Stereolab in Philadelphia at Union Transfer 9/24/2025
words/photos: Dave Avidan
Avant-garde-bubblegum-pop-indie-pop-jazz-motorik-electronic outfit Stereolab made their return to Philadelphia for the first time in three years on Wednesday night in Philly. Your favorite band’s favorite band, the legendary 1990’s quintet is celebrating the release of their incredible newest album, “Instant Holograms on Metal Film”, released back in May. After taking a hiatus from 2010 to 2019, the band made a much-lauded return in 2019 with a reunion tour and album reissue campaign - and a subsequent successful tour in 2022 celebrating the release of a pair of brand-new compilations consisting of old and rare tracks (Switched On: Volumes 4 and 5). Now in 2025, the band is back with much gusto and many new songs in tow, to the delight of audiences’ ears across the world.
The night started off with experimental duo, Memorials, bringing a haunting yet ethereal and spooky vibe to the show, with Verity Susman & Matthew Simms conjuring layered soundscapes together that really make your mind wander, almost like the soundtrack to a film that hasn’t been recorded yet. Stereolab then took the stage with much fanfare from the audience, with front woman Laetitia Sadier expressing her gratitude to be back in Philadelphia again (to which the audience shouted, “Go Birds!” - fitting, as drummer Andy Ramsay was sporting a Kelly green “Go birds!” t-shirt. The band started with the lead single of their newest album, an upbeat song called “Aerial Troubles”. The band then launched into their classic song, “Motoroller Scalatron”, from their 1996 album, “Emperor Tomato Ketchup”. “What’s society built on? It’s built on bluff- built on trust. What’s society built on? It’s built on words- it’s built on work.” Sadier laments in this bouncy groove.
After this, the band treated the audience to another new song, “Vermona F Transistor”- a relaxed, loungey song before segueing into an infectious motorik beat that draws the listener in. “I'm the creator of this reality… not the deceiver who feigns the love of me”, Sadier croons in this song, before wowing the audience and playing a trombone solo towards the end of the track. Guitarist Tim Gane, flanked left stage, sways his head side to side in rhythm to drummer Andy Ramsay’s explosive motorik beats, and keyboardist Joe Watson’s fingers dance across his Rhodes piano, keeping the audience captivated with each next chord, while Fender Bass VI extraordinaire Xavi Muñoz holds down the low end with his funky groove and delicious bass tone.
Reaching far back in their discography, the band next pulled out the classic track “Peng! 33” from their 1992 album, “Peng!”. “Across the river there are all kinds of magical instruments… while really we keep on living like monkeys. Incredible things are happening in the world. Magical things are happening in this world…” Sadier sings, partially quoting Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez’s 1967 novel, “One Hundred Years of Solitude”. The band went on to play more much-loved tracks from their older albums, including 1990’s indie/underground hits “Cybele’s Reverie”, “the Flower Called Nowhere” and “Miss Modular”, and even some deep cuts like “Household Names” and “The Way Will Be Opening” - the latter of which Laetitia encouraged us all before beginning the song - to cultivate peace in our lives through community and love.
The group also played many more songs from their newest release, like “Melodie is a Wound”, “If You Remember I Forgot How to Dream”, “Electrified Teenybop!”, “Esemplastic Creeping Eruption”, and ending the night with “Immortal Hands” - featuring another beautiful trombone solo from Sadier. Stereolab’s one-of-a-kind newest album is a true testament to a band resuming their story and their sound right where they left off - almost as if they never left. Their timeless sound is both one that echoes of many past decades but is also very forward-thinking and futuristic. Laetitia’s lyrics on the album are more poignant than ever in today’s day and age as well.
The album is a true treat for fans who feared we would never hear new Stereolab music again when the band went on hiatus in 2009. It has been a please to witness the band falling in love with playing music again from their 2019 tour until today, as they are incredibly highly-polished, loving what they do, and are tightly in the groove night after night. The new album was a true labor of love and will absolutely withstand the test of time to become a true classic in the years to come.
The night started off with experimental duo, Memorials, bringing a haunting yet ethereal and spooky vibe to the show, with Verity Susman & Matthew Simms conjuring layered soundscapes together that really make your mind wander, almost like the soundtrack to a film that hasn’t been recorded yet. Stereolab then took the stage with much fanfare from the audience, with front woman Laetitia Sadier expressing her gratitude to be back in Philadelphia again (to which the audience shouted, “Go Birds!” - fitting, as drummer Andy Ramsay was sporting a Kelly green “Go birds!” t-shirt. The band started with the lead single of their newest album, an upbeat song called “Aerial Troubles”. The band then launched into their classic song, “Motoroller Scalatron”, from their 1996 album, “Emperor Tomato Ketchup”. “What’s society built on? It’s built on bluff- built on trust. What’s society built on? It’s built on words- it’s built on work.” Sadier laments in this bouncy groove.
After this, the band treated the audience to another new song, “Vermona F Transistor”- a relaxed, loungey song before segueing into an infectious motorik beat that draws the listener in. “I'm the creator of this reality… not the deceiver who feigns the love of me”, Sadier croons in this song, before wowing the audience and playing a trombone solo towards the end of the track. Guitarist Tim Gane, flanked left stage, sways his head side to side in rhythm to drummer Andy Ramsay’s explosive motorik beats, and keyboardist Joe Watson’s fingers dance across his Rhodes piano, keeping the audience captivated with each next chord, while Fender Bass VI extraordinaire Xavi Muñoz holds down the low end with his funky groove and delicious bass tone.
Reaching far back in their discography, the band next pulled out the classic track “Peng! 33” from their 1992 album, “Peng!”. “Across the river there are all kinds of magical instruments… while really we keep on living like monkeys. Incredible things are happening in the world. Magical things are happening in this world…” Sadier sings, partially quoting Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez’s 1967 novel, “One Hundred Years of Solitude”. The band went on to play more much-loved tracks from their older albums, including 1990’s indie/underground hits “Cybele’s Reverie”, “the Flower Called Nowhere” and “Miss Modular”, and even some deep cuts like “Household Names” and “The Way Will Be Opening” - the latter of which Laetitia encouraged us all before beginning the song - to cultivate peace in our lives through community and love.
The group also played many more songs from their newest release, like “Melodie is a Wound”, “If You Remember I Forgot How to Dream”, “Electrified Teenybop!”, “Esemplastic Creeping Eruption”, and ending the night with “Immortal Hands” - featuring another beautiful trombone solo from Sadier. Stereolab’s one-of-a-kind newest album is a true testament to a band resuming their story and their sound right where they left off - almost as if they never left. Their timeless sound is both one that echoes of many past decades but is also very forward-thinking and futuristic. Laetitia’s lyrics on the album are more poignant than ever in today’s day and age as well.
The album is a true treat for fans who feared we would never hear new Stereolab music again when the band went on hiatus in 2009. It has been a please to witness the band falling in love with playing music again from their 2019 tour until today, as they are incredibly highly-polished, loving what they do, and are tightly in the groove night after night. The new album was a true labor of love and will absolutely withstand the test of time to become a true classic in the years to come.
Stereolab
Memorials
