PHOTOGRAPHY Emie Grimwood
With a haze of shimmering synths and swirling lights marking his London debut as part of the Back on You World Tour, the musical project of singer-songwriter, actor and producer Joe Keery gathered an especially enthralled crowd.
The evening commenced with an electrifying set by Post Animal, a Chicago-based psych-rock band and Keery’s former group. Their dynamic performance set the tone for the night, energizing the crowd and building anticipation for the main act, who eagerly joined them for the last two songs; a reunion moment that delighted longtime fans and hinted at the indie boy camaraderie still shared among the bandmates.
From the moment Djo took the stage, it was clear that this was a curated and immersive experience. The marriage between the intimate atmosphere of the venue and the rhythmic psychedelic green strobes that ushered in his set provided an ideal backdrop for his genre-blending performance, which started off with two tracks from his second offering: ‘Runner’, a warped, chromatic ode to personal growth, and the new-wavy, hyper-melodic ‘Gloom.’
’70s rock-reminiscent and foot-stomping ‘Link’ introduced Djo’s newest record The Crux, lifting up the energy as the audience became increasingly more riveted. Despite the album being recently released, everyone’s hips moved to its vintage-textured beats and every voice sang along to its fresh cuts, including ‘Basic Being Basic,’ ‘Egg,’ ‘Fly,’ and ‘Charlie’s Garden,’ as Keery swiftly switched between guitar and synths. Each song was met with growing excitement, the crowd’s reactions echoing the emotional highs and lows of the set.
Accompanied by a tight live band and a dazzling visual setup that danced along with the rhythm — pulsing in sync with every beat — the artist dove into a setlist that spanned his discography, seamlessly blending in fan favourites like ‘Roddy’ and ‘Chateau (Feel Alright).’ The transitions between songs were fluid, allowing little time for applause before the next wave of sound washed over the audience, maintaining a hypnotic energy throughout.
A mix of longtime fans and newcomers drawn in by viral hits like ‘End of Beginning’ — which mesmerised us all as the very first note played — the crowd remained fully locked in. Keery’s performance walked a fine line between the theatrical and the sincere, balancing elaborate production with raw emotional delivery. After the sweeter and introspective sounds of ‘Potion,’ phones were raised during a very well-executed double encore, as ‘Back on You’ and ‘Flash Mountain’ closed the night on a cinematic high. The cheers echoed long after the lights dimmed, proof of a performance that left a lasting imprint. The overall vibe was part retro-futuristic dream, part sweaty indie disco, and no one wanted to come down.
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