Concert Review: Vance Joy

Photo: Josh Platt

Last night, Vance Joy, known for his hit “Riptide” and opening for Taylor Swift’s 1989 World Tour, brought his Fire and the Flood Tour to Calgary’s Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. The sold out show was definitely not a night to be missed.

Concert-goers knew it was going to be a good show when openers, Calgary’s own Reuben and the Dark, came onstage to cheers from the crowd. The band started off quiet but by their second song, “Rolling Stone”, picked up speed, showing they knew exactly what they were doing. While Reuben and the Dark might not have the loudest sound, frontman Reuben Bullock’s powerful voice reached all corners of the Jubilee.

The group played hits like “Bow and Arrow” and a new song, “Heart In Two”, released only five days prior. After their set, which ended way too soon, the group promised they’d come back to Calgary soon.

Vance Joy started his set with “Mess Is Mine”, wasting no time and starting off strong.

He was quick to make banter between songs, giving background to his songs, cracking jokes and telling stories from past Calgary shows, including singing a verse from Death Cab For Cutie’s “I Will Follow You Into The Dark”, his ode to Calgary (“From Bangkok to Calgary…”).

It wasn’t until the Australian performer performed his hit “Riptide” and a cover of OMI’s “Cheerleader” that the crowd finally got to their feet. Afterwards, Joy came out for his encore to the crowd cheering for more and closed the show with “My Kind of Man” and “Fire and the Flood”.

It wasn’t a sold out show for no reason. The crowd knew Vance Joy is an amazing performer and would put on a fantastic show and he didn’t disappoint.