Photograph courtesy of Joyce Manor’s website
Author: Duke Denham
I know, going to a concert on Halloween isn’t necessarily the most ideal. Most people want to flaunt their flashy costumes while strutting through Capitol Hill or while pulling up at a huge party. However, seeing Joyce Manor at The Neptune this Halloween might be a great option for you. The band is undoubtedly going to deliver a dynamic, fun, and riotous emo/pop punk show with tons of catchy melodies and choruses for fans of any genre to enjoy.
Hailing from Torrance, CA, Joyce Manor consists of members Barry Johnson (vocals, guitar), Chase Knobbe (guitar), Matt Ebert (bass, vocals), and Pat Ware (drums). The band noticeably incorporates emo elements that bands like Tigers Jaw, Modern Baseball, and many others are known for. However, Joyce Manor separates itself from the rest with its capability to assemble straight-forward, catchy, and compact tunes that perfectly blend emo and pop punk together.
Photo courtesy of Joyce Manor’s Facebook page
Joyce Manor isn’t without impressive songwriting chops either. Songs such as “Million Dollars to Kill Me,” the album-titled track from their latest project, showcase clever lyrics like, “she’s the only one who can take you to a pawn shop and sell you for twice what you’re worth” that vividly paint a picture of a person that poorly chose to break up with someone who makes him/her more valuable.
These lyrics don’t merely pop off the paper, however. Joyce Manor easily brings these songs to life with passionate, emotive vocals, powerful guitar chords, and explosive drumming. Songs like “End of the Summer” from their third album Never Hungover Again (2014) demonstrate the group’s ability to energetically express the melancholy feeling that occurs when one realizes the liberating joys of summer are coming to an end.
Joyce Manor possesses the talent to take earworm melodies and lyrics and perform them with serious punch. They’re an excellent gateway band to those not accustomed to punk rock. Joyce Manor has brought along Vundabar, a colorful indie rock trio based in Boston, and Peach Kelli Pop, a garage rock band fronted by Allie Hanlon with loads of unrestrained energy, to ensure that this Halloween show is one to remember.
Be sure to follow Joyce Manor on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Hope you’ll be able to catch Joyce Manor with Vundabar and Peach Kelli Pop at The Neptune this Halloween! Doors open at 7:00 PM and the show starts at 8:00 PM. Tickets for the show are available here.
DUKE DENHAM | Ready to let loose as a cow | KXSU Music Reporter