Addison Rae at Fillmore Philly 10/7/2025
by TC Stephens
Ever since “Diet Pepsi” dropped over a year ago, Addison Rae has been next in line to take the title of it girl. Cringe influencer-turned-pop-star for some, Britney Spears reincarnated for others, The Addison Tour is the final step in her beautifully crafted debut album rollout as she strives to be taken seriously as an artist bar her TikTok-tainted past. A giant gate styled closely to Addison’s cover art with a striking “A” in the center was the only sight before the show. Rebecca Black didn’t get behind the decks, there was no noise set from Arca, just Britney Spears and Madonna deep cuts that rose in volume until her dancers unlatched the gate. Though criticized for being too referential and constantly combating comparisons, Rae’s main concern is clear: All eyes on her.
Hit copy and paste on the crowd at the Sweat Tour to envision the show out for Rae. Just as eager to dance in skin-tight “I Love New York” tees and neon fishnets, it was hard to believe walking in that this crowd heard the same alt-pop, largely downtempo debut. Yet, Rae’s setlist gave them exactly what they wanted. Starting with “Fame Is A Gun” and bringing fans on stage to make the iconic “Von Dutch remix” scream the show’s climax, Rae interspersed her high energy perfectly. She’s equipped with the self-awareness to know the slower “Headphones On” is enough of a hit to be followed by blasting her newly minted “A Bucks” into the crowd during “Money Is Everything” without whiplash. Where the setlist went, the audience followed, feeling so free it was their religion.
Much like how she talks about her debut, The Addison Tour doesn’t come from a polished place. The vague feelings, colors, and words that began her creative process don’t come through in lyrics, movements, or production alone. It’s these pieces together that form her mode of expression. Is Rae the vocalist of the generation? Certainly not. What she channels with her headset mic and supported by her dancers, though, is more than enough for her vision to resonate. Throughout the show, she placed “Philly” in every sentence she could — “it’s fun to say, isn’t it?” In a way, this spontaneous repetition is her ethos embodied. If it looks good, feels good, sounds good, it works. Worry about the details later.
Rae has gone on the record to assert that taste is a luxury. If you need the feet imagery of “High Fashion” or the impromptu cardio set to a remixed outro of “Fame Is A Gun” explained to you, it’s a luxury you just don’t have. With each distinctive performance choice, she’s crafting her pop persona outside of her highly referential showing thus far. And in her choreography, she shines. Throughout the show, her arms flew in quick sharp lines, her body contrasting in the slow, fluid movements that have become distinctly hers. Her best showing was during “In The Rain,” hands ruffling her hair before circling to the ground, remaining as guides for her next move. Say what you want about her TikTok dances, but if they laid the foundation for her current choreo, every single one was worth it.
In Rae’s energy-based approach to her music, it’s no surprise that the show’s throughline, while clearly present, couldn’t be pinned down. After cycling through sparkling bras and neon fishnets throughout the show, her dancers put her in a bodysuit with a tulle skirt and train for her final song, “Diet Pepsi.” Her most liberated lyrically, she stood center stage and performed it as if it were a ballad. It was a final nod to her high artistry, her devotion to self-expression concentrated into one song. As it closed, her dancers came back on and took a bow with her, throwing roses into the crowd. The lights came on and those same roses were subsequently bartered along with cigarettes and sweaty shirts for the priceless “A Bucks.” The scramble was that you would see for a pop princess in her prime, but Rae is just getting started.
Hit copy and paste on the crowd at the Sweat Tour to envision the show out for Rae. Just as eager to dance in skin-tight “I Love New York” tees and neon fishnets, it was hard to believe walking in that this crowd heard the same alt-pop, largely downtempo debut. Yet, Rae’s setlist gave them exactly what they wanted. Starting with “Fame Is A Gun” and bringing fans on stage to make the iconic “Von Dutch remix” scream the show’s climax, Rae interspersed her high energy perfectly. She’s equipped with the self-awareness to know the slower “Headphones On” is enough of a hit to be followed by blasting her newly minted “A Bucks” into the crowd during “Money Is Everything” without whiplash. Where the setlist went, the audience followed, feeling so free it was their religion.
Much like how she talks about her debut, The Addison Tour doesn’t come from a polished place. The vague feelings, colors, and words that began her creative process don’t come through in lyrics, movements, or production alone. It’s these pieces together that form her mode of expression. Is Rae the vocalist of the generation? Certainly not. What she channels with her headset mic and supported by her dancers, though, is more than enough for her vision to resonate. Throughout the show, she placed “Philly” in every sentence she could — “it’s fun to say, isn’t it?” In a way, this spontaneous repetition is her ethos embodied. If it looks good, feels good, sounds good, it works. Worry about the details later.
Rae has gone on the record to assert that taste is a luxury. If you need the feet imagery of “High Fashion” or the impromptu cardio set to a remixed outro of “Fame Is A Gun” explained to you, it’s a luxury you just don’t have. With each distinctive performance choice, she’s crafting her pop persona outside of her highly referential showing thus far. And in her choreography, she shines. Throughout the show, her arms flew in quick sharp lines, her body contrasting in the slow, fluid movements that have become distinctly hers. Her best showing was during “In The Rain,” hands ruffling her hair before circling to the ground, remaining as guides for her next move. Say what you want about her TikTok dances, but if they laid the foundation for her current choreo, every single one was worth it.
In Rae’s energy-based approach to her music, it’s no surprise that the show’s throughline, while clearly present, couldn’t be pinned down. After cycling through sparkling bras and neon fishnets throughout the show, her dancers put her in a bodysuit with a tulle skirt and train for her final song, “Diet Pepsi.” Her most liberated lyrically, she stood center stage and performed it as if it were a ballad. It was a final nod to her high artistry, her devotion to self-expression concentrated into one song. As it closed, her dancers came back on and took a bow with her, throwing roses into the crowd. The lights came on and those same roses were subsequently bartered along with cigarettes and sweaty shirts for the priceless “A Bucks.” The scramble was that you would see for a pop princess in her prime, but Rae is just getting started.
