Pup – The Palace Theater – St. Paul MN – September 3rd 2025

First Avenue and The Palace Theater present Pup with special guests Ekko Astra and Jeff Rosenstock

Review and photos by Peyton Rondeau

On September 3rd, 2025, the Palace Theatre in St. Paul played host to a punk rock trifecta that pushed the venue to its limits. With Ekko Astral setting the fire, Jeff Rosenstock fanning the flames, and PUP finishing the night in a blaze of chaotic glory, it was a show that showcased not only three distinct voices in punk, but the scene’s ability to feel cathartic, communal, and just plain fun all at once.

Ekko Astral kicked things off with a set that felt raw and necessary. Their sound—a jagged fusion of post-punk urgency and politically charged lyrics—immediately cut through the chatter of an early crowd and demanded attention. The band leaned heavily on material from their latest release, sharp-edged tracks that balanced aggression with groove. Even in the wide-open theatre, Ekko Astral’s performance carried the intimacy and fire of a basement show, with a confrontational presence that set the tone for the night.

If Ekko Astral were the spark, Jeff Rosenstock was the eruption. Charging onstage with the kind of energy that feels unsustainable but somehow isn’t, Rosenstock and his band delivered a set that felt equal parts chaos and celebration. Staples like Nikes (Alt) and Scram! turned the theatre into a massive singalong, the crowd nearly drowning Jeff out with sheer volume. Between the walls of distortion, saxophone flourishes, and bursts of humor, Rosenstock turned imperfection into magic. He thrives on the ragged edges, and that looseness made his performance feel alive—each song teetering between falling apart and coming together at the exact right moment. The connection with the audience was undeniable: sweaty, messy, joyous catharsis at its finest.

By the time PUP hit the stage, the room was already primed for chaos. The Toronto four-piece wasted no time, launching straight into fan favorites like Free At Last and Morbid Stuff, the crowd answering back with deafening roars. The pit never stopped moving, bodies flying overhead in waves, but the energy never tipped into hostility—just sheer communal release. PUP’s greatest trick has always been combining songs about self-doubt and destruction with anthemic hooks that make people shout their insecurities together. That balance was on full display here, sharpened by the band’s tight but reckless live delivery. Between Stefan Babcock’s self-deprecating banter and the unrelenting pace of the set, PUP made the Palace feel like the best kind of wreck—loud, sweaty, and unforgettable.

The night as a whole worked like a perfectly sequenced record: Ekko Astral’s urgency, Rosenstock’s joyful chaos, and PUP’s explosive finale built on each other until the entire theatre was buzzing with catharsis. More than just three bands sharing a bill, it was a snapshot of punk at its most vital—angry, joyful, communal, and alive.