Shooting Our Mouths Off

Although the band have played in Philadelphia a handful of times, this was their debut at Union Transfer. Opened in 2011, the historic venue was once a luggage transfer station for the Reading Railroad and has been restored to showcase its architectural heritage. With its exposed brick, high ceilings and elegant chandeliers, the venue offered a beautifully atmospheric setting for what is arguably the band’s most intimate album.

Much like in Washington, the band spread the Laid tracks across both sets – five in the first and eight in the second. For the first time on this tour, they switched up their opener, trading the usual ‘Out to Get You‘ for ‘Dream Thrum‘ – still choosing to ease in with a slow-burner.

The first set’s non-Laid highlights included ‘She’s a Star’, ‘Tomorrow‘, ‘Come Home’, and ‘Sound’ – the latter giving Andy a chance to deliver his trumpet solo from the balcony, right among the fans taking in the show from the bleachers. The set also featured ‘Shadow of a Giant‘ from Yummy, a track that continues to hold its ground, having been played at every show so far.

The band kicked off the second set with ‘Skindiving’ once again – a calm, haunting choice that closes Laid, now reimagined as a set opener two nights running. After ‘Knuckle Too Far’, the band took a short detour from the album, marking the tour debut of three songs: ‘Stay’, ‘Seven’, and ‘Attention’.

Andy wasn’t the only one to make use of the balcony – during ‘Born of Frustration’, Tim plunged into the crowd, balancing along the side barrier while steadying himself on the balcony overhead. Forever chasing that adrenaline rush, he even let go completely, arms raised, to belt out the song’s iconic “woos” hands-free.

After closing the second set with Laid, the band returned for an encore of ‘Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)‘ – perfectly bookending the night with infectious energy and memorable singalong choruses that kept the crowd buzzing until the very end.