On May 7th, the Academic visited Philadelphia for their headlining show at the Foundry. The intimate venue was a perfect environment for this personal and energetic show, and the whole audience was involved in their highly interactive performance. By 8pm, fans were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Irish indie rockers. The quartet took to the stage, launching into a set of infectious hooks that produced a palpable enthusiasm in the audience.
The Academic started off the show with “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” a catchy fan favorite that everyone was able to scream along to. Next up, the band produced an explosion of joyous indie rock energy with their 2020 single “Anything Could Happen.” The Academic kept the energy high throughout their 19 song set, interacting with the audience and traversing around the arena for their popular song “Acting My Age.” The show ended with a three-song encore, and the group was sent off with an electric performance of “Bear Claws.”
The band’s performance was structured to appeal to all fans, playing songs that dated all the way back to their debut in 2015 in addition to music off of their newest album. Sitting Pretty released this February, and the 13-tack album stunned fans with its variety and showcased the Academic’s infectious blend of indie rock and pop sensibilities. Throughout the set, the group played almost the entirety of the album, including stand out tracks like “Pushing Up Daisies” which enthralled the audience with its instrumentation and “Let Go of My Heart” which was emotive for everyone in the venue that night.
The Academic was first formed in Mullingar, Ireland, and after discovering their similar music tastes in grade school, the four decided to form the group. The band consists of Craig Fitzgerald (vocals), Dean Gavin (drums), and brothers Matthew and Stephen Murtagh (guitar and bass). Inspired by post-punk and rock artists such as The Strokes, Interpol, and Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, the group makes music that fits perfectly into the indie-rock genre at the moment. Their debut studio album, Tales from the Backseat, was released in January 2018, and gained huge popularity in Ireland, earning the number one spot in the Irish Albums Chart.
The Academic's headlining show at the Foundry was an unforgettable night of infectious energy and heartfelt connection. The Academic left their mark on Philadelphia with their captivating performance, proving once again why they are a force to be reckoned with in the indie rock scene.
Catch the Academic on tour at the following dates:
4/09/23 – Toronto, Axis Club
4/11/23 – Boston, The Sinclair
4/12/23 – New York, The Bowery Ballroom
4/14/23 – Philadelphia, The Foundry at the Fillmore
4/15/23 – Baltimore, Ottobar
4/17/23 – Chicago, Lincoln Hall
4/18/23 – Minneapolis, 7th Street Entry
4/21/23 – Denver, Globe Hall
4/22/23 – Salt Lake City, Soundwell
4/24/23 – Seattle, Madame Lou’s
4/25/23 – Vancouver, Biltmore Cabaret
4/26/23 – Portland, Holocene
4/28/23 – San Francisco, Brick + Mortar
4/29/23 – Los Angeles, Troubadour
Buy tickets HERE