Massachusetts-born singer-songwriter Joe Keery, known on stage as Djo, made his Manchester debut last week in a performance that was nothing short of spectacular. Keery’s ‘Back on You’ Tour, in support of his latest project The Crux, included a swiftly sold-out stop at Trafford’s o2 Victoria Warehouse which was one of Manchester’s most highly anticipated gigs of the summer.
Keery, 33, has been an active musician for over ten years since his musical debut with former band Post Animal. He departed the band in 2019 due to scheduling conflicts that arose from his rapid projection to fame as an actor due to his lead role in Netflix’s cult classic series Stranger Things, though he went on to release a string of solo-projects under the Djo pseudonym. His solo debut Twenty Twenty was met to critical acclaim, as was his sophomore project DECIDE. The latter of which produced one of last year’s biggest hits ‘End of Beginning’, gaining Keery his first UK top five single.
All in all, Keery is about as big a star as they come. This was proven by the queues of fans which, according to venue staff, started as early as nine o’clock in the morning. With bounds of critical acclaim and a clear level of talent under his belt, doubt surrounding just how good he could be live couldn’t be helped.
Keery’s former band, Post Animal, got the night going with a support slot that completely gorged the crowd with energy. The Illinois-formed four-piece proved there was no bad blood as they prematurely invited Keery up to the stage to perform ‘Dirtpicker’ and an unreleased track. The synergy of the band was a true marvel; each member, incuding Keery, brought a unique offering to the table to form a whole that was a true joy to observe. Shortly after their depature from the stage, the lights dimmed and perhaps the whole of Trafford was awoken by the crowd’s roars in intermediate anticipation for Keery’s return to the stage.
His first offerings to the crowd – ‘Runner’, ‘Gloom’ and ‘Link’ – truly set the pace for the night. These are songs that are easy to relax to at home, yet Keery’s infectious spirit had the entire room jumping. Each lyric of every track was relayed back to Keery by the crowd in a jubilant echo – clearly a lot of time has been dedicated by his fans to consuming his music. In that, it was quickly noticeable just how much Djo meant to the crowd; the audience’s faces were completely transfixed on the stage during tracks such as ‘Mortal Projections’ and ‘Fly’. Moments like these are what truly make concerts special. No longer are the lyrics of your favourite song visualised in your imagination, but rather they are stood, right in front of you – coming to life before your very eyes.
Amidst admiration for the number of core memories currently being formed, attention was also taken by Keery’s demeanour. He has all the swagger of a rock star (and the feral crowd to match it) yet within his smile he held the warmth of an old friend. It’s usually somewhat difficult for an artist to make a gig feel like a show, but Keery’s performance was a masterclass in doing just that.
“What an honour to be here – especially in this venue. You guys packed this out! And you’ve been waiting all day, man. I can’t tell you how much we appreciate it.”
With the crowd under strict understruction from Keery to hold the hand of someone they love during ‘Chateu’, a pink glow envolped the room. Even at the back of the pit, people were swaying and as content as could be. Perhaps referring to his biggest hit as one of the highlights is veering too close to cliche, but it simply was. Keery’s performance of ‘End of Beginning’ sat swimmingly in the air as all 3500 souls in the room intertwined for just a few minutes; this track united millions of people across the world due to it’s virality over the last year or so, and even Djo himself seemed to notice just how special of a moment it was.
To wrap up the night, Post Animal returned to the stage once last time for a full-circle encore: a beautiful rendition of ‘Twenty Twenty’ from Keery’s debut solo project. It was truly so powerful to see the band perform Keery’s solo work from around the time he departed with them; it came across as a sign of upmost respect and true friendship. The positivity emitted by the band bounced all around the venue, with nothing but a smile in sight. Although the track is six years old, it seemed to resonate all the same as if it was brand new.
Joe Keery is in such a unique position in that he has an immensely successful career in both the acting and music worlds. The ball is entirely in his court in terms of the trajectory of his career after his return to our screens for the final series of Stranger Things this winter. No matter which way he takes it, it’s clear to see that he’ll be sticking around for a very long time. This was the first, but certainly will not be the last that Manchester sees of Djo.
