Joji brings ‘Piss In The Wind’ to The O2
The YouTuber-turned-musician brought his latest album to London.
Photo: BRTHR
Nostalgia could never prepare me for the evening that was Joji at The O2. A man whose digital footprint goes back to the origins of YouTube; a man who really paved the way for people to use outlets to amplify a potential career; and a man who was a large part of my teenage years. But this was not that same man; this was a mature, nonchalant individual who really lets his music talk for him in ways words never can.
I can not write this review without speaking about how impressed I was with the support act of the night, Tommy Richman, predominantly famous for the viral song Million Dollar Baby, but this guy knows how to put on a live show and someone who looked so comfortable under the lights at The O2.
Richman swaggered on stage with his red leather racing jacket and completely tore the house down. His synth-rock ‘80s throwback style makes it impossible not to move, especially with the unreal vocal control that is on display. His stage presence is unmatched, and he even got on a security guard’s back during Million Dollar Baby and performed in the crowd.
He played a variety of styles, with some slow jams mixed in with some dynamic change-ups to more alternative grooves and closed on Million Dollar Baby. Energy was up throughout, and he even played some unreleased songs and a newly released song, Changes, which was very sweetly dedicated to his mother, who was in attendance and had recently gone through hearing surgery, so for the first time she has been able to listen to Tommy’s music. This was truly wholesome.
What else is there to say about Joji but: what a performance. Everything was done to perfection, from the really trippy and cool stage setup with three hollowed-out squares inside one another projecting images, to the killer touring musicians on the electric guitar, drums and keys. The work of the musicians can not be understated during this performance, bringing at times a rockier edge to some of Joji’s tracks, which really elevated the live performances of the songs.
Joji has built this aura of undeniable talent, with his melancholy tracks being completely mirrored by the most tender of vocals. This was a complete reflection of the live performance I was treated to. The 25-song setlist had everything, from the synth-style anthem of Sanctuary to the really hard-hitting bliss of Glimpse of Us to the more SoundCloud alternative style initially adopted in the early days of his career on Yeah Right.
This seemed like a full breakdown of Joji’s musical journey since separating from his past. Joji’s stage presence was very nonchalant and, because of this, the use of the live band really helped add a bit more to the stage. Taking the time during the set to bring out a t-shirt cannon, which, due to its performance, you may think it had a few drinks, as it really struggled to fire.
The night was closed by a very fitting track and one of his most notable, SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK, the crowd filling in using their lungs for this one as The O2 turned into a choir of perfect pitch and was undoubtedly the best way to close the show.
The O2 show really showed me how big Joji is in the UK; a sold-out O2 arena is no mean feat, and the room being so diverse was really great to see and shows how much Joji has grown musically and as a person. My teenage years will always have FilthyFrank, but now, as an adult, I have Joji, and this is the true measure of what the artist has really become.
