It’s no doubt that the “big thing” Stranger Things fans are looking forward to this weekend is seeing what fan-favorite Steve Harrington is up to. Steve found himself playing the role of the “mom friend” to the adolescent stars, so we’re sure he’s right in the mix of all the drama that season 4 will bring.
However, did you know that the actor who plays Steve, Joe Keery, has a side gig that deserves a lot more attention? Keery’s band Djo released their first album, Twenty Twenty, in 2019 and played a couple of live shows before the world shut down. “Roddy”, the first single to drop, was fun and funky. It showed Keery’s talent for a fresh and unique sound, and the rest of the album lived up to the same vibe.
Since then, Djo has played at festivals and dropped another single, “Keep Your Head Up”, in 2020. They are currently on a small tour, including BottleRock and Lollapalooza, and last night we got to see them at The Glass House in Pomona, CA.
Listening to the album as you drive around is incredibly fun. Listening to Joe Keery live, in a crowded room, while everyone dances around, is even more fun. His voice is identical to what you hear on the album, in the best way. It is smooth and calming. Then the live bass and electric guitar hit you right in the chest and fill you with energy.
It seemed like Keery had fun interacting with the crowd. When a technical difficulty hit towards the end of the first song, he used the time to mess around and talk with attendees. Ultimately, he and his backing up band had to leave the stage but he came back quickly. At that point, they made up for the short pause by announcing a new album is on its way and played a couple of new songs. The new music is psychedelic and electrifying while also carrying a relaxing feel. It’s music that makes you want to chill out or get hyped with your friends.
Having seen Djo once, before the pandemic, this time Keery seemed a lot more comfortable up on stage. The way he moved around and gave the audience an incredible performance, really showed he is a natural performer. Right now Djo shows are intimate and the venues aren’t overwhelming. Our advice is to see them ASAP while that is still true. We have a feeling Djo is only going to get bigger from here.
