I joined the church soon after attending for the first time. The worship service & music satisfies my need for reflection. There are opportunities throughout the week for meaningful interactions with others. The minister, leadership, & members are very welcoming. read more

Until recently, I had no idea this was a music venue. There have been punk shows in the basement for decades. Dave and Tim Hause recently played a super intimate gig in the pews. I had so many questions before night one, so let me help you out here. The pews were first come, first serve but seated. Everyone sat the whole time. It was was a chilly night so we had our jackets off in our seats. The venue only holds about 80 people. Each row seats 6, 3 on one side and 3 on the other, unless you want to squish. Biggest question: the drink and food situation. It's byob. I believe cans only. Past reviews said brown bag, but I just kept my beer cans in my coat pockets and used koozies. They weren't selling food. The only restroom I used was downstairs. It wasn't the cleanest but it was ok. There was one upstairs too that I did not use. A+ for intimacy and sound quality. I hope to see more shows here in the future. read more

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I saw shows here in the late 90's and on a recent trip to Philly, was glad to see it is still a whole scene. I returned with my gen z daughter who was amused at the gen x crowd. Good times. read more

Beautiful church and welcoming folks! The church was built in 1886 by Frank Furness and the Tiffany stained glass windows are stunning! I went to a service - "The Unity of Spirituality & Science" the sermon & band were great! read more

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Often times my family brought me to the second Unitarian church growing up. But it is clear to me why this one was the first! Way more Jesus with every order!!!! At second Unitarian they only give you a small 8 oz side of Christ when you order the number 9 value meal. But at first Unitarian I can order an number two and it's so big I split it with my girlfriend. The Jesus side is so big it can be it's own meal. And they don't skimp on sauces either! I'm a first Unitarian boy for my fast food lunch stops from here on out! read more

While most folks write Yelp reviews about the Church's ability to be used as a venue for community and cultural activities and concerts, I'm writing about the raison d'etre of this magnificent Furness building itself, the First Unitarian Universalist faith, which is also my chosen faith. The wonderful building is indeed a national treasure. Within its walls and the walls of its predecessor edifice, some of the most ardent abolitionists sat in its pews or addressed the congregation. Some of the country's Founding Fathers also sat in its pews and shared their notion of liberal Christianity. Joseph Priestly, spiritual mentor and religious coach to Thomas Jefferson, preached here in the early 1800s. Virtually the entire Adams dynasty sat here. The sense of history and the weight of tradition is quite noticeable in this church. Some of the earliest same sex unions in the nation happened here. Some of the first calls for women's suffrage happened here. And definitely, the entire slavery abolitionist movement before the Civil War found its strongest adherent here too. And as well, the church today continues on its wonderful tradition of liberal Christianity and full acceptance of every person's spiritual voyage. Reverend Nate Walker is a wonderful orator and his sermons are both light-hearted and heavy with meaning. The full pews every weekend are a collection of every facet and face of America. A wonderful experience. read more

I saw TV on the Radio here a few years ago, with a couple good opening bands as well. I made the All Ages- mistake of actually showing up on time, at a place where shows are run by non-professionals. I'm all for DIY and have been to many All Ages shows even if I couldn't drink, just to see some great music. But the show was so poorly run, me and a few Early Birds watched the opening bands lollygag in, scratch their heads, as nobody took the reins to organize. Is that "uncool" to actually take the reins and politely tell people to get a move on? I mean, we've got TVOTR here people! Besides that, I liked the atmosphere of seeing a band in a church basement, with other in-the-know people; the excitement was electric! I mean, TV on the Radio could've stood on stage and sprinkled us all with Holy Water, that's how intimate this place is! And they did; only in doo wop, hip hop, rock form! The kids at the concert were really nice! Upon hearing I was from Chicago I was taken in by the Locals as if I came to Church seeking soup, shelter and spiritual sustenance. Upon finishing, I bought a CD and waited around and got it signed by the band. I'll always remember the concert as taking forever to get organized, but then being worth all the wait! read more

So this review is solely for those unblessed three evil words-- Seated Sanctuary Show.. Oh how those words mistakingly conjure up images of comfort and coziness..Ahhh noooo... So came here to see Henry Rollins last week. As he looked out into a sea of attentive hipsters he warned us 1) I'll be here for awhile 2) Your ass is going to hate you and those lovely pews... And he was right... But before getting to that let me tell you the acoustics at the Church were awful! Everytime Henry struck some chuckles in the crowd it was nearly impossible to hear him. He made a point to wait for the laughter to die down before proceeding, but it still stunk! Lightening was provided by two medieval chandeliers which were not artsy or intimate at all and just left a harsh glare in the front.. So getting back to my booty... At the end of an awesome 3 hour tirade (Rollins style) I felt like an arthritic 90 year old woman. I tried to unfold my limbs from the pews to no avail.. Motrin, a warm bath and Ben Gay were needed asap!!! Love Henry Rollins, love R5 productions and the shows they promote, don't love seated shows at the church.... read more

I love shows in the sanctuary but I don't love shows in the basement, crammed in like a sardine. The space doesn't meet the caliber of shows there. It's a church basement after all! Sometimes the lines to get in are ridiculous because the doors don't open on time. This is fine when the weather is good, but if it's not, it can be unpleasant. read more

First Unitarian Church - At stake Philly - Churches Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Great close concert venue! It was super hot on June 3. But that added to the show. Saw Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day perform. I was aloud to keep my beers in the fridge. No line at the bathroom, super wet and sweaty. Great sound. read more

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I saw Metric (one of my top three favorite bands EVER, btw) perform here. You might never understand the glee I felt when I heard that they were playing a small show at a small venue - one I had never been to before - and I was psyched. Like, beyond words psyched. When I arrived at the Church, I was like "Wow, they weren't being coy about the name, were they?" Because, as most of you know, The First Unitarian Church is really a church, at least it was (although if they are currently having services there that would be quite interesting). As I descended the stairs, I realized something that, had I actually had a buzz (it's booze free), would have been a total buzzkill. I was old enough to be the mother of at least half the fans in the room. Yikes. I'm so down with kids/teens/youngsters/what have you discovering and experiencing good, live music, so there was the one part of me that was loving the fact that there were all these 15 year olds singing and bopping along to one of the best contemporary bands around. I mean, in a few years MY kids are going to be out there, right? And I'll be the mom who's sitting in the car outside, not wanting to cramp their style by going with them. Who needs a clingy mom? No one, that's who! But the other part of me, the grown up part, still had that "yikes" feeling for the entire show. I'm not a senior citizen by any means, but I kinda felt like it for a couple of hours. (Great show, though!). So expect many underagers, a few oldies like myself, and a hot, sweaty, loud experience that you'll probably enjoy and certainly remember. read more

This is a very cool venue. The tickets are cheap, and the space is large and low key. The sound quality really sucks, but the Tilly and the Wall show was still awesome and the opener by Nicky Da B was completely unreal. Other reviewers mentioned that you can sneak in alcohol, but since I'm cautious and bad at being sneaky I decided not to. Wrong. Almost everyone else took the risk, and cans of beer in paper bags and right out in the open were so prevalent that I don't think any kind of rule against alcohol was enforced at all. Flash photography is also a go. So don't be cautious, bring a drink and enjoy the show. read more

Alright, so a bunch of people love this place, and I can understand why; all ages shows, great shows, good community, so on and so forth. And I've seen a bunch of shows there, and for the most part, I've always had a solid time. But I've always had a hard time summing up how I've felt about these shows until now. So I saw Why? on 9/17/08 and in typical FUC fashion, it was hot like neon yellow shorts - also noting the under 18s who came wearing neon yellow shorts. So the band is playing, and next to me is some bizarre hipster/raver/huh? who pulls out his bike light and dances like he's at Burning Man. So following that, unfortunately, the crowd is all ages. Which means you're gonna encounter a bunch of kids with no notion of concert etiquette. So expect a couple teens - halfway through the concert - to try to push their way to the "mosh pit" (even if one is totally unexpected) and then stop midway, right in front of short girls (in this case, my girlfriend). They were nice enough to move back after I made them aware of what they did, but you know, after going to mostly 21+ shows, its not something you come across all that much. So in summary, the FUC isn't a bad place to see a show, its great for the kiddies, but there's no booze, no ventilation, and if you're trying to pick up a date, ask for an ID. read more

At first I was hesitant to go back into the realm of all ages shows (I'm not talking about inside of places that have a bar/balcony). being from the suburbs originally I've put up with my fair share of shows in churches, pizza kitchens, ballerina studios, and far worse before. and a lot of times I've seen a bunch of youngings who didn't appear to be as dedicated to the music as they were trying to be. so I had my doubts. but after so many freaking awesome sounding shows (and finding out that a band I had to interview had their biggest show at the time there) I finally gave in. and Hallelujah am I glad to be a convert. And the shows have gotten better and better since, I've seen The Slits have a reunion, Mum play in the chapel room, Crazy Philly bands like An Albatross and Genghis Tron bring the place into a hysteria with some friends,and then some. I just saw Gravy Train, Gang, MC Digga, and V.I.P. Make the church hotter then it's ever been tonight. Sean Agnew (who I went to high school with!!!) and the gang have definitely been dedicated to keeping COOL all ages shows a reality in Philadelphia. they've been so dedicated to the point that the $ for equipment and insurance has been adding up over the years. They're having it's Semi Annual Punk Rock Flea Market tomorrow to raise proceeds towards paying for it's many costs. so if you have ever had a good time there, then I best be seeing you at the Starlight Ballroom tomorrow. read more

HOT- DAMN! Is this place ever hot! This venue is a sauna and I have no idea how the many bands that have performed in this space have survived unscathed. The temperature probably attributes to the fact that most of them don't often do an encore, and rightly so - the pulpit from which they play is a veritable pizza oven. A few small upright fans does not a breeze make. Okay, so the sweat may be part of the experience - but I doubt the performers enjoy it. Especially when they're under the lights and already sweating as it is? Just sayin'. R5 productions run the show here and they usually bring in a slew of interesting acts. Their ticket fees are uber reasonable which leads me to think they've cut costs elsewhere, most likely with their staff - some of which are clearly unorganized. They manage to keep the operation mildly civil, but when you have an all-ages show, general admission, and a willy-nilly will call ticket list at the door - it can make for a lot of trouble. Once the crowd fills in, (all the shows I've gone to here have been sold out), it is at maximum capacity and seating can become chaotic. Though there are benches for seating the crowd stands for most of the show. The pulpit/stage area is barely elevated so unless you are up front, you will not be able to see the performers very well at all - usually just the top of their heads -- so needless to say the venue is not friendly to those in wheelchairs or those that are short in stature. Also, the acoustics aren't the best (lots of feedback) - and um... well not to be a granny and all, but sometimes the rowdy under-ager-s (while drinking their sneaked-in-40's) can get a little annoying. I'm not crazy about this venue, but often R5 snags acts that don't play anywhere else in the city, so I am left without a choice. Place rocks more at a 2.5 star'er- for cheap tickets and unique setting - that is all. So a word to the wise: beware of the crowds, come early to get a decent seat (or you can sneak your way up to the pit during the show if you're so inclined) dress in very light, breathable clothing, and have a couple adult beverages (or more) prior to - as no alcohol is served on the premises! read more

I've seen so many great performances here that I can't bring myself to give them a bad score, despite the heat and the all ages shows (I feel bad, I know teens want to see bands, too, but they kinda ruin it for me, the sheer presence of them). Off the top of my head, I've seen OOIOO, Mirah, The Pipettes, Melt-Banana, Metric. As long as they continue to book the right bands, I'll be going here. They sell no drinks but there are markets in the area and when you get your hand stamped, you are free to go in and out (a huge plus, I hate not being able to leave and come back). There is an area for CD sales and the merch tables are always in the back. read more

In terms of shows: The church comes off as a place I would have loved to see shows when I was in high school, and that sentiment seems to make sense based on the general population. When I went a few weeks ago, I felt like, at 22 years of age, I was the oldest person in there. I'm sure it wasn't entirely true, but because it's one of the few venues in the city that isn't also a bar, there are a lot of younger kids there. I'm not saying this to hate, I assure you. I'm all about teenagers being into sweet tunes. It's just as a heads up. If you're 30 years old and want to check out a band, you might feel way out of place here. That being said, the church does get a good amount of bands coming through (thanks to R5 Productions), and there's no reason to skip them. I'm typically one for having a few beers during a show, and I am unfortunately deprived of bar service in the church. (I know, I know. You figured there was a wet bar in the back.) However, the shows tend to start a little earlier, so there's always the option to hit up a bar afterward. When I was there last, the show was over and everyone was out the door by 11:00pm. Caveat: There's no AC in the summer time so, if you're a heavy sweater you might want to nuzzle up with one of the fans. Not only for yourself, but for the rest of us too. No one loves being touched by someone else's clammy arm. read more

You have to come to First Unitarian with an open mind. While it's not the sexiest venue nor is it a place where I can really enjoy a good time with friends, it's a dependable and cheap r5 location that's very conveniently located. Summers are hot and the AC is nonexistent, but once it cools up a bit, getting crunched down in the basement for $12 with your favorite band isn't such a bad set up at all. Despite the tight crowd, the small room allows you to feel really close to the artist and get a great sense of their performance style. If you're really into a band that's performing here, you shouldn't hesitate at all to go see them. I hafta say the three spunky female artists/groups I saw here (St. Vincent, The Blow, and Tilly & the Wall) were a lot more fun than the sold-out man bands who performed in the heat this summer (Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver -- both of whom I adore, so I literally had to close to my eyes to listen and distract myself from the swelling heat). I find it highly unlikely that I would see a band here that I didn't already love, but I feel pretty indebted to r5 for their ability to bring such talented people to the depths of the church basement. read more

Though I've been over the ripe age of 21 for some years now, I still remember growing up and having all of our all ages venues shut down one by one. It gives me hope to see that a venue like this still exists in Philadelphia. I saw the Subhumans show here last night, and even though attending all ages shows at my age always makes me feel old and way too sober, this is a great small space to see a band. It does get hot it there, but sweat is all part of the experience. As all ages venues become harder and harder to find, the First Unitarian Church continues to fill the void on this much need venue. read more

Nicole's not whistling-dixie when she says "kiddie crowd." On show nights, you can usually catch kids making a b-line from 30th Street Station to 22nd Street to see their favorite band of the month, with all the posturing, posing, and chain-smoking that goes along with it. Hey, some of us have been there too. To me, these shows here (which go into Electronic, IDM, Hip-Hop, etc.) are truly a gift to the city. They are dirt cheap. They are usually stacked with openers. Plus, it's in a church. I think Billy Graham would love R5 if he saw how many agnostics/atheists this brought into the House of God. What I love too is, even the kids respect it. You don't get tags drawn on the wall, or trash strewn about. To me, this is a prime example of Philly's coexistence. I haven't caught a show here in two or three years, because I've been naive enough to believe I'd grown out of it. Let's hope not... I wanna get back to this sweatbox, and get crazy with the kiddies....pause. read more

I can't tolerate this venue anymore. Is it because I'm old? Perhaps, but the idea of standing for hours in a hot, cramped space with a bunch of annoying kids who think they are soooo cool for smoking in a room with no air circulation is not my idea of fun. Sorry but I'd rather pay extra and go to NYC to see a band I like. The only reason this venue gets two stars is for the sanctuary area of the church, which is rarely used. read more

The Church is just like it sounds -- the basement of a church. It's tiny, intimate, and umm...cozy, which translates to approx. 908098098 degrees in the summer, and about 10 degrees in the winter. When it's raining out, expect the floor to be covered in moisture in about 3 seconds. It's sort of unpleasant, but just think of it as part of the DIY "experience." The church is one of R5 Production's (http://www.r5productions.com/ -- the major "DIY" booking agency in philly) only "all ages" venues -- which means tons and tons of 15-year-old kids, mostly from the burby burbs. (Rumor has it that R5 guru Sean Agnew named the company after the train he used to ride into the city as a kid.) They're all super-eager, and usually decked to the nines in the latest trends, and can sometimes (as others have noted) be a bit fresh about pushing to the front -- but mostly, they're just trying to have a good time. I wish I had a cool venue to watch indie bands at when I was 15! The church mainly books up-and-coming indie acts -- I've seen everyone from Friendly Fires to the Pipettes here, and have yet to be disappointed. The lighting is shitty, but the acoustics are not bad-- and the bathrooms are cleaned by the church staff and are surprisingly usable! Since the church is an all-ages venues, there's officially no alcohol allowed, but the R5 staff usually turns a blind-eye to BYO, as long as you're somewhat shady about it. There's a beer store about a block up Chestnut St, where most folks stop ahead of time. The shows usually start about 30 min late -- I recommend showing up a little late if you don't want to wait in a gigantic line. read more

This is a great place I really didn't expect the concert to be at a church but the venue was spacious even though it's probably was the smallest that I have been to. The restroom were clean for a while and had multiple stalls so there never was really a line. Lighting could be a problem for lowlight shots but other than that it's well lit at times. There aren't any fancy lights but the ones used were not to bad. Sound quality is very loud and impactful due to the small space. Terms of conditioning there are ceiling fans even though they weren't used. As always expect heat especially in closed space surrounded by people. Overall great venue I went to go see A will Away and Have Mercy. read more

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The Church is one of the best venues for an intimate show. It really is just the church's basement with a stage. The stage is raised a good amount as well so anywhere you stand is a good view. When going to a show there is a alley that you wait in until the doors open. Upon entering usually the merch is set up right in the back of the open room. The few times I was there, there was not even any security for the shows, however, there was no problems at all. The sound at the Church is great as well and they even have a drinking fountain, which most venues neglect to sell bottled water. My only gripe is that there is no AC and the big fans usually cannot help that much (esp when its the middle of summer and the 90% male crowd is going nuts). Overall, besides the Chameleon Club in Lancaster, the Church is my favorite venue to see acts so check it out if any groups you like come to Philly! read more

I can't believe I've yet to review the Church. My favorite place in the city to see a show. Descend the steps into the basement (which serves as a daycare during the day). Summer days it can get a bit heated, but that's something you just deal with. You can still stage dive during punk shows, and it's encouraged. Always good bands rolling through. Saturday matinees are the best. Too many amazing shows to list. Some of note: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Adolescents, Kimya Dawson, Dead Milkmen, Riverdales, Joanna Newsom with Devendra Banhart. The bathrooms are pretty clean. You can re-enter as many times as you want. And admission is always fairly cheap. read more

I absolutely love the church!! I have seen a number of shows here, in both the basement and sanctuary. Every show I have enjoyed. Though some people may complain about it being super hot and sweaty, or about so-so acoustics, I think this just adds to the intimate experience at the church. It is just awesome when you can be literally five feet from one of your favorite bands. This is what distinguishes the church from other venues in Philly (like the Electric Factory), and other cities: the church is one of the most intimate settings for a concert you will ever find. Plus, tickets are really cheap, never more than $20 dollars and usually around $12. The church hosts some of the best and newest indie bands around and there is basically a concert there every other day of the week. There is always something to suit your musical taste. Though the crowds are usually made up of teenagers (like myself) and college students, adult ages are represented also. It surprised me that so many adults would come to what might be seen as the "underground indie music scene", but they do come out and are welcomed. Parking is somewhat of a problem, if you don't get there early for a popular or sold-out show, so you might have to walk a distance. But all-in-all, First Unitarian Church is, by far, my favorite venue in Philly. I wouldn't want to see a concert anywhere else! read more

Ok, my less than favorable previous review needs an update. I went to see St. Vincent which was awesome, but I can spare you a review of a show. This show was in the Sanctuary. This is a much better space to see a show than the basement, I think. The vibe is much more positive in the Sanctuary than it was in the basement: the darkness of the room helped to mask the sneers of the kids that are cooler than me and the set up keeps everyone more or less facing the stage. The room is massive and beautiful. The sound was better than in the basement. All in all, it was a much improved experience. I stood in the last pew in the middle and watched the two acts give it their all. I wish all shows were like this one. read more

Literally the worst venue I've ever been to in my life. And I've been to hundreds throughout the country... big, small, whatever. Who thinks it's a good idea to cram 400+ people into an unventilated basement with no air conditioning? Methinks not. Had I known this was what I was getting into, I certainly would not have spent $30 on a ticket and traveled 2.5 hours each way. Even the band couldn't stand it. The singer had to sit down towards the end and even ended the set early. After the show, my entire body looked and felt like I had just jumped into a pool. By some miracle, the CVS a couple blocks away was still open and randomly sold clothes so I was able to change out of my dripping wet clothes for the drive home. Aside from this, if you are not in the first couple rows, you won't see a thing. The stage is extremely low to the ground (which would be great and intimate, if the place was tinier). Look, I'm all about seeing bands at tiny venues, but if it can't safely accommodate the fans buying the tickets... then what's the point? Complete absurdity. Shut this place down. read more

Even though I'm growing ever-to-old to really appreciate this place, I can't pretend to deny that it isn't awesome, nor can I deny that Sean deserves a dumptruck full of props for getting/keeping the wheels rolling. In a city which is forever getting shittier in terms of concert venues, the idea that an all-ages, independent, inexpensive alternative exists should be met with praise and angelic harps. Yes, its in a church. A church basement. With no real ventilation nor A/C. This is not World Cafe Live, for all the better or worse, depending on how you want to look at it. But, they book great bands constantly, the vinyl swapmeet that is sometimes there and sometimes not is sorta awesome on its own but mega-awesome in conjunction with a show...what was my point? Oh yea, all hail R5 Productions. My only negative is wishing this existed before I was "of age"...it would have saved me a lot of grief. But I guess Sean had the same idea, and as such, this circuit (mostly at the Church, but also not at the Church) now exists. Sure, the time I saw Acid Mothers Temple here there was literally (and yes, I know what literally means) an inch-high ocean of sweat on the floor afterwards, and the time I saw High On Fire here I'm pretty sure I got stabbed in one kidney. But you know what? I had a ton of fun at both shows, as well as the many other shows I caught here over the years. In my "old" age I'd probably prefer the Khyber, overall, but there is something to be said about being amongst the youngins just starting their journey. I was there once. If you want to drink, buy beer down the street and drink in an alley. If you want to party in an alternative matter...well, there is the alley. Respect the venue and what they do, and they will keep doing it. read more

Definitely not trying to hate on this place. R5 Productions books some really great bands here (for cheap), and I won't ever skip out on a band I love, but I do have some reservations about shows here. First of all, these are all ages shows. Which is great because I'm all for young people being able to get in to see their favorite bands. Unfortunately, it can be a bit of a free for all: they don't check bags, and the people who run the place really don't care about folks drinking, So you have responsible young adults in the back with their pounders and wasted 17 year olds up front with very little regard for other concertgoers. Being a petite person, I don't want to stand in the back where I can't see anything. But I've had a show or two made miserable by drunk teenagers. Second (and I promise I don't mean to be a killjoy), kids crowd surfing in a basement with low ceilings and ceiling fans really freaks me out. It's not worth it to the kids on the ground who wear glasses or have long hair (sneakers get caught, and it sucks, and it's painful). But like I said, the people who run the place don't stop it, and it can be a bit of a bummer. It also gets oppressively hot down there. And they have some sound issues. Reservations aside, they get a lot of great bands for really cheap, so I will be back. But I'm always a little wary. read more

I used to come here a lot and have a good time. They did my favorite band such a disservice last night. The lead singer asked about five times to be turned up and you could barely hear her. She was screaming just to get through the show. My friend was here a month ago to see someone else and said it was the same exact thing. Get it together or stop wasting people's time and taking their money. read more

It's like your big sister's first punk-rock basement show, but bigger! Where's the best place to see the show, take photos and avoid being crushed by a surging crowd? The Stage. Where's the best place to drink the beers people give you for helping keep an amp from falling over? The Stage. Brooklyn favorites, World Inferno Friendship Society played Thumb Cinema...and moved me to tears. The bassist's voice kinda' blows my mind. The show itself was cut short by a fire alarm, which was fine. Hey, it's punk rock! I made friends with a violinist and the drummer as the crowd milled-around outside. (It's important to thank every member of a 15-person band and make them feel special! I ran around..to everybody) Jack was very funny...and very drunk. Cheers to newly-found Brooklyn friends...in Philly! If Church were more like this one, i would have kept going. read more

I saw Tobacco here last week. First time seeing a show at the church and it was certainly an experience. Apparently showing up on time is a mistake here. Ticket said show was at 8, so we naively arrived around 8:20 figuring if we missed some of an opening band, no big deal. Well after standing outside waiting with a bunch of college kids, we ran over to Starbucks to take a break. Came back at 9:20 and were finally able to file in. I felt like I was at youth group party or some other Friday night church function. I didn't feel like TOO much of a geezer, but was definitely over the median age. The basement was stuffy and small, but it's definitely a neat venue... where else can you hang out in a church basement and see a great show? It was hot but not overly crowded, and the acoustics were surprisingly good. I also liked the video projections on a sheet against the back, especially when Tobacco projected pteryodactyl porn and a Magic Eye of the male anatomy... hmm... Apparently we missed the BYOB memo as well. I knew they didn't serve alcohol, but I was surprised at how many people brought their own beer. Why didn't somebody tell me?! I'm especially excited that I'll be seeing Titus Andronicus here next week... and this time I'll be more in the know! read more

A unique and great place to go to a show. In the basement of the church. Stage and space are large but still intimate. For that reason seeing bigger bands here is pretty special. Everyone running the place was super cool and chill. I had zero problems with anyone running it, which is a first for a place for shows is not run by slum lords or jerks. This place was hotter than sin, though. I felt disgusting and smelled bad. Which tends to happen with hundred something people are squished into a basement together with little ventilation. It was alright though for the fact that they let you leave and come back in and our of the venue. If I ever go back to Philly it would be cool to go to another show here. read more

Sweaty sweaty fun! I love going here to see shows of indie bands from all over the place. My favorite shows I've seen here include two Lightning Bolt shows (so good!) one after which everyone at the show went swimming in Swann Fountain (best time everrrr), Do Make Say Think, and the Man-Man shows! Yeah it's kind of crappy, dark, and hot most times, but that is half the fun. The age of the crowd depends on the show and is usually a pretty wide range, but I've seen a majority of younger people here for the shows I've gone to. You can definitely sneak in your own beers, which I recommend. The shows are intimate and they do draw some of the best acts to Philly plus it's cheap! ($8-12) Go find out what this place is all about!! read more

I had my wedding ceremony here. After the checks were cashed, the employees literally could not have cared less about us. An hour before the ceremony, my fiance was taking out the trash and moving giant posters left in the back (we were assured this would be done), his father was setting up the microphone), they were trying to open windows and turn fans on (it was hot!) ... meanwhile the sextant on duty said he was just part time and none of this was his problem... he forgot to open the windows, didn't see the trash, never was trained on the mic or how to operate it.... not to mention he was dressed like a roadie from a bad 80s band... did I mention he is just 'part time' apparently he KEPT mentioning it. And then after 20 awkward minutes of doing nothing.. he was gone. And never came back. They planned a country auction in the basement for the same day and even though I spoke with 4 people at the church about my concerns weeks ahead of time (and they all said it would have ZERO impact on our wedding and they would have someone there to direct foot traffic) I was outside in my wedding dress waiting to walk down the aisle and oh wait.. let me stop and tell this 70 year old nana with 10 bags of hangers how to get around to the side door for the country auction.. ok ready to go walk down the aisle... walking to the front door... oh excuse me family of 4 .... no this isn't where the auction is.. I'm kinda trying to get married.. is that OK? I emailed the coordinator Norman and the Minister to let them know how rude/ MIA their staff was... no reply from Norman and the Minister just said sorry... well sorry to anyone else who thinks about having their wedding here. Unless you really love the "do it yourself" wedding --- because here you are literally doing it yourself! Hey at least we have a fun story about taking the trash out in a custom suit and telling a 70 year old lady to take a hike whilst in a wedding gown... and some awesome pictures of the roadie from AC/DC standing around watching my father in law do the Mic check. I guess there is a silver lining to every tale. read more

How good could a show in a church basement possibly be [even in a semi-heathen place like a Unitarian church (note that I was raised Unitarian so please don't take offense)]? Well...pretty amazing. The acoustics and sound engineering are surprisingly good, especially given the constraints of the physical space. This place books an amazing range of bands, ticket prices are reasonable, and there's always (at least as far as I know) some guy selling a huge selection of records off the main space. It's almost absurd that a venue like this exists in the absolute center of a major American city. When I was there, at least, they were very BYOB friendly and perfectly happy to let people come and go as they pleased to smoke, get more beer, etc. I'd go back any time if a good band was playing. read more

Every city has hidden venues, and pretty much every city has a church that holds shows. Philly's no different! I drove the two hours from Baltimore to Philly to see The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - one of my favorite bands, and was quite pleased with the space. There was a stage, great acoustics and BYOB.Crowd was loving it (thought a surprising number of men in the audience - not that I'm complaining). The only drawback was that it felt very gymnasiumey. Tile floors, wood panel walls - retro one may say. Still fun! Good venue - good bands! read more

I've only been here once, but I loved every minute of it. And what made it ten times better was that I went for the Dead Man's Bones show, and the Church setting (the seated sanctuary, in particular) was such an asset to the ambiance and vibe of their whole show---not to mention that it was also nearing Halloween, which added to the vibe even more. I could really think of no better place to see this band. Also as a sidenote: R5 is really great about letting people know if a show is getting close to being sold out, so you know whether or not you can just buy at the door, or if it's safer to get your tickets ahead of time. :) read more

Do you like wine? Do you like guitars, harmonicas and affordable live music? Do you appreciate a good venue? High cielings? Strong acoustics? Do you always say you'll go to church but rarely do but think you should and feel like a band of live music in one might be a good excuse? Do you want to combine all of it? Come to FUC (that's really what I have learned regulars call it). Recently saw Rachael Yamagata and Adrien Reju perform here and I found it to be a very beautiful experience. The enormous Christmas wreath hanging at the apse of the church added a nice holiday touch. Good music with good people and a glass of wine on a Friday night? Done. read more