Subcultures are, by nature, sentient and nomadic beings—rap was birthed in the South Bronx but spread to Florida where Dirty Rap was invented, punk got its legs in NYC and London only to find a scene in Detroit, and goth music grew in the UK only to stake claim in Germany—but Chicago is the exception, not the rule: the windy city still reigns supreme for rock & roll and its kin, indie rock. Post Animal is yet another Chicago bred band crafting their sound from the city. Their latest album, Iron, a mix of psychedelic escapism and grit that bounces between focused emotionality and high energetic, loose fun, encompasses that. Even so, it’s Post Animal’s performance style which captures that confident authenticity and magnifies it by ten.

Said authenticity was welcomed by the crowd at Johnny Brenda’s—a small, intimate venue which holds roughly 200 people in its upstairs event space—but this comes as no surprise considering Philadelphia’s robust underground indie scene, insulated as it is. Despite the grunginess of their sound, the band’s attention to their craft and technical skill sat at the forefront of the show. Opening with “Caving In,” and followed by “Gelatin Mode” in quick succession, Post Animal immediately set the tone for the night: a hazy, grungy sort of dreaminess underlined by moments of sudden, intense manic highs, all of which was bolstered by the moody, atmospheric lighting design.

In between songs—a cohesive and well integrated mix of earlier projects, mainly When I Think Of You In A Castle, and the aforementioned Iron—Post Animal spoke to the crowd, continuously verbalizing their love for the city while playing to the dark humor of the Philadelphian-heavy crowd, most memorably dedicating “Maybe You Have to,” (drummer Wesley Toledo’s pen, a touching and melancholic, synth-driven number featuring the voice of his late-grandmother) to the Philadelphia Eagles. The energy of the night eventually picked back up with grungier tracks, like “Victory Lap: Danger Zone” and “Dorien Kregg,” and the crowd followed suit without hesitation, both the audience and band playing off each other effortlessly.

The band’s infectious high-energy encouraged the crowd to move around the limited space without reserve; you could feel the floor bending under the weight of the crowd’s excitement. This energy only racketed up as Javier Reyes moved off the stage and into the crowd who, to their credit, were respectful in the space they allowed Reyes as he moved through wide-eyed concert goers, even going so far as to throw himself on the ground dramatically as he played. True to the spirit of Chicago and psychedelic rock, and despite being a touring band 10 years young, Post Animal are strong in their delivery and seasoned in their stage presence, following along with the vibe of their crowd and shifting through tempos and energies seamlessly. Their confidence and command on such a small stage is commendable, managing fluid movement even when there is seemingly no space for it. A less experienced band might float awkwardly on an intimate, vulnerable setup. Post Animal took to it and thrived, utilizing it to their benefit.

Words and photos by Sorai Kirksey

Post Animal at Jonny Brenda’s in Philadelphia, November 8 photo by Sorai Kirksey

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