Grunge Night at Olde Club

Queasy performing at Olde Club. Image taken by Ben Rotko.

For the first time in 2023, from across the tennis courts and the Wharton courtyard, sounds of music could be heard from Olde Club. Live music seemed dead, even after COVID restrictions were lifted, but last semester’s run of Olde Club shows proved where there’s a will, there’s a way. Two weeks ago, two Philly bands, Lisa and Queasy, came to play at “Grunge Night”, an ode to past shows at Swarthmore’s oldest (and only) music venue. The upstairs of Olde Club was also opened for the first time this school year, allowing Swarthmore students to move through the space, some watching from the balcony or hanging out in the green room between sets. It was a cold night so jackets laid on the windowsills and piled up outside as the music (and radiators) blasted inside. 

Queasy, a three-piece from Philly, opened the show, as Olde Club filled up, nearly to capacity. They played original songs, some of which were performed in front of an audience for the first time, as well as a Porches cover that had everyone in the audience bobbing their heads and swaying. Their influences, including math rock and shoegaze, could be heard as students looked on from the balcony and main room, as well as on their debut album, Shining Now. Students looked on from the balcony. Haunting guitar melodies accompanied by a bassline that wanders just the right amount filled Olde Club. 

Lisa performing at Olde Club. Image taken by Sophie Lee.

Lisa came on quickly after and brought the house down with beautiful vocal harmonies. Lisa, while leaning more towards psychedelic and progressive rock, embraced the theme of the night, playing songs from their debut EP, In the August, as well as some unreleased tracks. At this point, Olde Club was rocking and it was getting hard to move in the mass of people. Lisa then started playing their version of “Femme Fatale” and yells could be heard from all over. Velvet Underground is a hard band to cover because their sound is so impressionable, it becomes difficult to imagine anybody except Nico singing the haunting magic that is “Femme Fatale”. But, Lisa crushed it and then some. 

Not only did “Grunge Night” demonstrate the full force of Philly’s indie rock scene, it proved that Swarthmore students are desperate for more live music on campus. This Friday night will feature four student bands from Drexel University, with students coming from all over the metro area, and as the semester progresses, Swarthmore students will have the chance to see, listen, and dance to a variety of different genres including techno, shoegaze, and witch house. Stay tuned for more updates on Olde Club!