Car Seat Headrest played the fifth stop on their tour at Philadelphia’s Mann Center for Performing Arts Skyline Stage on September 12, 2025. The band delivered a performance that honored both their legacy and their bold new direction.
The setlist leaned heavily into their latest release, The Scholars, an ambitious, experimental rock opera. The setlist featured seven tracks from the album. These were complemented by two older fan favorites and a medley of beloved classics, blended together in an unpredictable and emotionally-charged set.
Throughout the night, the band reimagined their material with fresh textures and new arrangements. One standout moment came during “Lady Gay Approximately,” the third song of the set and a centerpiece of The Scholars. Guitarist Ethan Ives deviated from the studio version with a searing solo that transformed the track from solemn reflection into cosmic catharsis. To quote the girl standing in front of me at the show, “This sh*t is magical”. As the solo soared over the Philadelphia skyline at sunset, it was hard to disagree.
Before The Scholars, Car Seat Headrest had already released 12 albums. The previous one, Making a Door Less Open, did not have as glowing of a reception (from fans or critics) as earlier standouts Teens of Denial or Twin Fantasy. The stage was set for the Scholars. This album had to reinvigorate a rabid fanbase. It answered the call in spades. Seeing the album performed live hammered that fact home
The album is a lyrical, emotional, and sonic triumph; a significant departure from the band’s indie-rock roots, but still deeply connected to what drew fans in to begin with. While genre shifts can often alienate longtime listeners, The Scholars expands the band’s palette without losing their essence. Thematically, it hones in on the personal: queer longing, emotional isolation, and found family, told through the raw vulnerability and self-aware storytelling that has always been their signature. It’s a risk that paid off not just because of its ambition, but because it stays rooted in community and identity. Altogether, The Scholars‘ adept execution marks an evolution for Car Seat Headrest, not just a lateral move.
Late in the set, the band launched into a mash up of five of their most loved songs from earlier records. The crowd came together in those minutes of medley, singing along louder than they had through the whole show before. For the album’s community-based themes, it was a full circle moment. Chaperoning parents throughout the venue came around to the band their teenagers love so much and everyone in between followed suit. Some hundreds of people screamed lyrics back at the stage like life depended on it. In a word, catharsis.
The crowd’s energy might’ve had some help. Before the band took the stage, a 30-minute PSA played, reminding attendees to hydrate, respect those around them, and maintain concert etiquette. In an era where show behavior often feels like it’s in decline, the Mann Center crowd was a refreshing exception. People kept space, checked in on each other, and even donned N95 masks, a precaution encouraged by front man Will Toledo via a statement from the band’s official Instagram page (@Notcarseatheadrest), asking fans to mask up in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In all, Car Seat Headrest’s Philadelphia show wasn’t just a celebration of a new album, it was a night of musical evolution and community. The Scholars may be their most daring project yet, but if this tour stop was any indication, it’s one that’s already resonating deeply with fans.
Set List
Encore
Author – Kiera Peterson
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