The National Rifle and Instamatic @ Milkboy.

After a few weeks of touring the country in a van, The National Rifle returned to Philly for a rousing set at Milkboy on Saturday.

It was definitely a homecoming for the crew, as there were many friends in the crowd.

“Buddy, take off your shirt,” one person barked from the front row, referring to drummer Buddy Mazzenga.

When the bandmates simply laughed in response, the same young man barked, “Jeremiah, take off your shirt.”

But bass player Jeremiah Sweeney, a personal trainer, also declined. As did keyboard player Lynna Stancato, who stated, “I don’t do that!”

It was that kind of night, however, and frontman Hugh Moretta jumped into the crowd and danced a few times while playing guitar.

The show was sponsored by Y-Not Radio, whose owner, Josh Landow, took the stage before The National Rifle performed and declared their new album, Almost Endless, to be among the best in Philly this year.

Istamatic played before The National Rifle, providing a wonderful set of intricate, 80s-sounding electro pop. The five-piece band had a world of equipment, including homemade drum kits made out of electrical sockets.

Son Step opened the show but we unfortunately missed them.

Instamatic