Royal and The Serpent take over First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia on Debut Headline Tour

November 2, 2023

After bursting into the spotlight in 2020 Royal and the Serpent have finally hit the road for their first proper headline tour that included a stop at one of the most iconic punk venues in the world, The First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.


While this is the band's first proper headline run Royal and The Serpent are no stranger to the road as they just wrapped up a massive tour this summer opening for Fall Out Boy across the country and previously were out with the rock/pop superstar Demi Lovato. These big tours, coupled with some incredible festival appearances such as When We Were Young in 2022 have helped catapult the band's incredible unique and artistic in front of people who may not have stumbled upon them otherwise. While many know the single "Overwhelmed" that took airwaves and TikTok by storm in 2020, RATS have gone on to release numerous tracks since as they carve their way into uncharted musical waters penning songs with heavier lyrical content than the vast majority of their peers.


In the dark, dingy and legendary basement of First Unitarian Church the stage was set for a dramatic performance themed around 'heaven' and 'hell'

as Royal and The Serpent split their set into two separate native portions as lead singer Ryan Santiago poured her soul out on the stage through music. While this split theming has been the vibe of the entire tour, it hit particular hard in Philadelphia as a room full of packed fans were crammed into the punk rock basement of an actual, practicing church. The 22 song setlist showcased a lot about Royal and The Serpent and while it would be easy to get caught up the the theming, the lighting and the drama of the performance - the core thread of what made the show great was the honesty behind it all. Songs in the set like "No Regrets," "JUNKIE," and even "BETTER" impact fans because there is a truth behind the song and when performed lived a level of exposure in the performance.


Ryan Santiago has long been candid about the struggles and successes in her life - Royal and The Serpent's music captures that saga and when performed live it truly does come to life both for the band and for the fans who have adopted the songs into their own lives. You'd be hard pressed to find a better crowd reaction in the punk/indie rock scene than the one that Royal and The Serpent received when they began to play "ONE NATION UNDERDOGS" early in the set. The basement of the First Unitarian Church was transformed at that moment from an underground concert venue to a safe space where everyone in the crowd could truly be themselves, if only for a few hours. During the first half of the evening the band even took some impromptu requests from the excited Philadelphia crowd as they played "Salvador Dali" for the first time live as well as rare performances of "Weddings & Funerals" and "CHIPS" much to the delightment of all the diehard fans.


Royal and The Serpent were not alone on this tour and were joined by JUTES and Baby Fisher, both of whom the crowd treated more like family than they did support artists. Through out the entire evening the interaction between the artists on stage and the crowd was magical. First Unitarian Church hosted many iconic artists over the years including Jimmy Eat World, The Bouncing Souls and now, Royal and The Serpent. Those in attendance will long brag that they were apart of this incredibly intimate and powerful performance in one of the most iconic venues in the country. Those who missed out will always look back with regret on not buying the tickets for this one. 2023 has been a big year for Royal and The Serpent - the band will certainly be back for the Philadelphia fans soon enough but without a doubt it will be in a large venue as this band continues to take the scene by storm.

Royal and The Serpent

with Jutes and Baby Fisher

"First Ever Headline Tour"


Freedom Hall Convention Center - Philadelphia, PA

November 2, 2023

Article Written By:

Matt Christine

Trivium and Jinjer bring the 'Ascend Above The Ashes Tour' to Lancaster

By Matt Christine • November 14, 2025
Trivium is back on the road in 2025 — and this time, they’ve brought Jinjer along for a blistering run across the U.S. on the “Ascend Above The Ashes Tour.” Over the last four years, the rock and metal world has seen a wild expansion of dream-team co-headlining and powerful support on tours, the kind fans never thought they’d see outside of wish lists. Rising metal powerhouse Jinjer has been in the international spotlight ever since they were forced to exit Slipknot’s 2022 tour to return home and support Ukraine’s war efforts. In the years since, they’ve become global ambassadors for both their country and the metal community. And even as the supporting act on this tour, the band was greeted by a massive turnout and a stage setup that matched their well-earned status in the scene. Their addition on this tour with Trivium was a match made in heaven (or hell) and a perfect compliment sonically. The band's 9 song setlist got the mosh pit moving and crowd surfers flowing ahead of the main event that evening. It may have been a Wednesday night , but you wouldn’t have known it based on the crowd’s energy leading up to Trivium’s 9:50 p.m. arrival. Pennsylvania showed once again why it has a reputation as one of the weirdest and yet strongest markets in the country for rock and metal. When the band’s massive stage slowly illuminated to reveal a dramatic backdrop, Trivium launched into their set with explosive force as strobes burst to blinding effects all around them. Trivium's 14 song set was a blistering pace of their greatest hits and new material that left little time for the band to chat with the crowd as they moved quickly from song to song. Frontman Matt Heafy nearly blended into the elaborate backdrop thanks to a jacket patterned almost identically, but he was impossible to miss as he tore across the stage from mic to mic, shredding through one technical assault after another. Much like Jinjer’s opening performance, Trivium delivered a razor-sharp, 80-minute set that pulled from across their expansive catalog. From the first crushing riff to the final crack of the snare, they gave Lancaster everything they had — and the packed pit gave it right back. Opening nights can often feel unpredictable, but Lancaster showed up ready, proving once again that this city doesn’t just attend shows — it sets the bar. If the rest of the “Ascend Above Ashes Tour” follows this lead, Trivium and Jinjer are in for one unforgettable run.

Kaleo bring the 'Mixed Emotions Tour' to from Iceland to Allentown

By Matt Christine • September 19, 2025
On September 16, 2025, Icelandic rockers KALEO brought their Mixed Emotions Tour to Allentown’s Archer Music Hall, with Quarters of Change and Júníus Meyvant on the bill.

Stone Temple Pilots return to Pennsylvania to headline RockFest

By Matt Christine • September 16, 2025
Stone Temple Pilots’ return to Pennsylvania for RockFest was more than just another stop on tour as the band isn't on the road promoting a new album or anything particular at the moment making this one off show truly special. Their festival headline slot was a true celebration of a band that has not only endured but continues to thrive. After more than twenty years of music, their headline performance in Grantville showed that Stone Temple Pilots are still writing their best chapters. When Jeff Gutt first stepped in as lead singer, fans were curious about how he would fill the shoes of such an iconic role of those who came before him. A few years and countless shows later, there’s no longer any question. Gutt has evolved into the frontman the band always seemed to be waiting for - powerful, confident, and endlessly engaging. His vocals are as sharp and reliable as ever, but his presence has grown into something magnetic. Whether pacing the stage with fiery energy or locking eyes with fans in the crowd, Gutt now owns every moment in the spotlight. It has reached a point where it is harder to imagine Stone Temple Pilots without Gutt versus any version prior to his arrival with the band. As always, Robert and Dean DeLeo provided the backbone of STP’s unmistakable sound. Their tight musicianship and playful energy were the perfect counterbalance to Gutt’s intensity as he sprinted around the stage (and even jump off into the crowd at one point). The brothers looked like they were having just as much fun as the crowd, trading riffs, smiles, and moments of pure musical joy throughout the night. It was a reminder that their chemistry is the true heartbeat of this band, and it’s never sounded stronger. The night was a journey through the full scope of Stone Temple Pilots’ career. Fans were treated to a perfect balance of old favorites, deeper cuts, and fresh material. “Big Bang Baby” was a standout moment of the set early on, soaring with Gutt’s vocals. Hearing the classics re-energized while newer songs slid in seamlessly made the set feel both nostalgic and fresh at the same time. If this RockFest performance was any indication, Stone Temple Pilots are in the middle of an exciting new era. For long-time listeners and new fans alike, that means one thing: it’s time to get ready for more shows, more songs, and more unforgettable nights like this one. What is next for Stone Temple Pilots may be up in the air but one thing is for certain, they remain one of the tightest live bands in the genre.