SHAME
Shame, First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA 1/16/2025
I’ve been wanting to see Shame for years, so when I found out they were playing First Unitarian Church; one of my favorite venues, I knew I had to be there. The night opened with Ribbon Skirt, an indie rock band from Montreal, Canada. They did a great job warming up the crowd, and by the time their set ended, the venue was packed wall to wall in anticipation of Shame.
As soon as Shame hit the stage, the room erupted. The energy in the audience was immediate and undeniable. Vocalist Charlie Steen wasted no time, sprinting across the stage, leaning into the crowd, and thrusting the microphone stand toward the front rows. Guitarist Josh Finerty was impossible to miss, launching himself into the air again and again throughout the set, his stage presence just as explosive as the music.
Early on, the pit opened up and quickly turned chaotic, with the mosh growing so intense it nearly knocked me over. One of the standout moments of the night came during my favorite song, “One Rizla,” when Charlie pulled everyone toward the front before sprinting forward and diving straight into the crowd.
Shame closed out the night with the title track from Cutthroat, the perfect, high-energy ending to an already unforgettable set. After thanking the Philly crowd, they dashed offstage, leaving behind a room buzzing with adrenaline.
Shot and Written by Jonah van Bemmelen
