This summer while sitting around the campfire at camp, I loved when my age group would sing “Riptide,” by Vance Joy. Hearing the guitar or ukulele with everyone singing along felt so meaningful. So, when I noticed that he was coming to Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD, I knew I had to go see Vance Joy in concert.
Vance Joy, also known as James Keogh, is an Australian singer-songwriter who started his musical career in 2013. Vance Joy’s debut album, “Dream Your Life Away,” which includes his hit song “Riptide,” was released on Sept. 5, 2014. For this album’s 10 year anniversary, Vance Joy is going on tour around the United States and in London.
The venue for this concert matched his vibe perfectly, as it was outdoors and small enough that every seat provided a great view. From the pit to the lawn, everyone was dancing and singing along.
Once the concert started, the two openers Tiny Habits and Local Natives took the stage. Tiny Habits, an American folk-pop group formed in Boston, consists of three Berklee College of Music students. They sang beautifully and I especially enjoyed their covers of “Somewhere Only we Know” by Keane and “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac.
Local Natives is an American indie rock band formed in Orange County, California. I had never heard of the band before, but loved their slow and chill songs that made up their set list.
Vance Joy started performing at around 9:30 p.m. and his first song was the acoustic version of “From Afar.” This first song was just him and his guitar on stage, which provided a really meaningful start to the concert.
He then brought the rest of the band on stage with a more upbeat song, “Mess is Mine.” This is one of his most popular songs, so it was definitely a crowd pleaser. I noticed that in almost every song, the trumpet or the saxophone player had a solo which was a really great touch that made the song come alive.
Halfway through the concert, Vance Joy left the stage and went to a smaller platform in the back of the venue, on his way giving fans high fives. This provided fans sitting in the back and on the lawn a great view, and it truly showed how he cares for all of his fans.
He sang a few songs at this spot, including “Everybody Needs Someone,” a cover by Noah Cyrus. For this song, he brought Tiny Habits back to sing with him. This was one of my favorite parts of the show as they harmonized beautifully together. In the crowd, everyone had their flashlights on and was swaying along.
Back on stage, he sang a few more of his well known songs including “Georgia” and “Missing Piece.” I enjoyed how in between many of the songs he gave personal anecdotes about the songs, explaining his inspiration for them or dedicating them to a loved one.
To close the show, Vance Joy played his hit song “Riptide.” Everyone of all ages was singing along word for word, making it so lively and spirited. While the audience started to clear out, he came back on stage for an encore with the acoustic version of “I’m With You.”
Joy’s concert was truly such a special performance with a mix of slow and sentimental songs as well as upbeat and fun. If Vance Joy ever comes back to the area, I highly recommend seeing him in concert for an unforgettable experience.
