2026 Shows in Review
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Before getting into Jesi’s year-end wrap-up, a small update on the Dumal The Trials of Existence tape orders…
All tapes have been received. Production took longer than expected for all the pieces to make this tape special. The tapes are going to come with a special Claret (dark red) O-card with silver imprint logo and lettering on the front, which added to the production time on top of the already delayed tapes. Apologies are due, but good things come to those who wait. We will likely never make anything as special as far as a tape format goes in the future so don’t miss out if you haven’t preordered already.
Jesi Eternal
2026 has been filled with its fair share of ups and downs for me. There have been albums and days of my life that have disappointed me, and moments I’ve replayed in my head like favorite tracks I wish I could spin again, just to feel them hit as hard as they did the first time. (I felt philosophical writing that, please clap)
As the clocks fall back and we settle into funeral doom savings time, I’m reminded of everything we’ve accomplished as a team in 2026 so far. Some nights are worth replaying, some shows stay with you long after load out, and moments on in my mind in permanent rotation.
So, without further delay, here are my favorite DeathSculpted gigs of the year (SO FAR).
1. CAGED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CRAB SHACK
Sometimes you get texts from work that make you want to kill yourself, and sometimes you get texts that turn you into one of those inflatable dancing pool noodles outside a car dealership. When we confirmed Bonk’s as the venue for this show, I was doing the noodle. I think everyone secretly loves being crammed into an oversold room once in a while. It was still chilly enough in the spring that nobody was sweating to death, the sound was incredible (thank you, Adam, as always), and Caged, Lichen, Moros, and Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean were all phenomenal.
This show also came with a lot of firsts for us. We hosted our first album release and listening party at Doom Bar for the Moros release, and we introduced our first physical tickets in an attempt to resurrect the nostalgic art of the ticket stub for collectors and sentimental weirdos like myself.
A huge thank you to Moros for trusting us with your album release and letting us be part of such a special moment.
2. STROKEN MY EVOKEN AT MILKMANS
A show is over in a single night, but the work behind it takes months of planning, marketing, logistics, and collaboration. From the initial offer to the final execution, an incredible amount of time and energy goes into making just a few hours of live music happen, and that’s exactly what made this show so special to me. This one was truly a collaborative effort, and watching all those moving pieces come together was incredibly rewarding. Thank you to the Rising Sun and MilkBoy teams for working with us to bring Evoken to Philadelphia. Thank you to Sienna (Yamasden) for creating such a beautiful custom piece for this show. Thank you to everyone in Glorious Descent for coming in clutch and jumping on the bill at the last minute. I’m also incredibly grateful that my fellow DSP coworker Chris got to be part of this lineup for Blood Spore’s big Philadelphia return. So many people put their hearts, time, and energy into making this night happen, and it showed.
What a heater.
And an especially big thank you to everyone who came out and made it worth all the work.
3. NOVEMBERS DOOM AT NIKKI LOPEZ
This show also marked Witching’s smoking return to the Philadelphia stage, and what a night to come back. Completely sold out, packed with friends, and filled with the kind of energy that reminds me why I love doing this.. Witching and Ecliptor had been doing a small run together, and what an absolute spankin’ package they made. Having both bands on the bill with Novembers Doom headlining created such an incredible, diverse lineup. The vibes at Nikki Lopez were immaculate. The room was full, the performances were incredible, and everywhere I looked there was another familiar face. The mf homies came out. It was one of those nights where you can’t help but think that Philadelphia might actually be the greatest city on Earth.
And for a few hours, I don’t think anyone in that room could’ve convinced me otherwise.
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TWO MORE BEFORE WE BURY 2026
We’ve still got two shows left before the year is over, and I’m hoping they rage harder than anything we’ve done yet.
12/4 — KFN
12/5 — Cousin Danny’s
Two more chances to make some memories worth putting on repeat.
See you there, DeathSculpted.
— Jesi