JOJI and I: A Concert Diary

Although Joji, takes the term “concert” quite loosely, he delivers on every aspect, with the addition of t-shirt launching, surprise guests, and a McDonald’s DoorDash containing Fillet-o-Fish. With a loud, comedic personality, Joji finds a way to lighten the mood, singing heartfelt ballads that easily warm your heart as you catch the joy and sadness on the faces of the crowd around you.

A crowd gathers to see Joji at the Frost Amphitheater in Palo Alto, CA.

Joji, also known as George Miller, Filthy Frank, and much more, took the stage at the beginning of September, his first stop on the Smithereens tour, which allegedly sold out within minutes. The Palo Alto Frost Amphitheater was packed to the brim with youthful excitement.

Joji commands the audience at the Frost Amphitheater in Palo Alto, CA.

In the dark, we waited under the stars surrounded by trees and the sound of laughter all around. At 9 pm on the dot, a small man in sweatpants tumbled out on the stage, as if he had just broken an entry. Followed by a small band and a hypeman standing behind a soundboard that featured a myriad of noises, including the occasional fart. The crowd erupted with cheer, but I still was not sure what was going on. As he immediately asked the crowd “what’s up, bitches?” I realized this dude was an idiot, simply here for a good time. And I did not mind in the slightest.

Joji opened with his beloved song off of the album Nectar (2020), titled “Sanctuary.” An opening that bubbled up a feeling of unexpected calmness, that I rarely feel when covering a show. This feeling of calm, easy fun, stayed with me throughout the concert, despite the t-shirt launching and a surprise visit from a Jack Sparrow impersonator. Maybe it was the gorgeous visuals that kept me creatively entranced or the lack of pretentiousness, I am not really sure. But Joji is a man of many talents. Full of contradictions, one after the other. 

All jokes aside, Joji did a wonderful job that brought us as an audience the unsatiable feeling of wanting more and more. On the ride home, I listened to his songs—old and new—on repeat, developing the musical crush I was not expecting. He gained me, and I am sure many others, as fans of his that night with his comedic charm and unique sound.

Words & Photos by Layla Mahmoud