Live Review: Vance Joy

Milling around the foyer are kids with their mums and dads as well as teenaged couples for whom Vance Joy’s Riptide is undoubtedly ‘their song’. Inside the theatre, final sound checking tweaks are made in front of a Vance Joy – Dream Your Life Away banner, which plugs Joy’s debut album that was released today.

A smoke machine puffs out a generous amount of atmosphere and, as soon as this disperses, Joy (aka James Keogh) plus backing band saunter out on stage. “Hey everybody, thanks for coming tonight,” Keogh says simply and then Emmylou opens (from Joy’s God Loves You When You’re Dancing EP) and a three-piece brass section (borrowed from Saskwatch) ensures the song take flight. Keogh generously admits to stealing lines from movies to use in his songs: Red Eye and, more specifically, the lyrical phrase, “I’m a dog laying down on a warm bit of paper,” was inspired by an Al Pacino rant from Scent Of A Woman.

While Keogh attaches a capo to his guitar, a lady in the front section screeches, “You’ve gotta play Riptide, though”. Keogh hilariously responds, “I’m not gonna do it tonight.” Pause. “LOL!” When Keogh has a false start into We All Die Trying To Get It Right, he further charms the audience with a full admission, then recovery. The way Keogh time-keeps by gently transferring his weight from one foot to the other is a bit Rain Man but also adorable. Solo on acoustic, framed by bare bulbs in assorted hues hanging ‘just so’, Keogh is spellbinding. Compliments to the lighting designer.

The backing band is stellar, but drummer/producer Ed White is particularly special – his rhythms are subtle where they need to be, explosive as required. When Keogh introduces Riptide, the aforementioned extremely vocal fan of this song makes herself known once more: “I love you, Vance Joy! Marry me!” That ukulele riff kicks in and the majority of the crowd spring to their feet. Some adjustments could be made to this live arrangement as the stunning song doesn’t soar to become ‘the moment’ we expect. In fact, main set closer Mess Is Mine proves this evening’s set highlight.

Keogh returns for a solo encore and treats us to K-Ci & JoJo’s All My Life as we collectively swoon. Experiencing Vance Joy in a theatre setting is magnificent. The show, like his tousled locks, is perfect with a touch of endearing imperfection. He’s a babe and that’s one helluva set of songs for an artist’s debut album.