ROCKET
Rocket, Warehouse on Watts, Philadelphia, PA 11/7/2025
Blast Off:
On November 7th, Rocket took off at a wonderful show on their 7th stop on the “R is for Rocket Tour” at Warehouse on Watts, Philadelphia. Supporting Rocket on some of the tour is Cashier, the rock/shoegaze band from South Louisiana, and for this show only, the Philly local band, Bleary Eyed, made a guest appearance, making for a stacked 3-set bill in celebration of Rocket’s debut album, “R is for Rocket”.
Starting the night was Bleary Eyed, performing a lot of new singles off their recent album, “Easy,” like “Heaven Year” and “Special”. Their shoegaze-inspired style made for an exciting start to the show. Watching the high energy of Nathaniel, the guitarist, as he shredded it on stage with ease, and the harmonies of his vocals mixed with Margot, the bassist, was incredible to see.
Next up was Cashier. This set was truly a surprise, because not only did they play their hit singles like “Angels all Around” and “Beginner”, but Cashier played various unreleased tracks on their soon-to-be-released EP, and the audience loved it. Nearly the entire crowd headbanged at one point, and everyone, including the band, was having an amazing time.
Formed in 2021, indie Rock Band Rocket gained a lot of traction with their EP, “Versions of You,” in 2023, and would continue to wow fans with their debut studio album, “R is for Rocket,” this past October. Influenced by 90’s alternative rock and shoegaze, Rocket delivers a unique indie-rock sound like no other.
After two talented openers, it was time for Rocket to blast off, starting their set with a couple of older songs like “Take Your Aim” and “Sugarcoated.” Fans immediately got hype and were singing to every word without missing a beat. With the majority of the setlist featuring songs from their new album like “Crazy”, “Number One Fan”, and “Wide Awake”, this was the first time a lot of Philly fans got to hear them live, as lead singer and bassist, Alethia, explained that they had played at Warehouse on Watts before, but opened for another band, and were happy to see some returning faces in the crowd. Rocket works very well together as a band on stage, frequently smiling at each other and the fans.
With the set nearing the end, Rocket finished strong with “R is for Rocket”, which shares the same name as the album. Overall, this show was awesome. With 3 bands that share similar genres, they each have their distinct way of sounding different, and it made for a very entertaining show. With many dates left on the tour, I couldn't recommend seeing Rocket live and checking out their music for any fans of Rocket and/or indie rock.
Shot and Written by Christopher McIntyre
