Vance Joy @ The Greek
Vance Joy arrived to LA in the midst of an immense heatwave, one that still engulfed the Greek by 8:45PM. This photo above attempts to convey some of said heat.
Vance Joy, the stage name of James Gabriel Keogh, occupies a pleasant and inoffensive side of indie pop. In just an hour and 20 minutes, he breezed through an 18-song set, still with plenty of time to tell a few stories. The Nation of Two World Tour isn’t the most stimulating of tours, but it delivers exactly what you want: a set of strings and a pretty voice, both wielded by a handsome artist.
Armed with his many guitars, Keogh appeared at home upon the stage. Backed by other guitarists, horn players, and percussionists, he played hits from his latest, Nation of Two, along with cuts from his debut, Dream Your Life Away. An unexpected but appreciated surprise came in the form of an “All Night Long” cover mashed up with “Sorry“.
It all felt fun, even the group of grown men screaming along to “Riptide” behind me. Though Vance Joy may not necessarily thrill me, his appeal is no mirage, even amid all this heat.