ELECTRIC GUEST
Electric Guest, Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA 2/7/2026
With Electric Guest being the first band I ever photographed, their shows will always feel personal, and absolutely unmissable. Their return to Union Transfer carried that same sense of familiarity and excitement, like reconnecting with an old friend who somehow gets better every time you see them.
Opening the night was SNACKTIME, a local funk collective that wasted no time turning the venue into a dance floor. With a lineup that included everything from brass to sousaphone, their sound was big, brassy, and impossible to ignore. The standout moment of their set came with a crowd-pleasing cover of Wheatus’ “Teenage Dirtbag”, a song that reliably transforms any room into a full-volume singalong. Union Transfer was no exception.
Before Electric Guest even took the stage, the night took a surreal turn when a bear-like mascot wandered out to light a candle and ceremoniously declare that this would be an evening to let go of life’s negativity. It was quirky, theatrical, and perfectly on-brand.
From the moment frontman Asa Taccone appeared, the energy surged. Dancing across the stage with effortless charisma, Taccone commanded attention without ever feeling over-rehearsed. The third song into the set brought one of the band’s biggest hits, “Dollar,” and with it, a shower of fake cash tossed into the crowd. Fans jumped and laughed, scrambling for their own souvenir as the room pulsed with excitement.
Midway through the show, Taccone paused to hype up the tour merch; only to fire it into the audience via a T-shirt cannon. It was a genuinely hilarious, unexpected moment that added to the band’s playful stage presence.
The mood shifted during a more intimate stretch of the set when Taccone performed an acoustic rendition of “Troubleman.” Stripped down and sincere, the performance highlighted the emotional core beneath the band’s polished grooves. As a longtime favorite of mine, finally hearing it live felt especially meaningful.
Of course, the reflective moment didn’t last forever. The band kicked the energy back into high gear with “Oh Devil,” its infectious rhythm pulling everyone back to their feet. By the end of the night, Union Transfer; affectionately nicknamed “the spaghetti factory” was once again a full-blown dance party.
Another Electric Guest show, another unforgettable night.
Shot and Written by Jonah van Bemmelen
