Live: joan Brings “superglue” to BK
Alan Benjamin Thomas and Steven Rutherford, the talented duo from Arkansas known as joan, burst onto the music scene in 2017 with their single "one more touch." Since then, they have steadily gained momentum and captivated audiences with their heartfelt songs about love and adolescence. Their first EP, "portra," featuring tracks like "take me on" and "i loved you first," further solidified their growing fan base.
In 2020, joan released another EP titled "cloudy," showcasing their vulnerability as they delved into topics like the state of the world, their mental states, and their past and present relationships. Accompanying the EP was an acoustic version called "partly cloudy." The following year saw the release of two more EPs, "hi" and "bye."
Last month, joan released their highly anticipated debut album, "superglue." This full-length masterpiece showcases the duo's talent for creating infectious indie pop songs with a nostalgic touch. With their warm, melodic offerings, joan has established themselves as one of the most distinctive duos in the music industry over the past six years.
Three years in the making, joan's debut album "superglue" was well worth the wait.
The album showcases the duo at their most personal and heartfelt with its thirteen vulnerable and emotional tracks. "superglue" represents a significant transformation for the band, both in their career and personal lives. Influenced by their recent transitions into fatherhood, the songs on "superglue" are meaningful and honest.
Along with the duo’s album comes a U.S. tour. Fans showed up for joan at their Brooklyn tour date at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. After openers Aviv and Harriette, Thomas and Rutherford took the stage, along with their band, marking their first tour by performing as more than just a duo.
joan kicked off the night with the album's stunning intro "life death & everything in between." Following up with the nostalgic “simple” and “feeling like dancing”, the band ramped up the energy and had everyone up on their feet. The set list contained all 13 tracks on the superglue album including hits from previous years.
With a full band supporting them, Thomas alternated between acoustic and electric guitar while Rutherford stepped away from his usual bass to take on drums for a few songs. Visuals projected on screens behind the band added an extra layer of immersion to their music, with magnets appearing during the warm and inviting "magnetic" and vibrant traffic lights accompanying "backseat driver."
While joan excels at capturing the butterflies that come along with new love or the heartbreak of losing someone, superglue goes beyond love songs. Tracks like "loner" take a look at imposter syndrome, while "flowers" tackles change. The heartwarming "monsters" showcases their commitment to protecting their daughters, while the powerful title track "superglue" emphasizes the strength of a fatherly bond.
With each track on the album, joan fearlessly tackles a range of subjects, solidifying their place in the alt-pop world and showcasing their emotional depth. Their 2023 U.S. tour allows fans to experience their captivating live performances firsthand.
Don't miss the opportunity to catch joan live during their U.S. tour.
See photos from the show here.
joan U.S. 2023 Tour Dates :: tickets & more info here ::
May 13 – The Masquerade (Hell Stage): Atlanta, GA
May 14 – The Basement East: Nashville, TN
May 16 – Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
May 17: The Lounge @ World Cafe: Philadelphia, PA
May 19 – The Black Cat: Washington DC
May 20 – The Sinclair: Boston, MA
May 23 – The Velvet Underground, Toronto, ON
May 25 – Subterranean: Chicago, IL
May 31 – Parish: Austin, TX
June 1 – Club Dada: Dallas, TX
June 3 – Valley Bar: Phoenix, AZ
June 4 – Voodoo Room @ HOB: San Diego, CA
June 6 – Constellation Room: Santa Ana, CA
June 7 – Teragram Ballroom: Los Angeles, CA
June 8 – Popscene @ Rickshaw Shop: San Francisco, CA
June 10 – Polaris Hall: Portland, OR
June 11 – Barboza: Seattle, WA
June 13 – Soundwell: Salt Lake City, UT
June 14 – Larimer Lounge: Denver, CO
June 15 – Resonant Head, Oklahoma City, OK
June 16 – Little Rock Music Hall: Little Rock, AR