I think everything about music is exciting, but there is a special place in my heart for live music. I have so many favourite artists that I am dying to see live (or see again), and one of my more recent favourites is indie-pop duo joan from Little Rock, Arkansas.
Featuring Alan Thomas and Steven Rutherford, joan’s sound is reminiscent of 80s and 90s pop, similar to LANY and The 1975 (some of my other favourites). In 2016, thanks to Spotify, my sister and I came across a song called “Love Somebody Like You” and our love for joan was born.
After missing the duo’s first shows in Toronto because we were underage, we finally got to see the pair perform at the Mod Club Theatre while opening for Oregon-based indie band flor. At that show this past October, we were front row and even got to meet joan, who then told us they were coming back in the new year for their own headlining tour.
From that moment on, we knew we were going. Before we knew it, the Instagram announcement hit: the tickets went on sale and we were all set to go. The day finally came, Friday, February 14 (Valentine’s day nonetheless). It was time to see joan live in concert on their first-ever headlining tour.
The duo performed at Toronto’s Velvet Underground, which has a maximum capacity of about 200 – so we were all set for an intimate show. Even better, Canadian singer-songwriter Ralph was billed to open the show. After sitting in traffic on the QEW Toronto bound, we were a tad late and weren’t able to get to the front, but we were glad that we didn’t have to wait in line in the cold.
At 7pm sharp, 29-year-old Toronto native Ralph took the stage with a custom Valentine’s cowboy hat made by a friend, complete with sweethearts. Her long blonde hair, zebra top and flare jeans were serving major Hannah Montana vibes if you ask me.
Showcasing her strong vocals and catchy lyrics, Ralph sang songs both old and new. Some of my favourites that she performed included “Weather”, “September Fades”, “Cold to The Touch” and “Last Time”. Through feelings of nostalgia and heartbreak, we danced, we sang and we even almost cried. Closing the set with her Juno-nominated track “Gravity”, Ralph was a dream show opener.
After some time to relax and prepare for joan, the duo came on at 8pm sharp. Starting the night off with “Drive All Night”, the catchy second single since their debut EP Portra. With a signature “joan” sign and more lights than last time around, the show was intimate yet theatrical enough to showcase the band’s vintage vibe.
Going on to announce a new EP coming soon, the pair played all 6 new tracks including “Ease Your Mind”, their most recent release which they debuted on tour with flor last year. Major 90s pop vibes came through with the teasers of the new EP, and I am so excited to hear the studio versions!
The band also played older favourites like “Tokyo”, “Stop and Stare” and the chilled version of “Take Me On”, which was the first song the two wrote as the duo joan. After the show, we didn’t get to meet joan again, but we did talk to Ralph and even met Toronto-based and Juno-nominated band VALLEY, who were there to watch the show.
While this wasn’t my first time seeing the band, and I wasn’t at the front this time, this show made me truly proud of how they have grown and so excited for their new releases. There’s something special about seeing a band you love grow from only being an opener to playing their first headlining show. I strongly recommend listening to both Ralph and joan! Check out joan on instagram at @songsbyjoan.