After getting stuck in some unfortunate holiday traffic on my return from my hometown in East Texas, I made my way straight to the 29th St. Ballroom on Friday night to catch the Pharmacy. I was just in time, as the band was soundchecking when I arrived. A sizable crowd had turned out for the event, which was great to see, since The Pharmacy put on a good live show, and a holiday weekend can be unpredictable.
The band had created a large banner backdrop that read with the title of their new, just-release full-length, Stoned and Alone. Fittingly, the band played a good number of power pop songs from that album, but also sprinkled in older tunes. In fact, as much as I have enjoyed the new album in the few experiences I’ve had with it, the highlight of the night for me came when the trio performed “Coldest Morning Light” from 2010’s Weekend.
With showgoers appearing still half-inebriated from holiday festivities, the crowd seemed already reckless when the set started and only grew more so as it went on. A group of friends positioned front and center hugged and danced, sloshing enough beer on the floor to form a small sea. As the trio got deeper into their set, they fed off the vibe of the raucaus crowd, becoming looser and more energetic. In the closing song, the trio ended with an epic cacaphony of noise. 
Lead singer Scott Yoder dropped to his knees to strike the guitar and fiddle with pedals as drummer Brendhan Bowers delivered a pounding barrage of drums. Bassist and keyboardist Stefan Rubicz also fiddle with pedals as he shoved his bass guitar toward the edge of the stage. A concerned onlooker prevented its fall before taking the bass and awkwardly grinding it against Rubicz for what seemed like minutes on end. Eventually, Rubicz took the guitar back and reached up to lodge it in the rafters before the band exited the stage. Those who shook off the holiday sleeps and ventured out for The Pharmacy’s show were rewarded with an upbeat indie-pop set filled with punk-rock ethos.
