Kurt Vile, Joe Walsh, The War On Drugs cover R.E.M. at hometown show

On 18 December, Philadelphia band The War On Drugs kicked off A Drugcember To Remember, a three-night residency at Fishtown indie rock venue Johnny Brenda’s. The band first started doing the shows in 2018 to benefit Philadelphia public schools, with proceeds from ticket and merch sales going to The Fund For The School District of Philadelphia.

As WHYY reports, shows at Johnny Brenda’s have always held a special place in the band’s history. Vocalist and guitarist Adam Granduciel lived around the corner from the venue, and drummer Charlie Hall views the space as a “hang”. “We would play at Brenda’s, and it would just be like a hang,” Hall said. “All of our friends and friends from other bands and fans. Now it’s especially cool because it’s still that,” he tells WHYY.

In an Instagram post, Granduciel says, “This band wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for the vibrant Philadelphia community that has supported us since the very beginning, and we are very grateful for it.”

Across the three days of performances, The War On Drugs were joined by special guests — performing alongside Real Estate vocalist and guitarist Martin Courtney on Thursday, while The Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh and The Hold Steady lead Craig Finn surprised crowds on Friday, as reported by Stereogum.

On Saturday night, Joe Walsh returned to the stage, this time with former War On Drugs co-founder and lead guitarist Kurt Vile. Vile and Granduciel formed the band in 2005, with Vile shifting his focus to his solo career a few years later. But for one evening, the musicians came together to perform Bill Fay’s “Pictures of Adolf Again”, R.E.M’s “Country Feedback”, and The War On Drugs’ Arms Like Boulders. Watch the performance in an attendee-recorded video below: