Nick Lombardo & The Decent OK Band, Pep Rally, Leana Song, Cookie Rabinowitz
Opening night sets the stage for a genre-bending, high-energy fusion of sound with four amazing bands. Starting the night is The Decent Ok, with their sharp songwriting and genre-bending indie rock. Pep Rally takes things up a notch with their art rock meets marching band energy. Next up is Leana Song, a group that seamlessly blends Afro-Cuban and Ghanaian rhythms with contemporary harmonies. Cookie Rabinowitz rounds out the night, delivering an irresistible mix of alternative soul, funk, and R&B. It's a night of movement, melody, and musical reinvention-don't miss it!
Nick Lombardo & The Decent Ok Band
The Decent Ok is a Philadelphia-based indie rock band founded by Philadelphia public school teacher Nick Lombardo in the fall of 2019. The band features Josh Steingard on drums, Ethan Cain on bass, and James Gaffield on lead guitar. Driven by the songwriting and musicianship of Lombardo and his bandmates, The Decent OK released their genre-bending first album, "Never Been Better," in the summer of 2020 to critical acclaim, along with several singles and music videos. Since then, The Decent Ok have been performing at venues of all sizes in Philadelphia and the surrounding area, building a following as they go. To hear The Decent Ok, visit us on Spotify, Apple Music, or Youtube.
Pep Rally
Philadelphia's Pep Rally is an Art Rock/Marching Band mash-up composed of two musicians who play many instruments to make a big, fun sound. Frontman and noted producer/engineer Tommy Joyner and percussion tuff girl Emily Roane make upbeat, buzzy songs about gritty topics like jail and drug abuse, such as "Turn the Radio Up" and "South Street." You've never heard depression sound so happy. Producer/engineer Tommy Joyner, part-owner of Philadelphia's MilkBoy the Studio, has recorded and produced for such notable artists as Silk Sonic, Miley Cyrus, Dave Matthews, and James Taylor and also composed music for many nationwide advertising campaigns such as Keurig, Black Box Wine, and NBC Sports. After years of percussive composition and playing drums, most famously for Digable Planets, Tommy became interested in more melodic composing and singing. What started as an open mic lark to get people excited enough to let down their guard became PEP RALLY, which makes grown-up pop-rock of the best kind: immediate yet thoughtful, muscular but approachable, intelligent, and danceable. The act is percussion-heavy, employing a host of "high school band instruments "fitting the band's moniker and featuring extended percussion jams. Win some melodies, some six-string crunch, sleek vocal harmonies, deft use of synthesizers, and a propulsive beat underscore the songs' messages of forward momentum and the importance of seizing the moment. Best of all, Joyner's flexible vocals—sometimes sweetly sung, sometimes spoken, always clear, forthright, and engaging—reveal him to be a frontman with the charisma and appeal worthy of the Philadelphia indie scene he's done so much to foster.
Leana Song
Leana Song, led by Philadelphia-based percussionist and composer Shawn Hennessey, returns to the stage after a long hiatus with a performance at The Fallser Club. Shawn, a Latin Grammy-nominated percussionist, has mastered world rhythms over two decades. His global journey has taken him to cultural hubs like Ghana, Cuba, Haiti, and Israel, where he deepened his connection to percussion and composition. Leana Song blends Afro-Cuban and Ghanaian drumming with contemporary harmonies and electronic elements. The group has shared stages with world music icons like Tinariwen, Vieux Farka Toure, and Antibalas. Their debut album, Orisha Love Songs Vol. 1 (2008), and their follow-up, Orisha Love Songs Vol. 2, recorded in Cuba and remastered in 2024, exemplify their genre-defying fusion of tradition and innovation. Shawn's passion for rhythm as life's universal pulse continues to drive Leana Song's music, creating a rich, soul-stirring experience. Join them for this celebratory comeback performance, where Leana Song will play traditional and original Ewe drumming.
Cookie Rabinowitz
Cookie Rabinowitz "Soulman - Optimist" is a singer-songwriter from Philadelphia. His unique alternative-soul style is a blend of funk, pop, and R&B informed by Motown's Marvin Gaye and reminiscent of Jason Mraz, Anderson Paak, and Jack Johnson.
