I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: October 16, 2026] Wax Jaw

When this show was announced as part of Philly Music Week, I grabbed a ticket immediately.  Three of the four bands were bands I had either seen or wanted to see.  The only band I didn’t know was Midfield.

I have seen Wax Jaw twice, although I laugh at the number of times I haven’t seen them but could have (14 times).  I’m curious that each time I’ve seen them, they’ve played ten songs.  Huh.

So they were the headliners of the side stage and they exploded onto the stage with Lace Up.  Within moments, guitarist George Fenton was on the floor getting a mosh pit going!

One thing I’ve always enjoyed about the Wax Jaw printed setlist is that between songs, they write things which they (sometimes) say to the audience.  Like after the first song, Shane Morgan said, as was printed “I like to see the pit going crazy, just don’t be a creep” (as an intro to Creepshow).

So they played three songs from their 2025 album, which I actually didn’t know that well, even though I was obsessed with their debut EP.  The new album is also really good–punkier and more diverse–I just missed it entirely somehow–along with half a dozen shows.

The setlist notes that Bite the Apple was a new song and then says that they just got back from Europe, so buy some merch. They had new merch, but I didn’t love any of it.

There were two more songs from It Takes Guts (and the crowd was getting really wild by now with some intense mosh pits) and then they slowed things down for Sean to do is squat down and then when he says Jump–well, that got everyone moving for the awesome Attitude (the only old song they play anymore I guess).

They played another new song, Rust and then, as the setlist notes, “George, get the circle pit going” and so George jumped down to the floor, pushed people out of the way and started getting everyone running in circle (all while holding–but not playing–his guitar).  It was really fun and nothing I’ve ever seen before–I guess you can’t do that when you get to be a bigger band.

Interestingly, like the first time I saw them, they had a guest drummer.  I’m not sure what’s up with them and drummers, and their replacement was amazing (and may have been the same guy who sat in the first time), but it’s just kind of funny.

They played one more new song, Control, and then I headed out before they started Boys Life.  Nothing against the song, but I knew that the crowd for Sweet Pill was going to be packed tight (and I was right).  I couldn’t get too close, but I’m glad I didn’t as the pit in the middle of the floor for Sweet Pill was even crazier than for Wax Jaw.

But I was glad to have seen Wax Jaw again and to see that they are still a dynamite live band.  I’d be curious how they’d do as a headliner in a bigger place or even an opener for a bigger show.  I feel like a big stage would be great for them.  But it’s also really cool to see how much they’ve done in three years.

¥ new (2026)
♥ It Takes Guts (2025)
∞ Music For Everyone Vol. 2 (2025)
§ single (2025)
€ single (2024)
* Between the Teeth EP (2023)
⊄ unreleased