St. Phillip's Friday Night Mass

If you love a late night rock session with a gritty, intimate atmosphere the way we do, the best way to satisfy the need is to head to the Bug Jar on Monroe Ave. While New York City is home to many hole-in-the-wall venues with the charm of an unfinished basement, this is ROC's best stop for pounding your eardrums and getting to know the strangers you're shoulder-to shoulder with.

Last night's ticket went well into the early hours of the morning, but we held on steadily with dozens of others for Rochester's own St. Phillip's Escalator. The younger spawn of The Chesterfield Kings, this trio in their early 20s rocks harder than many bands twice their age. Their jams are in the same vein as the Kings, but the big difference is that all three have wild stage presence, engaging the audience and rocking out in a way that shows their love of music. The experience is made in drummer Zach's stick handling, guitarist Ryan's expressive faces, and bassist Noel's moves on stage.

Word on the street is that Escalator is taking a minor hiatus for personal reasons, but we will wait with bated breath for their return to the scene.