San Fermin @ Union Transfer.

Text and images by Grace Dickinson.

San Fermin kicked off what will be a lengthy U.S. tour for their newest and 2^nd album, Jackrabbit, at Union Transfer on Thursday night. The eight-piece band was one of few words but they brought more than enough instruments to make up for the lack of onstage banter.

Given Philadelphia was their first stop, they also showed up with a notable amount of energy. Excluding the drummer, it wasn’t rare to see all band members jumping harmoniously to the height of the light bulbs that lined the stage, trumpet, sax and violin players included.

At one point, the trumpet player jumped off the stage and strode through the crowd, keeping his instrument tipped toward the ceiling. He powerfully moved into a solo while the crowd watched, wide-eyed. Needless to say, it’s a moment the audience is likely to remember.

Ellis Ludwig-Leone, the keyboardist who situated himself almost inconspicuously to stage-left, is the mastermind behind all of San Fermin’s music. Starting as a composer of one, he quickly built a troop that is now growing a modest, yet steady success. After the Brooklyn band’s first album, they toured with well-known bands such as The National, St. Vincent, Arctic Monkeys, and The Head and the Heart.

The band’s poppy, orchestral-toned, indie rock is catching attention all on its own. At SXSW in March, San Fermin was noted as a band to watch out for after a unanimously well-received performance.

Their fan base will continue to grow as they make their way west, ending the tour in Austin in October.