Concert Review: JET Brings Swagger and Soul to The Fillmore in Philly

Three From The Pit June 4, 2024 – The Fillmore, Philadelphia, PA

On a steamy Wednesday night in Philadelphia, Aussie rockers JET delivered the kind of show that reminds you why you fell in love with their music in the first place. With zero frills and maximum attitude, they turned The Fillmore into a garage-rock temple, firing off hit after hit to a crowd that showed up ready—singing every word like their lives depended on it.

Opening the night was Band of Skulls, the moody and muscular trio from Southampton, UK. With their blend of fuzz-drenched riffs and bluesy cool, they wasted no time pulling the audience into their world. Songs like “Sweet Sour” and “I Know What I Am” hit hard, with enough edge to make you feel like you were watching a band on the cusp of a storm. They set the tone perfectly.

Then came JET, and the crowd was already buzzing. From the second Nic Cester stepped to the mic and the band launched into “Last Chance,” it was clear this was no nostalgia trip—it was a high-octane celebration. JET has always blurred the line between polish and rawness, and their live show still strikes that perfect balance. Chris Cester, Mark Wilson, and Cameron Muncey were locked in and loose in all the right ways, like a bar band that just happens to have international hits.

The setlist was stacked. “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is,” “She’s a Genius,” and “Look What You’ve Done” landed like old friends kicking down the door. One of the most exciting moments of the night was the debut of “Hurry Hurry,” a blistering new track from their forthcoming album. It was a shot of adrenaline that promised big things from the band’s next chapter.

Mid-set, the band opened the floor (figuratively) for a fan vote between “Take It or Leave It” and “That’s All Lies.” The crowd backed the right horse, and “Take It or Leave It” exploded off the stage.

Oh yeah—and they didn’t forget to blast through their two biggest mainstream hits, “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” and “Cold Hard Bitch,” which absolutely blew the roof off. No matter how many times you’ve heard them, they still hit like a freight train live.

The encore turned things introspective before blowing the doors off again. Nic returned solo for a stripped-back “Shine On” and a tender, gradually building “Move On”, joined mid-way by the full band with Mark on harmonica, giving it a smoky, late-night jam feel. Then, in true rock ’n’ roll fashion, JET let loose on a searing cover of AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll)”, followed by a soul-soaked take on “Twenty-Five Miles.”

JET’s U.S. tour runs through June 15 before the band heads off to a string of major festival appearances in Europe, including NOS Alive in Lisbon. But for the fans who came out to Philly, it wasn’t just another tour stop—it was something special. A night where the songs still mattered, the amps were cranked, and the band played like rock and roll still had something to prove.