JOHN ROBERT/FELLY
John Robert/Felly, The Foundry, Philadelphia, PA 9/27/25.
After being a fan of John-Robert for a couple of years; ever since I discovered one of his songs on an Instagram reel, I was thrilled to finally see him perform live. Early in his set, he sang a song about dating and the awkward feelings that come with it, setting an intimate and honest tone for the night. When introducing his bandmates, he added a charming personal touch by sharing their day jobs: one works as a librarian, another at a bike shop, and he himself delivers pizzas for Domino’s.
In a particularly memorable moment, John-Robert talked about watching Donnie Darko and experiencing an existential crisis, which inspired him to write something uplifting to counter that heaviness. The result was his feel-good track “Good Things Will Come,” which brought a warm energy to the room. He closed his set with “The Other Side,” a heartfelt song about grief written in memory of his grandmother. It was a tender and emotional ending that left a strong impression.
I only recently got into Felly’s music, but I’ve quickly become a fan; not just of his sound but of the way he connects with the audience. As his band took the stage, the crowd’s excitement grew, erupting into cheers when Felly ran out. He kicked things off with “Ambroxyde,” immediately filling the venue with electric energy. He bounced across the stage and even leapt onto the barricade, singing directly to the fans, a move that made the experience feel personal and alive.
Throughout the set, Felly made sure to play fan favorites, including “Heartstrings,” his collaboration with the legendary Santana. One of the coolest parts of the show was seeing the wide range of his musical influences, seamlessly moving between alternative, indie, and hip hop styles; all of which resonated with the Philly crowd.
The highlight of the night was his soulful cover of Mac Miller’s “Come Back to Earth.” It felt like a fitting tribute, especially since I had been thinking the whole time how much Felly reminded me of Mac. He left the stage to the same roar of applause that greeted him at the start.
I already can’t wait to see him again, hopefully next time in a bigger venue, which he’s clearly destined for.
Shot and Written by Jonah van Bemmelen
