randomfortunepa Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 I'm super bummed right now. I had so much fun at this venue over the years and have seen many great shows. Via R5: Hellos - We have some sad news to pass along. As you likely know, we (r5) have booked thousands of shows at The First Unitarian Church since 1996. A bunch of now super famous and legendary bands got their first "big break" there.... Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons, At The Drive In, TV On The Radio, the xx etc. Even Ryan Gosling came through to play at the now infamous venue. In the last few years, we have been fortunate enough to open two dedicated venues, Union Transfer and Boot & Saddle. With these new venues and a slew of other that have opened up around Philadelphia, it's become increasingly difficult to book bands who want to play the church. The church heavily relied on our rental income for the basement hall and since we were no longer using the space as frequently as we have in the past, they understandably had to find a more permanent tenant. In a few weeks an after school group will begin to use the basement hall which will make our ability to host shows on weeknights extremely difficult. We still plan/hope to do shows on Saturdays and Sundays moving forward. We realize that limiting ourselves to just two days, there won’t be many opportunities to present future shows in our favorite venue. So over the next few weeks, this will be our last big series of shows at the church. We'll still have a show or two here or there but this is essentially the last big run. Take a quick look below for our remaining church shows in 2014. We encourage you to come out to a show, especially now that fall has arrived and it's the perfect church show going weather (aside from those gross ginkgo smell balls - we certainly wont miss those).The church has been and continues to be an amazing partner to work with for almost twenty years. What other church would ever let a group called Pig Destroyer play a five days before Christmas? We are forever in debt to them. One last thing, this does NOT include the seated shows in The Sanctuary or smaller Side Chapel. Those will continue to happen as normal. Hope to see you out at the church at some point this year.xo/r5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
futures Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Oh damn that sucks. =\ I saw some great shows there when I was living in Philly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billya Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 I have seen so many great shows there, it's a shame to see this happen. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess Logan Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Never been to a show there, but Union Transfer is probably one of my favorite venues I've been to in Philly. Definitely going to have to try to catch something this year :/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GHOSTDRONES Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 I have seen hundreds of shows there... end of an era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
futures Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Never been to a show there, but Union Transfer is probably one of my favorite venues I've been to in Philly. Definitely going to have to try to catch something this year :/ I loveeeee UT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess Logan Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 I loveeeee UT It's where I saw Marina!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randomfortunepa Posted September 17, 2014 Author Share Posted September 17, 2014 As cool as UT and Boot and Saddle are, they won't have the blood, sweat and BYO sixpacks/tallboys that Church always brought. This likely means more punk shows are going to be at Voltage Lounge. I hate that place. Though KFN, The Barbary and Golden Tea House always keep things interesting. The lazy bastard in me also hates having to deal with walking and late night SEPTA services from the other venues. The Church was pretty much a convenient walk down the stairs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Only been once, but i am well aware of the Church's legacy for Philly shows. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snaggle Von Swift Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Just read the e-mail, truly bummed over this. Such a great venue and so many great memories there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtz Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Major bummer. Some of the best and most memorable shows I've been to have been at the church. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Route36west1 Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Damn. Really gonna miss it. Have had some of the best times in that basement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emo Revival Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 This is a huge bummer. I saw some awesome shows there. From MLIW on their farewell tour to TFOT on their farewell tour, Ace Enders, PlayRadioPlay! and a shit load of other bands. I'm really gonna miss that place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laralaurent Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Not my favorite Philly venue but I've had many a good time there! Glad the chapel is still operational though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBarry Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Glad I was able to goto a show at the church before this happened. First and only show there was Cold World, Rival Mob, Naysayer, Tough Luck, The Storm, & Lets Die. Not only was it a good show but that weekend was fun for me in Philly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladewillisisdead Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 This a bummer. Only went to a couple shows there but it's pretty much the only place I've been to in Philly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turnstiles Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Heard of this place and drove past it when I drove through Philly. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbfischer12 Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 The church always had the best shows booked. Good sound, good bands, good alcohol policy. Not really a Boot & Saddle or Union Transfer fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthemforadoomed Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Such a bummer. The church is iconic. I'm not from Philly so I only ever got to go to one show there, but it's legacy is legendary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satan Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Oh man. This sucks! I flew to Philly to catch the Latterman reunion show. Awesome venue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoshotthefrog Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 I have seen hundreds of shows there... end of an era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwhitmuzik Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Drove up in December to see my favorite band (Mansions) there. Sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Avatar Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 I used to book shows at an amazing UUC in Connecticut until some dudes got in a fight during Mt St Joseph by AL4W and that was the end of that. This is sad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snaggle Von Swift Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 R5 not done just yet.... The Menzingers & I Am The Avalanche at the Church! This is going to be amazing. http://www.r5productions.com/event/702369 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colmillionaire Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 They aren't really dead though. Still able to do shows on the weekends. That Menzingers show is gonna get wild. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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