepare, and we made our way to the floor. A small crowd filled the room as the lights shifted to a warm orange-red glow. Soon enough, Brotherkenzie took the stage.
I'll admit, I didn't keep track of the setlist. I wanted to stay present and enjoy seeing one of my favorite artists perform in such an intimate setting.
One of the funniest moments came when Nathan accidentally mixed up some lyrics, singing, "It's cold, it's hot, you can't park anywhere at all," before joking about Philadelphia's notoriously difficult parking situation. The crowd immediately laughed, especially anyone familiar with trying to find a spot near Johnny Brenda's.
The performance felt less like a concert and more like spending time with an old friend. Nathan stumbled over a lyric or two throughout the set, but rather than detracting from the show, it made everything feel genuine and human.
About halfway through the set, he dedicated a song to Martha, much to the delight of both her and Cody.
The set featured plenty of new material alongside fan favorites like "Brooklyn" and "Lightning Bug." The combination of guitar and harmonica was a highlight throughout the evening. Nathan also revealed that a new album would be arriving in the coming weeks and treated the audience to several songs from the upcoming release before wrapping up his set.
Once Brotherkenzie left the stage, it was time for Anjimile to headline.
While I initially came for Nathan's set, I quickly found myself drawn to Anjimile's music. The songs felt soft, nostalgic, and deeply comforting. Listening to them reminded me of sitting indoors on a rainy afternoon while taking in the sounds of nature outside. It struck me as the kind of music you'd put on to slow down, unwind, or ease an anxious mind.
Standing nearby, I noticed two fans becoming increasingly emotional and excited as each song began. Their reactions only reinforced how much Anjimile's music resonated with the audience and elevated the atmosphere in the room.
After the show, I had the opportunity to speak with both artists. I first chatted with Anjimile alongside Cody and Martha. Martha mentioned that his music evoked a similar feeling to Big Thief, which he received as a huge compliment. As we talked, Cody asked where he was from, and Anjimile shared that he grew up in Texas. Before leaving, we snapped a few portraits together.
On our way out, we stopped by Nathan's merch table one last time to wish him luck on the rest of the tour. I picked up one of his long-sleeve shirts along with two records, and we grabbed a quick photo together before saying our goodbyes.
It was exactly the kind of night I needed.
With work waiting for me the next morning, I expected a Tuesday concert to leave me exhausted. Instead, it felt refreshing. It got me out of the house, allowed me to reconnect with old friends, discover an artist I hadn't fully appreciated before, and spend an evening surrounded by good music and good people.
Brotherkenzie will be heading back out on tour in July, and his new album is set to arrive soon. In the meantime, give Ditto a listen, and don't forget to check out Anjimile as well.
Shot and Written by Dylan Sheridan.
