It was a packed house last night for the first show at the Fillmore Philadelphia in Fishtown, Philly’s newest music venue. Daryl Hall and John Oates, who earned a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year, returned to their hometown to open the Live Nation venue. “It’s been a long time but this is our musical home,” Hall said before the third, and final, encore: “Kiss on My List” sliding into “Private Eyes.”
The crowd skewed older, as expected at a Hall & Oates show; despite the festive atmosphere of a sold-out opening night for a brand-new venue, the selfies were kept to a minimum and more people watched the stage than their phones. Set in the former Ajax metal factory, the Fillmore blends a gritty industrial feel — exposed brick, concrete floors, soaring warehouse ceilings — with sparkling chandeliers and food from Wolfgang Puck. The location is across Delaware Avenue from SugarHouse Casino, and right across the street from the Barbary club. The venue can hold up to 2,500 on the floor (standing room) and the horseshoe-shaped balcony (picture Union Transfer). Seats in the balcony are for VIP ticket holders, who can get food and drink service without making their way to the bar — including bottle service in sectioned-off “boxes.” The rest of us get our beers and cocktails downstairs, from anoversized rectangle bar removed from the concert area, a long bar immediately outside the concert area, where you can still catch glimpses of the stage, or yet another long bar inside, along the wall next to the main floor. There’s also what they’re calling a “club within a club”: The Foundry, upstairs, features the Circle Bar and can hold 450 for more initiate shows, with an emphasis on local bands.
Next up is Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, playing tonight. Details on upcoming shows and tickets are at TheFillmorePhilly.com.