A Joywave in Paradise
Bryce Heilmann / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer
As the Green Line train pulled into the station, Paradise Rock Club faced me directly through the window. Walking towards the venue, I caught a glimpse of the marquee, which simply read “Joywave”. I had just entered my first concert in Boston since moving here for school, and I immediately felt the charm of the venue. Walking in, the stage was within reach, and the audience’s proximity created a sense of excitement for the community that would be burgeoned in just this one night, a stark contrast to the typical stadium and arena tour I was accustomed to.
I explored the venue with my friend, Sophie, who had come along with me and would be photographing the concert. We got a sense of the layout, talked to friendly Paradise staff, and were in the process of finding a spot when, at precisely eight p.m., the opener Hunny took the stage. I was already shocked by the promptness of their presence, but their immediate skyrocketing of energy took that awe to the next level. Kaleidoscopic lighting framed their set, and interactivity with the audience already built a sense of positive connection within the room. By the time they ended their set with the song “Vowels”, I was sold, and knew they had gained a new fan in me. Through the head pounding drums, shimmery guitar, and passionate vocals, I could tell they all were where they were meant to be. By the time the house lights rose, it was clear that they felt joyfully alive performing on that stage, and that very energy set the tone for what would be a night of enlivened bliss.
A few minutes passed between sets, and I managed to inch my way through the crowd closer to the stage as the lights dimmed and the crowd cheered in anticipation. A single spotlight illuminated the crowd as the first song “Graffiti Planet” began playing. With a sound bite of Rochester’s mayor introducing the set as is used to open the album as well, the crowd was invited into Joywave’s world for the night. Lead singer David Armbruster’s voice echoed through the venue, as heads turned in search of the source. After moments of intrigue, the band made their way onto the stage and brought with them a reverberating energy as the instruments roared through a climactic bridge. It was clear they wanted to make an impression from the moment they stepped foot onto the stage.
After the energetic opening track, I was able to notice the matching cat pajamas worn by each member of the band, to coincide with the cover of their newly released record, “Permanent Pleasure,” which features a cat lounging in a sunbeam. As the night progressed, I appreciated the unique juxtaposition of head pounding, energetic anthems accompanied by cat-themed loungewear as the backlit lighting fixtures served as sunbeams for which the band, and the audience, could bathe in throughout the performance. Having seen pictures of the set ahead of time, I was aware that this cat motif would be reflected primarily in a large prop on the center of the stage, and in a blink-or-you’ll-miss-it moment a giant cat rose from the center of the stage. Moments later, the feline began to spin, accompanied by a mellowing of sound by the band. A likely reference to the unique cat figurine featured in certain formats of physical records for the album, the cat spun in a way reflective of a vinyl record. The transition to more down tempo songs as this occurred created an ambient mood as if we were relaxing in the sun as a spinning record soundtracked our peaceful existence.
After a series of songs, the band began to perform “Coming Apart”, shifting the energy back to a lively buzz of roaring acoustics. The lights moved as fast as the beats, and shifted colors to create a kaleidoscopic trance. This blood rushing moment was followed by an even more chilling shift, with a segue into “Traveling at the Speed of Light.” This song, in contrast to what the name might suggest, slowed down the tempo once more, with atmospheric blue lighting creating an ethereal feeling to match the hypnotic synths. To me, this was the highlight of the concert. It was a moment I wanted to stay in forever. Surrounded by Armbruster’s sweet falsetto and shimmery lights, I felt myself taken on a cosmic journey.
Joywave concluded their performance with three of their greatest hits: “Dangerous”, “It’s a Trip”, and “Destruction”. The final song, “Destruction”, was met with undeniable anticipation as it was clear this was a classic piece in their repertoire. It was also celebrated as Armbruster acknowledged an audience member’s sign declaring this to be the 100th time they will have heard the song performed live. Armbruster humorously gifted this audience member his unopened water in honor of the achievement, and before the song had even begun I was left in awe at the clear devotion and connection to Joywave felt by the band’s beloved fans: a relationship equal in devotion on both sides. Joywave’s loving dedication to their hometown of Rochester through the album “Permanent Pleasure” and also the unending drive to make a home for their fans through their music and performances speaks to the heart of their mission. The pulsing beats filled up the intimate venue and encouraged a sense of freedom as the audience concluded the night jumping off of their feet. Looking around, it was clear that in the span of a few hours an exhilarating wave of joyful bliss had washed over Paradise Rock Club, and truly a paradise it was.