by Vy Le | February 7th, 2026

All images are from Summer Salt’s -Reside North American Tour in Brooklyn, NY on 2/7/26.

I went to see Summer Salt in Philadelphia on their Reside Tour following the release of their latest album, Reside, with Wabie and Boyscott opening the night. I didn’t go in as a hardcore fan. I knew a few songs here and there, and based on that, I was expecting something retro, chill, and laid back. That expectation was pretty much assured the moment the show started. Nothing felt rushed or overdone. The entire night moved at an easy pace and stayed very true to Summer Salt’s sound.

For their Philadelphia stop, they played at Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia. The venue felt like a perfect match for the show. The space was pretty packed, and a lot of the crowd consisted of couples, which immediately set the tone for the night. With the bowling alley layout, fairy lights, and a disco ball hanging above the room, the venue already feels cozy on its own. Paired with Summer Salt’s music, the space felt even more intimate. It had very Valentine’s-ready energy, like the kind of show you go to just to stand close to someone and exist in the moment.

Wabie opened the night, and I didn’t even realize I knew his music until he started singing “Hey Lover!”. The song immediately took me back to the COVID-era TikTok, when it felt like it was everywhere. His set was solid overall, but that opening song was definitely the most memorable moment for me. Boyscott followed, and this was my first time hearing them. Their set was solid as well and fit seamlessly into the night. All three artists shared a similar indie, retro, surf-inspired sound, which made the lineup feel cohesive rather than random.

Summer Salt opened their set with cicada sounds, which I genuinely think was one of the smartest intros I’ve seen. It fit their branding, set the tone, and tied the whole night together. One of the standout moments for me was “Neptune,” especially because of the unexpectedly high vocals at the beginning. It caught me off guard in the best way. The lead singer, Matthew Terr, later shared that the song is about his dog, which made the moment feel even more endearing. Another standout was “Smile (괜찮을 거야).” I hadn’t listened to Reside yet, so I wasn’t expecting a mostly Korean song. Knowing that their drummer, Eugene Chung, is Korean made the moment feel very intentional. The song itself was laid back and comforting, and it reminded me of artists like Colde, offonoff, or Coffee Boy’s Because of Summer Night.

My only real issue with the show was the lighting. Throughout all three sets, heavy colored lighting was used almost exclusively. As a photographer, it was difficult to work with, and as an audience member, it became distracting when everyone on stage started looking blue or green. That aside, the show felt cohesive, intimate, and honest. It made a lot of sense for the kind of music Summer Salt makes. Nothing needed to be big or dramatic for the night to feel memorable. It was calm, warm, and easy to settle into.