Bark Culture At Solar Myth

Bark Culture
Solar Myth
Philadelphia, PA
August 21, 2025

Midway through an extended road trip, Bark Culture returned to Solar Myth in their hometown of Philadelphia for an evening, taking the stage before a standing room only audience. Formed in 2021, Bark Culture is comprised of Brazilian ex-pat Victor Vieira–Branco on vibraphone, Joey Sullivan on percussion, John Moran on bass and recent addition Sam Yulsman on piano. The enthusiastic response to the opening introductions suggested a sizable contingent of family and friends was present. But the band quickly justified the outpouring with an energetic and creative performance.

Happily, there is an abundance of bands incorporating vibraphone these days, covering a range of styles. Bark Culture has carved out a unique space of its own that defies easy categorization. What Vieira-Branco dubs their "sonic vision" is music that fluidly ebbs and flows between abstract melodies and free group improvisations, that easily slips from propulsive, hard-driving runs to balladic episodes. They further blended minimalist patterns and artistic use of space, resulting in a varied performance brimming with energy that never relented or abated.

The set consisted of Vieira-Branco compositions from their 2024 debut album, Warm Wisdom (Temperphantom) plus new material planned for release in early 2026, one by Yulsman. Bandcamp included Warm Wisdom on its best of jazz list for September 2024 alongside such heavy hitters as Bill Frisell, Anat Cohen and Patricia Brennan. Live, they fully unleashed their improvisational skills during extended renditions. Four years of gigging, coupled with off-stage friendships and shared musical passions, have nourished their palpable on-stage chemistry.

"Palace," a new composition, initiated the set. It began with an abstract melody backed by a steady rhythmic pulse, then shifted fluidly into an extended free discourse that hinted at the theme and maintained a sense of forward momentum thanks to Sullivan's propulsive, crashing percussion. Vieira-Branco and Yulsman both showed their extroverted sides, adding percussive chords and accents.

"Farce," a Yulsman contribution, extends the original trio sound into new territories. His integration into the band is fully realized, as if they were a quartet from the start. Following Moran's resonant intro, Yulsman and Vieira-Branco stated the melody before taking it progressively further out, propelled by rhythmic bass and restless drums. Moran contributed a robust solo with Sullivan rolling and splashing in support until Yulsman and Vieira-Branco gracefully slipped back into a melodic pattern that shimmeringly trailed off.

"Panic" began, ironically, calmly and spatially, with Vieira-Branco lyrically unspooling the melody. Yulsman assumed the lead with subtle meanderings, repetitive patterns and the occasional dissonant chord backed by arco vibes. Well into the performance, it accelerated and expanded into a group mashup that ultimately segued into a lovely balladic conclusion. "Paradise Lawns" from Warm Wisdom also made the set and was imaginatively reworked and engrossing.

For an atmospheric interlude, everyone went arco. Well, vibes, bass and cymbals, as Vieira-Branco compensated for the difficulty of using a bow on the piano by simultaneously using two bows. Yulsman sprinkled in bright, articulated notes for contrast. Sullivan shifted to taps, scrapes and rattles, replacing one stick with a tambourine for added colors, all of which resulted in a vibrant ambient soundscape.

Although not yet widely known, the talented members of Bark Culture are passionate about their label-defying music and merit a broader audience. Their upcoming 2026 release, given this exuberant performance, is an event to anticipate.