Born Ruffians @ Johnny Brenda’s.
Text and images by Grace Dickinson.
After two and a half years, Born Ruffians made their way back to Johnny Brenda’s for another show Saturday night. This time, it was sold out. And the crowd sang along to at least half the songs. They clapped. They chanted. They danced. They reached for the band members after the encore, where sweaty, lucky handshakes were given to a few.
“This is definitely the best Philadelphian show we’ve ever played,” said drummer Steven Hamelin. “Even with these anal beads tangling me up all night.”
The Ontario-originated band is on tour for their fourth album, Birthmarks, and after nine years of playing together, have a fan club now flocking to them.
Wearing Oxford shoes and a half-tucked, short sleeve button up, lead singer and songwriter Luke Lalonde is known to garner the attention of the ladies. His tall stature, chiseled face and floppy, short brown curls make him an easy frontman.
Moon King
But it was Mitch Derosier, the band’s charismatic bassist, who did most of the talking for the night. And it was Derosier who got the audience shouting out.
“Why do you keep chanting ‘Mitch?’” Derosier yelled, joking with the crowd. “There’s four of us fucking up here.”
Derosier definitely knew how to get the crowd going, initiating clapping on numerous occasions, and busting out rockstar-esque stances as he jammed out on bass.
Born Ruffians kicked off the show with lots of material from their latest album, including “Needle”, a standout and also the first track from Birthmarks. As the night wore on, the foursome shifted into more of their older work, where Lalonde broke a guitar string during the poppy, fast-tempoed “Hummingbird.” Tambourines and electric keyboard riffs from Andy Lloyd were there to accompany Lalonde’s vocals, which ring similar to a mix between Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes and Alex Schaaf of Yellow Ostrich.
Opening the show was Philly’s own Alec Ounsworth, currently working on Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’s fourth record, while also playing solo.
Moon King also came out (from Toronto) to open, delivering a highly energetic performance in comparison to their chill, white noise-filled music. Frontman Daniel Woodhead made sure to leap from the bass drum on multiple occasions and to also lift his mic stand above his head while singing. Whether or not you dug the music, it was hard not to be absorbed by what was going on up on stage.
Up next, Born Ruffians and Moon King are set to head South, continuing their tour along the East Coast..
JUMP: The Philly Music Project 
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