Three Reasons: Buck Meek Returns to Johnny Brenda’s (7/7)

Although we’re officially amidst one of the dryest seasons of the calendar year for live music, Philadelphia does have a handful of upcoming July shows really worth getting excited about… perhaps none more so than when Big Thief guitarist Buck Meek brings his solo show back to Johnny Brenda’s for the first time in nearly half a decade next Tuesday, July 7th.  The date is opening night of Meek’s North American tour behind his latest solo album, The Mirror, which dropped this February via 4AD.  Here are Three Reasons why we would highly recommend coming out…

1. BY VOLUME, THE MIRROR IS THE BEST ALBUM OF 2026 SO FAR

Buck Meek’s fourth full-length (and second for 4AD) is not only the best of his career, but currently the best LP to drop this year.  The album sees the singer/songwriter pairing with Big Thief bandmate/drummer James Krivchenia as producer (who also produced Big Thief’s Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You) and joined by a plethora of musical friends, including Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker, Mary Lattimore, and Jolie Holland, in addition to Germaine Dunes and Dylan Meek (Buck’s wife and brother, respectively).  The LP was recorded at Ringo Bingo, Meek and Dunes’ Los Angeles log cabin studio, and has Buck and James exploring a sonic amalgam of their live playing and the world of electronics, which pays off in incredible ways, as noted by Glide Magazine.

“The Mirror has an inherently immersive cohesion that is stunning to behold, but it is a byproduct of these eleven songs.  Each moment on this tracklist holds an autonomy, acting as a microcosm of something bigger than this album and Meek himself.  These songs play as if the artist is reaching out a hand for you to grab, pleading to be seen as more than another addition to a stellar discography, and more of a proper introduction to an artistry that has already been a part of so many lives.  Meek’s songwriting takes center stage like never before, with the artist favoring a display of range rather than attempting to convey an underlying message across these songs. The Mirror plays on the sentiment that songs are tiny universes meant to be held closely and carried through our lives, as the artist touches on a wide range of emotions and images to deliver his most detailed, heartfelt effort to date.”

2. THESE DAYS, HE’S RARELY IN SPACES THIS INTIMATE

While Buck Meek did play Johnny Brenda’s in November of 2021 in support of sophomore LP Two Saviors (which dropped earlier that year on Keeled Scales), his last headlining tour had him at Ardmore Music Hall (which is more than twice the size and, ya know, not in Philadelphia), and his recent local shows with Big Thief have had him playing venues between 5 and 14 times the size of the Fishtown “mini rock n’ roll ballroom.”  And if the trajectory of his solo career can be trusted, it seems as though his next headlining show in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection would likely find itself at Underground Arts or The First Unitarian Church… not that that wouldn’t be amazing…

3. SUPPORT ACT KISSER NOT ONLY SOUNDS AMAZING, BUT ALSO INCLUDES BUCK

Opening the entirety of Buck Meek’s North American tour (after providing support for nearly all of the dates of his EU/UK tour this spring) is LA rock band Kisser.  Although there is little-to-no information (and no recordings, to my knowledge) on the group available online, I can confirm that they are fronted by Germaine Dunes, Meek’s wife, who made her musical debut with 2023 solo album Midnight Game.  Kisser also features Meek himself, in addition to Here We Go Magic’s Luke Temple/Art Feynman, Jeffertitii Moon, and Jesse Quebbeman Turley.  Apparently they have a debut album set to drop later this year, so look out for that, in addition to potential headlining dates in even more intimate rooms.

*Get your tickets here.