Arts Fishing Club @ Kung Fu Necktie
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Photos & Written By: Bennett Hamilton
I caught Arts Fishing Club at Kung Fu Necktie in Philly on Saturday, March 1st. It was my first time
hearing of them, but by the end of the night, it felt like I’d known their music my whole life. There’s
something about the way they play – honest lyrics, raw harmonies, and a looseness that makes you feel
like you’re in on something special.
Before the set, I had an opportunity to sit down with Christopher “Toph” Kessenich, the bands primary songwriter. My first question was “what inspired the band name?” and I wanted to find out if it was a play on words, or if it meant something more personal. To my surprise, it was both! Here’s Toph’s response: “Both of my grandfathers are actually named Art (Arthur)! When I
first started playing, I was playing originally with a cousin of mine, and we were naming the band for an open mic, and we had just gone on a fishing trip with my grandpa and made these t shirts, Arts Fishing Club. And he was like, oh, let’s be Arts Fishing Club. And I hated the name, because I thought it was kitschy and just like, you know, only referencing that, reference. But then when I went to bed, I kinda liked the idea of the play on words of approaching music or, like, fishing. You’re constantly just casting out into the abyss. It’s coming up empty handed, and you just gotta keep doing it and, like, believing.”
I then asked, “What’s been inspiring the band’s music the most right now?” where Toph Replied:
“Right now, it’s so funny because when you’re on tour, it’s like we’re not really creating as much. Like,
we’re creating the live show, but we’re not writing new stuff as much. I think just the inspiration right now
is just a lot more about getting in every day and doing it. Like, we’ve talked about how a lot of us are in a
period where we’re not listening to music in a way, because we’re making a lot, and sometimes your ears
need a bit of a break. Which is kind of funny!” Then to know what to expect better, I asked “If you could describe your sound in just three words, what would they be?”
Toph: “Organic, joyful, and earthy”
Also leaning into what to expect, I asked “If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be?”
Without any hesitation Toph replied “Bon Iver.” He then went on and talked about his roots in Wisconsin
like Bon Iver, and how everyone in the band is collectively a fan of Bon Iver.
Lastly, I asked if there was anything big coming up. Arts Fishing Club has some chunks of music right
now with different flavors, and plan to put out a new song every month for about a year. They’re also
playing a huge festival in Wisconsin called Summerfest, where they will be on the same stage as The
Head and the Heart, and Yoke Lore.
Then I made my way to the stage and was greeted by a solo act opening the night up. Z.G. Smith aka
Cosmic Tambourine was playing, where I was amazed by his vocal melodies and shredding Bluegrass
licks. Smith was truly one of a kind, and the perfect way to start a night of listening to music. Also from
Nashville, it was very clear why Arts Fishing Club brought him along for some shows. Later in the set
Toph joined him on stage to sing harmonies. The songs felt good, and I had lot of fun listening to him play.
Suddenly, the room filled up – It was the most packed I have ever seen Kung Fu Necktie. The place, a
legendary and homey bar in the heart of the Northern Liberties, felt like the perfect setting for a night like
this. The crowd was all smiles, kind, and ready to soak in every note these guys played.
Arts Fishing Club then takes the stage and starts playing an energetic version of “hello heartbreak”, a
standout track from their 2023 album Rothko Sky. The opening hook hit like a jolt, grabbing everyone’s
attention and refusing to let go. By the time the solo hit, the crowd wasn’t just watching – we were
somewhere else entirely, worries dissolving into the warmth of the music and the glow of the night.
The band then slowed down a bit and played “Horizon Eyes”, a 2021 single that gave the crowd a chance
to catch their breath. When the song ended, Toph greeted the room with a well-timed “How ‘bout them
Eagles!” The room erupted in cheers which was short lived when Toph confessed he’s actually a Green
Bay Packers fan. The cheers flipped to boos in seconds, but all in good fun.
After a run of hard-hitting, high-energy songs, the band stepped off the stage, leaving just Toph under the lights for a solo interlude. As they left, Toph shared a quick story – apparently, a fan had messaged him before the show, asking for “Comet Dance,” a song he hadn’t played in a while. Without hesitation he
gave it a shot – and absolutely nailed it.
For one song, Toph even brought out ZG Smith as a surprise guest. After they shared a song, Toph told
the crowd, “If you missed ZG’s set earlier, you messed up!” For the people who were there for that set,
we all roared in agreement.
The band eventually returned to close out the night with a powerful finale. One of the standout moments
was “Feed Me to the Wolves,” an unreleased track that Toph said to me was their most ‘alive’ feeling
song of the set. It opened with a slow mysterious build, with Chris (the guitarist) weaving in tasteful lead
lines that hung in the air. I could even hear a few people in the crowd letting out soft moans of approval –
the kind of spontaneous reaction you get when something just hits. Then, the chorus exploded into a
massive wall of sound, shaking the room and leaving no doubt that everyone was fully locked into the
moment.
The band left, but the crowd stayed stagnant as the show didn’t feel over. No one wanted it to be over, so
everyone started cheering the band on for an encore. The band comes back out, and the crowd ready for
the last ounce of music for the night.
Before they started playing, Toph took a moment to share the story of how Arts Fishing Club came to
be. He admitted he was a bit of a late bloomer when it came to music. Growing up in Wisconsin, there
wasn’t much of a scene, and he was hesitant to share his passion — worried the people around him
wouldn’t understand why he was drawn to making music in the first place. So, for a long time, he kept it
quiet.
He also talked about his time working as a teacher and how much love he still has for the kids he worked
with. They, in their own way, helped him realize just how much of a people person he is. He wrapped up the story with a simple, heartfelt line: “I just love people.” And you could feel in the room that he meant
it.
The band then played four heart-felt songs to close out the night. Each one feeling special and intimate.
After the show, the band stuck around at the bar to meet fans and socialize. These guys care about the
people they’re with, and they do a special job of making you feel as if you are also in the band.
Here are some photos of the show!
Compiled by: Ava Mosby
