By: Lilly Helling
MADISON– Last Friday, I had the honor of seeing musician and DePaul alum, Joe Keery (DJO), live at the Sylvee in Madison, Wisconsin. Notably known for his role in Stranger Things, Keery kickstarted his music career in 2019 with his debut album “Twenty Twenty.” It’s been quite some time since Joe last went on tour, as he didn’t travel for his second album, “Decide” so anticipation for this tour has been building for some time, and I can say with certainty Keery did not disappoint.
Keery brought his old band, Post Animal, with them as the openers. Going into this show, I hadn’t really listened to their music, so I was going in with a clean slate. Soon enough, five people make their way to the stage. I was genuinely surprised to see a band of that size, but it honestly added so much value to the performance. You can tell they’ve been playing together for a long time. Their sound blended seamlessly.
Once the Post Animals set came to a close, Keery made his way to the stage. From the balcony to the pit, the crowd immediately burst into deafening cheers. Keery opened his act with “Runner” and “Gloom” off his late album “Decide.” His stage presence was unmatched as Joe interacted not only with his band but with the crowd, pointing the mic at the audience and making his way to the pit. It was clear Keery gave it his all that night, from vocals to guitar.
About halfway through the set, I made my way to the balcony where I remained for the rest of the night. As I made my way through the venue, I couldn’t help but notice the wide range of ages in the crowd, from kids to grandparents. It’s clear that Keery’s music has a way of connecting with people across generations.
To wrap up the night, DJO played some of his biggest hits like “End of Beginnings” and “Roddy.”
Even though the show was in Madison, it was obvious that a lot of fans had made the trip from Illinois, especially since there wasn’t an Illinois stop on this tour. I could tell by the way the crowd sang every word to “End of Beginning.” Saying, “And when I’m back in Chicago, I feel it.” A song that reminisces about life in Chicago, that it felt like a hometown show for them.
DJO’s performance was a long time in the making. You could tell the level of thought put into the production and performance of this run. If you haven’t yet checked out DJO’s newest album, “The Crux”, I highly recommend a listen, and if you weren’t able to catch him live this run, you’re not out of luck yet, as DJO will be performing at Lollapalooza this upcoming August!
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