KROOKED KINGS
Krooked Kings, The Foundry, Philadelphia, PA 4/18/2026
April 18, 2026, Record Store Day, easily one of the best days of the year to celebrate music in all its forms. I started the morning digging through crates at Siren Records, picking up a few limited RSD exclusives before heading into the city for work. After that, it was straight to The Foundry to catch Salt Lake City’s Krooked Kings.
I got there late (work wins sometimes), so I missed the opener, Night Cap. I made it a point to introduce myself anyway, and I’m glad I did, they were super welcoming. We ended up talking about linking up next time they’re in Philly and even tossed around the idea of shooting portraits after the show.
Inside, I found my friend Seth, who immediately let me know I really missed out on Night Cap’s set. He had sent me a video earlier, and yeah, they sounded tight. That just made me more excited to connect with them later.
When Krooked Kings hit the stage, I jumped into the pit to grab some shots. They opened with “Telephobia,” the first track off their new album In Another Life, a strong way to kick things off, especially for my first time seeing them live. Right after, they rolled into two of my personal favorites, “Headhunters” and “Memory Loss,” which set the tone for the rest of the night.
From there, I stepped back into the crowd, and the energy didn’t let up. Seth and I were singing along the whole time, along with what felt like the entire room. The new material translated really well live, and when “Bird Scooter” came on, the place went off. Midway through the set, the crowd even joined in to sing happy birthday to their keyboardist, David, a cool, unexpected moment. They closed things out with “Sick of Being Young,” ending on a high note.
After the show, we hit the merch table to keep the Record Store Day spirit going. Seth went all in and bought every record they had, honestly, the clearest sign of a great show. We got to meet both bands afterward, and they couldn’t have been more appreciative.
I had a chance to talk with Quinn about his drumming on “Headhunters,” and he mentioned it was heavily inspired by Thom Yorke’s project The Smile, particularly drummer Tom Skinner. You can hear that influence, but it still feels like they’re carving out their own sound.
We wrapped up the night outside with Night Cap, shooting portraits and getting to know them more. Super genuine group, and it sounds like they’ll be back on tour soon.
Overall, it was one of those nights that reminds you why live music matters. If you get the chance, go see Krooked Kings on this tour, and definitely give In Another Life a spin.
Shot and Written by Dylan Sheridan.
