Pup and Jeff Rosenstock’s Cataclysmic Energy

By: Jonathan Marin

SAN ANTONIO- On September 26, Pup and Jeff Rosenstock arrived in San Antonio for their first-ever co-headlining tour. The two bands have crossed paths multiple times before, but this was the first time the two pop punk juggernauts met forces to create a truly unbelievable experience. Outspoken, raw, and rowdy, the performance was truly not one to forget. 

Both bands, hot off their biggest album releases to date, Pup with “Who Will Look After the Dogs” and Jeff Rosenstock with “HellMode” the two acts coming together made huge waves as their fanbases share crossover with their similar emotional punk styles that resonate with both audiences. Another significant milestone was the 10-year anniversary of Jeff Rosenstock’s “We Cool?”, his breakout hit record from 2015. All of this made for a tour that carried weight for both acts and their fans alike.  

The night kicked off with the opening act, Ekko Astral, a female-fronted punk band out of Washington, DC. They packed a punch just as potent as the headliner’s, the crowd immediately feeling their presence with their opening track of the setlist, “head empty blues”, a song full of passion and power, which seemed to be the theme throughout the show. Halfway through, they split the crowd down the middle and ordered them to run to the other side, cracking open the chaos that was about to ensue. With only one album to their name, the punk band was looking to impress; they accomplished that goal. 

Jeff Rosenstock was up next, and the crowd’s restlessness permeated the room. Once the aptly titled “Death Rosenstock” band took to the stage, the crowd erupted. They walked on stage backed by the “Friends” theme song, “I’ll be there for you.” They immediately kicked off with “Wave goodnight to me,” A Rosenstock classic. Throughout the setlist, a journey was taken through the discography of the prolific artist, enough to satisfy every fan of the artist. “Teenager” and “Polar Bear Or Africa” were deep cuts that received extremely warm reactions.  

Jeff’s portion of the show was chock-full of energy the entire way through without any pauses and seamless transitions; his live show was always something the band was highly regarded for, but this truly felt like a next-level elevation. The show left nothing to be desired, with the somewhat shorter set time as Pup was up next. 

Force of nature is the way you could describe Pup on stage. They stormed the stage and did not hesitate to smack the audience with their full force. The first three tracks, “No Hope”, “My Life is Over And I Couldn’t Be Happier”, and “Free At Last” simply did not relent. Their infectious choruses made for an unforgettable crowd experience as the crowd sang back the lyrics with the same passion as intended.  

The set ended off on a mellow note as frontman Stefan Babcock performed “Shut Up” solo in a great change of pace. This, however, was not the end of the set as the true chaos lay at the end of the show as Death Rosenstock and Pup combined forces for one last mini set. Their actual collab song “Get Dumber” was put on display in the way it was intended, with both vocalists trading lyrics, every member of the band on the stage. A truly chaotic scene that ended with a cover of Alanis Morrisette’s “You Oughta Know” in one last true send-off. It’s like a true goodbye to the experience that was this show. Pup and Jeff Rosenstock are continuing to tour all across the nation, bringing this unique punk experience to all those who wish to take part.