Dope Lemon Live at Brooklyn Bowl Philly!

(Photos by Camélia Hairane)

An intimate yet loud Philadelphia crowd welcomed the laidback, sun-drenched sounds of Dope Lemon to the Brooklyn Bowl Philly on June 3, 2025, and the super chill indie-groove outfit, led by the lifelong musician Angus Stone, did not disappoint.

The Venue:

Already having written a couple of posts about Angus Stone, Dope Lemon, and his music, I was ready to see him live. Especially near the end of his US tour. When he and his band are hitting their stride. Having the opportunity to see him at Brooklyn Bowl Philly added to my excitement.

The Brooklyn Bowl Philly was what I thought it would be: SUPER COOL. Okay, that sounds lame, but it does not make it untrue. It is part of an assemblage of venues in a part of Philly I consider the edge of Fishtown, less than half a mile from Love & Honey Fried Chicken, which makes my favorite chicken tenders and banana pudding. While each venue looks similar when empty, they have their own vibe. The one with a handful of bowling alleys, where Dope Lemon played, gives a feeling of No Worries and To Each Their Own, similar to Angus Stone.

The place was packed, but after we found the entrance to the photographer’s pit, I made my way to the VIP section, where I had a front row spot. (The Brooklyn Bowl Philly and Dope Lemon treated us well.) I chatted with the person next to me. He said, “We’ve been listening to him for a long time and decided to come down for the show.” If I were good at chit-chat, I would have asked him where he was from and possibly other questions. But c’est la vie; it is another lesson in missed opportunities.

(Photo Credit: Camélia Hairane)

The Music:

Taking notes is an essential process for me when covering a live event. Otherwise, I won’t remember what happened. That being said, there are shows where it is impossible for me to take them because I am invested in the present moment. Hence, I wrote two notes during the June 3rd show, the first being, Dope Lemon is bringing an Australian new-cowboy bluesy, laidback attitude that is masculine coolness in an era of gender dissemination. I know; that is a mouthful.

With that note, I must clarify my thought because I don’t want Dope Lemon’s music to get a rep that Dave Matthews had difficulty breaking from. Angus Stone does bring out a laid-back confidence that one might attribute to masculinity. Yet, I see a musician amidst an existential journey. (Camélia helped me move away from the term crisis because it doesn’t have to be a period of turmoil, but I am recognizing the spiritual voyage of self.)

(Photo Credit: Camélia Hairane)

Watching Dope Lemon perform, I see a person born into a folk music family who used a moniker to explore personae existing at the core of his essence. Although I think he is cool and an artist I admire as a lifelong musician doing his thing and testing the waters, I get the feeling that Dope Lemon allows Angus to let go of any identity burdens and have fun being the cool guy, as per his definition.

Photo by Camélia HairaneMy second note, which is not as intense as my first one: Watching “Honey Bones” played live, I realized it was the first time in my life that I saw a sitar in such an intense electric performance. I am definitely not saying that it hasn’t happened, and maybe I’ve heard music where it occurred. (Some examples: “Paint It, Black” by the Rolling Stones, “Hurdy Gurdy Man” by Donovan, and “Wherever I May Roam” by Metallica.) However, I cannot remember a single show where I’ve seen a musician use a sitar during a rock song. Cool. Rock on. Metal horns.

(Photo by Camélia Hairane)

My two notes lead me to believe that the thesis of this section can only be: A Dope Lemon live show is a rock concert. There was smoke and lights; guitar, drum, and harmonica solos; and moments that reminded me of The Black Keys. They pulled fans up on stage to dance while wearing different mascot heads, including a lemonhead. The audience’s heads bobbed, and fans danced. One guy standing in front, center stage, sang the lyrics to every song. And at the head of all of this was Angus Stone. It was his vision, his vibe.

(Photo by Camélia Hairane)

My Final Thoughts:

I love seeing an Australian band come to the US. Traveling so far shows their confidence in what they are doing. Not only that, Dope Lemon put on a show that kept the audience engaged the entire time. Interestingly, they played six songs from the band’s first album, Honey Bones, while only playing four from Golden Wolf. Also, he only played one of the songs from my listed favorites on my Kimosabé and Golden Wolf album reviews, “Yamasuki – Yama Yama.” However, I still thoroughly enjoyed the show and encourage anyone who hasn’t seen Dope Lemon to get out and see them live.

(Photo by Camélia Hairane)