Review and Photos by Megan Juarez-Fontana
Promoter: Stunt Company (https://stuntcompany.com/artists )
Venue: The Van Buren (https://www.livenation.com/venue/KovZ917A887/the-van-buren-events?fbclid=IwAR2TFLR7GhEiGq-cnTk1uxKc-Gk24URFSXOZz0v0J3wlbPKswIRLaIbs94Y )
Date: Thursday June 29th, 2023
Tour: I Love You, I’m Trying Tour
Indie meets pop is always an interesting and fun mix. It draws those who are T.Swift fans and those who listen to bands like Green Fay together. The crowds masses at the Van Buren for tonight’s event.
The first band to go on stage was Jack Kays. He came on the stage with a drummer and a bassist. Their set started off slower and began to get more energized as each song passed. After the third song Kays addressed the audience. He mentioned that six months ago he was at rebel lounge and he sees a lot of his shirts from that tour in the audience so a lot of them must have been there too. The audience was full of energy and interacted with the band back. A girl all of a sudden caught his attention and threw a “candy” rave style bracelet at jack. He caught it and with excitement put it on and said this was his fourth song. The band left the stage and Jack played a few songs by himself.
Kays then began to talk to the audience again. He said “This song came out last week…’Caffeine’”. The audience went nuts and clapped as they jumped up and down. Everyone could be heard singing along.
After the song ended Kays said “I only have one song left. the audience booed and he continued “I know I only have a limited time. I’m gonna play an unreleased song! I wanna say thank you for having me on this tour”! He then continued to thank the other bands and announced this was his last night of the tour.
This band was an unexpected like for me. I did not expect to like his music as much as I did. He put on a great show and really interacted with his fans, showcasing how much he really appreciates them!
Kays then talked to the audience again. He said “This song came out last week…’caffeine’”. The audience went nuts and clapped as they jumped up and down. Everyone could be heard singing along.
After the song ended Kays said “I only have one song left. the audience booed and he continued “I know I only have a limited time. I’m gonna play an unreleased song! I wanna say thank you for having me on this tour”! He then continued to thank the other bands and announced this was his last night of the tour.
This band was an unexpected like for me. I did not expect to like his music as much as I did. He put on a great show and really interacted with his fans, showcasing how much he really appreciates them!
Jack Kays
Photos by Megan Juarez-Fontana, All Rights Reserved
The audience began to pack the Van Buren. It began to heat up inside as everyone waited. The next artist to hit the stage was K.Flay! The minute they took the stage everyone knew it was over. This person was about to blow their minds. K.Flay is from
Wilmette, Illinois.
The minute she began playing her energy was through the roof. She brought all the stops and then some to the nights show. Everyone jumped and sang along with her music. She jumped all over the stage. At one point during a guitar solo, she got on her back and danced her feet in the air. Each song better than the last. She played her song “Weirdo” and told people to be unapologetically themselves!
She also addressed the audience in between songs. At one point she began to talk about her health journey over the last eight months and going deaf. She also showed her fans some love by playing music that was unreleased! The song was called “Punisher”.
K.Flay is an artists I can’t wait to see again. She is truly unique and has a stage presence that can be hard to find. She knows how to connect with her audience and create an experience for them.
K.Flay
Photos by Megan Juarez-Fontana, All Rights Reserved
The crowd grew even bigger in between K.Flay and Grandson. Before the next artist came onto the stage Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” and Eminem’s “8 Mile” played. The audience sang along word for word. Grandson then took to the stage! The audience screamed bloody murder as their headliner took to the stage. He opened his set with his song “Drones” off his new album I love you, I’m trying. The third song of his set was “Oh No!”. After he finished the song he began to talk to the audience.
“Phoenix, Arizona I’mmmmm baaaaaaack! I have two rules. 1. If I say jump you jump. I don’t care it’s a Thursday . I say jump you jump! 2. If you know any lyrics you sing that shit!” The audience screamed with excitement and happiness. He talked about his new album I love you, I’m trying that was released earlier this year. The fans responded with screams of joy. As he continued his performance his energy was radiating off of him. His energy was contagious as the fans began to jump and dance all around following Grandson’s movements.
His energy and stage presence is something that really made the concert. Grandson has a showman ship that draws everyone in who is watching. Coming into the show I didn’t know what to expect and the excitement is discovering new artists for my playlists in their element: performing. Grandson is an artists that I greatly enjoyed. His mix of alternative and EDM style beats really captured my attention and was a fun mix of unique sound that truly made him stand out.
Grandson
Photos by Megan Juarez-Fontana, All Rights Reserved
