January 24, 2026 – It was a freezing Saturday night in Philadelphia. Inside PhilaMOCA, the room felt completely different.
Photography by Steve Cerf @stevecerf
Review by Gail Worku @gsog__ & Alexis Bobrinev @alexis.bzzzz
To see the performance, we travelled all the way from Baltimore, Maryland. The hour-and-a-half drive consisted of listening to DAFFO and paying special attention to their emotional lyricism, especially their newer releases. DAFFO’s new album, Where the Earth Bends, which has been getting phenomenal reviews, was highlighted in their setlist by featuring songs like “Absence Makes the Heart Grow” and “Get a Life.” We were most looking forward to hearing one of their most well-known songs, “Good God,” and it certainly did not disappoint. Everyone on the floor couldn’t help from at least swaying to the beat and many were even more physically impassioned by the music.
If calm existed earlier in the night, then DAFFO was the storm ensuing. DAFFO used sharper, louder instruments to create a more devastating noise, swapping acoustics for electrics and a full band including bass and a full drum set. With songs like “Sideways” and “Habit,” DAFFO presents an indie-rock sound with energy that makes the emotion almost guttural. The tail end of “Habit” specifically diverged significantly from the studio track. The lyrics, instead of being sung windingly, were screamed, and the entire band drew the song out into what felt like a harrowing emotional precipice that hit like a missile into the heart.
The crowd was lively and unforgettable with people from all walks of life, ranging from young groups of friends connecting through sound to older couples discovering the contemporary music scene and what it has to offer. Even though we were from so far away, the concert attendees and even the artists made us feel right at home.
Opening the night, Earth2tiffany brought a quiet, intimate energy to the room.
Deep blue and purple lights engulfed the stage as the Toronto-based indie artist performed gut-wrenching (but undeniably catchy) acoustic anthems. Their set was soft and personal, a striking contrast to what would follow. Songs like “don’t catch up to me” and the new single “the Blade” explored deeply personal experiences within relationships with friends and family.
By the end of the roughly 30-minute set, there was nary a dry eye in the room. The earnestness of Earth2tiffany’s performance enthralled the audience and enveloped us in the lull of the guitar.
Later in the evening, Tiffany gave us the time to gush over how surreal the experience was and was a delight to speak to, taking photos and signing personalized autographs.
Being one of our first concert experiences, it was a great one and we hope to see the venue again. DAFFO and Earth2tiffany are up-and-coming artists we’re certain will break out of the indie music scene and will one day fill arenas. Thank you to everyone involved behind the scenes that made it all possible, and especially to the audience for making it an unforgettable night.
