Performer(s) – AFI & TR/ST
Venue – The Fillmore
Location – Detroit, MI
Concert Date – October 2nd, 2025
Author + Photographer – Porous
The first time I saw AFI was back in the winter of 2000. They were opening for Rancid at Clutch Cargos in Pontiac, MI, and The Art of Drowning just came out. I remember those four on a darkly lit, jackolantern-adorned stage and proceeded to pull off one of the most energetic shows I’d ever experienced. It was love at first “whoa”. And last night, almost 25 years later, in the month of October, I got to relive that all over again.
This past Thursday night was the 6th or 7th time I’ve seen AFI, although it’d probably been at least a decade. But definitely the first time at this Detroit venue, The Fillmore. It’s a gorgeous spot, with one of those beautifully ornate ceilings that I need to get better photos of next time! It was also my first time taking photos here and at times felt like a kid in a candy store. From the very start of the evening, the energy in this place was electric. The fans, the photographers, The Fillmore staff and security… Everyone I interacted with was a joy (and that doesn’t always happen).
TR/ST
Leading up to the evening, I was listening to a lot of TR/ST (pronounced “Trust”). I hadn’t been in an electronica mood these last few months, but this one-man electronic band pulled me back in. Especially after their live performance, which also featured Lia Braswell on drums. Her vibe paired perfectly with Robert’s dreamy vocal performance. I could listen to him sing anything. And the crowd was completely fixated on him as he swayed and effortlessly serenaded us with his Canadian synth pop. TR/ST will be opening up for AFI through this Halloween and I hope you get to experience them.
A FIRE INSIDE
Hunter. Davey. Adam. Jade. You four have brought me back to life many times. And I know with 100% certainty it is a sentiment that ALL of your fans share. The Despair Faction fans. As those lights went down, and each member made their way out onto The Fillmore’s stage, we all knew exactly which song you’d open with. And through the darkness, adorned in that magnificent studded biker jacket, Davey Havok strutted out.
I am not a religious person and shows like this are the closest thing I have to church and community. I love so much that every member of AFI is well aware of, and respects, this truth of fandom. I’m not going to quote Spinal Tap again, but that’s because in this case they dial it up to 12! Their energy was non-stop. I had a front-row seat to Hunter for most of the first song and got to see first-hand the incredible strength and endurance that man possesses to pull off a show like that while wielding a heavy-ass bass guitar. Usually it’s a band’s drummer who I comment on burning the most calories at a show, but in this case Adam kinda has it easy back there on drums. I jest. Adam was also an absolute machine. Still playing those classics (“He Who Laughs Last…”) with absurd speed and creating those dark Cure-esque atmospheres with his toms.
Around halfway through the set, AFI played “Third Season”. This was the song from that Rancid show I mentioned before that set its hooks in me and I’ve never had them removed. With a catalog as impressive as theirs too, everything’s a crowd-pleaser. Which was evident by all the mosh pits and crowd-surfing! One song that definitely stuck out for me was “Holy Visions”. It had been living in my head rent-free (as Hayduke X likes to say) before the show and has now moved back in. But lucky for me and all of you, their new album Silver Bleeds the Black Sun… was released this weekend and I can now let other songs of theirs become soundtracks to my day.
Jade is one of my favorite songwriters and guitarists. He not only has a gift for finding interesting melodies and original riffs, but his acrobatics and guitar tricks up on stage are a treat to behold. There were three slightly raised performer platforms that each member would adorn throughout the set, and Jade’s an expert in using anything he can to jump off at just the right moments. With the type of workout Jade gets on stage he could start an AFI exercise class (aka Aerobic Fire Inside exorcises by Jade ;).
I mentioned AFI’s new album Silver Bleeds the Black Sun… is out now right?! I love so much how this band has evolved over the years. I love how much Davey inspires the fans. His attention to not only music, but also sincere aesthetics, always challenging the status quo. On that stage Thursday night, Davey Havok was pure black magick. The combination of that haircut, stache, jacket, blouse, pleather(?) pants with a fallen angelic voice, belting out anthems of shared darkness… Oohwee. I don’t know if you know this, but he is one of the greatest frontmen and lyricists of all time. It’s science. I’ve never seen a vocalist with such an arsenal of dance moves and stage jumps at their disposal. Davey engages and commands the crowd like none other. As he stared in my direction and sang, “I Hope You Suffer”, I felt the commiseration just like the other 100 times I’ve heard that song. I don’t even want to talk about the encore, because you know… spoilers. But there were 3 songs, and both the band and crowd went absolutely wild for it. Best vibes I’ve experienced in quite some time.
AFI will be touring in support of their 12th studio album Silver Bleeds the Black Sun… through the beginning of November. If you’ve never seen this band live, please correct that. None of this is hyperbole. This is one of the best bands of my generation and it was a dream being able to cover and photograph the show. Thank you AFI and TR/ST.
Follow @porousphoto on Instagram to see more photos from the show.
Biography: Porous has been possessed by heavy music for the vast majority of his life. For a good chunk of it, that love was exorcised by playing metal, punk, and hardcore with other musicians. Nowadays Porous writes/records music mostly on his own, but engages with the community by supporting/encouraging other artists, and one of those ways is through writing! In early 2025 he joined MoshPitNation to contribute album/show reviews, concert photography, and hopefully an infectious love for sincere heavy music. For more photography, visit his digital portfolio.
