A Cataclysmic Rapture of Friendshipness at The Fillmore
by Vy Le | September 17th , 2025
All images are from PUP & Jeff ROSENSTOCKs’ - A Cataclysmic Rapture of Friendshipness Tour in Philadelphia, PA on 9/17/25.
The Fillmore is one of those venues that manages to feel huge and intimate at the same time. By the time Ekko Astral closed out their set, the floor had gone from roomy to completely packed, buzzing with anticipation. Most people did not show up early, but once the music started, it felt like everyone in the building had arrived at once.
Ekko Astral wasted no time setting the tone. Their set was sharp, fast, and loud, the kind of opener that makes you realize you are in for a long night of chaos. From there, Jeff Rosenstock and PUP took over and turned the venue into something bigger than just a concert. The energy was not just high; it was communal.
What stood out most was how different the songs felt live. The vocals were rawer than on record, which fit perfectly. PUP’s music has always been full of grit and personal storytelling, and hearing it in its rawest form made it hit harder. Stefan Babcock, their frontman, knew exactly how to feed that energy back into the crowd, whether it was during the stripped-back solo between sets or when he finally launched into a full stage dive at the end.
The audience gave it right back. Hardcore fans screamed every word, a circle in the middle never stopped moshing, and people surfed over the crowd like it was instinct. It was my first rock show, and I could not stop watching everything that was happening on stage, in the pit, and overhead. At one point, Stefan paused to talk about pit etiquette and the importance of looking out for each other, which felt like the thesis of the whole night. Chaotic, yes, but always with care.
The songs that stuck with me most were “If This Tour Doesn’t Kill You, I Will” and “Hunger for Death.” Both landed like punches, sonically heavy and lyrically sharp, and Stefan’s delivery made them impossible to shake off.
But beyond the music, what defined the night was how every band used their platform. The bands did not shy away from speaking out, whether it was about what’s happening in Palestine or the inaccessibility of healthcare for trans people. It reinforced what Stefan said earlier during PUP’s set about looking out for each other. The show was not just an escape, it was a reminder of solidarity.
If I had to describe it in one line, it really was a cataclysmic rapture of friendshipness. Ferocious, messy, honest, and full of connection. Would I see them live again? No question.
Tour Dates:
Sep 19, 2025 – The Ritz, Raleigh, NC
(with special guest Ekko Astral)
Sep 20, 2025 – The Fillmore Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
(with special guest Ekko Astral)
Sep 22, 2025 – The Eastern, Atlanta, GA
(with special guest Ekko Astral)
Sep 24, 2025 – White Oak Music Hall, Houston, TX
(with special guest Ekko Astral)
Sep 25, 2025 – House of Blues Dallas – Dallas, TX
(with special guest Ekko Astral)
Sep 26, 2025 – Paper Tiger, San Antonio, TX
(with special guest Ekko Astral)
Sep 27, 2025 – RADIO/EAST, Austin, TX
(with special guest Ekko Astral)
Sep 30, 2025 – The Van Buren, Phoenix, AZ
(with special guest Ekko Astral)
Oct 1, 2025 – The Sound at Del Mar, San Diego, CA
(with special guest Ekko Astral)
Oct 2, 2025 – Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles, CA
(with special guest Ekko Astral)
Oct 3, 2025 – Ace Of Spades, Sacramento, CA
with Chase Petra
Oct 4, 2025 – Fox Theater, Oakland, CA
(with special guest Ekko Astral)
Oct 6, 2025 – McMenamins Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR
(with special guest Ekko Astral)
Oct 7, 2025 – Showbox SoDo, Seattle, WA
(with special guest Ekko Astral)
Oct 8, 2025 – Treefort Music Hall, Boise, ID
with Chase Petra
Oct 9, 2025 – Rockwell at The Complex, Salt Lake City, UT
(with special guest Ekko Astral)
Oct 11, 2025 – The Mission Ballroom, Denver, CO
(with special guest Ekko Astral)
Nov 24, 2025 – The Pearl, Vancouver, BC
(with Snotty Nose Rez Kids)
Nov 25, 2025 – Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC
(with Snotty Nose Rez Kids)
Nov 26, 2025 – Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC
(with Snotty Nose Rez Kids)
Nov 28, 2025 – Midway Music Hall, Edmonton, AB
(with Snotty Nose Rez Kids)
Nov 29, 2025 – MacEwan Hall, Calgary, AB
(with Snotty Nose Rez Kids)
Dec 1, 2025 – Coors Event Centre, Saskatoon, SK
(with Snotty Nose Rez Kids)
Dec 2, 2025 – Burton Cummings Theatre, Winnipeg, MB
(with Snotty Nose Rez Kids)
Dec 3, 2025 – Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, Thunder Bay, ON
Dec 5, 2025 – MTELUS, Montreal, QC
(with Snotty Nose Rez Kids)
Dec 6, 2025 – The Bronson Centre, Ottawa, ON
(with Snotty Nose Rez Kids)
Dec 7, 2025 – The Bronson Centre, Ottawa, ON
(with Snotty Nose Rez Kids)
Dec 9, 2025 – Maxwell's Concerts and Events, Waterloo, ON
(with Snotty Nose Rez Kids)
Dec 11, 2025 – London Music Hall, London, ON
(with Snotty Nose Rez Kids)
Dec 12, 2025 – BOND|ST Event Centre, Oshawa, ON
(with Snotty Nose Rez Kids)
Dec 13, 2025 – Bridgeworks, Hamilton, ON
(with Snotty Nose Rez Kids)
OPENER:
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EKKO ATRSAL
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OPENER: - EKKO ATRSAL -
