tHE HYPERYOUTH TOUR
PHOENIX, ARIZONA
March 5th 20266
Joey Valence & Brae
★
Joey Valence & Brae ★
Does growing up just change your body? Or also your soul? A question that Joey Valence & Brae continue to find the answer to throughout the world of HYPERYOUTH. A dance album about growing up and maneuvering through all that life can throw at a person, HYPERYOUTH serves as a perfect encapsulation of learning to love the inevitable change that it will bring.
On the second leg of their tour JVB take it to states they have yet to say hello to this year, including Arizona where they shared a night with those in Phoenix.
A calm night in March in Arizona means it is some of the cooler weather the state experiences so the line was wrapped around the building in anticipation for the show. Touring with opener detahjae, The Van Buren was quickly packed from the front to the back filled with fans in custom shirts, JVB curated outfits, and a sense of fun and whimsy in the air.
detahjae
★
detahjae ★
Hitting the stage with the energy of FLARE, detahjae knew exactly how to get this crowd moving. He was cracking jokes and interacting with the crowd, including teasing the audience by calling us “kinda freaky”. One thing that stood out to me during his set was the production value and how dedicated he is to his craft, really owning the world he has created for FLARE. Normally, detahjae wears a pilot suit while on stage, but despite having forgotten it behind this day, he was still fitted down. The converse matching the hoodie with the custom FLARE logo, to the pilot goggles and hat he didn’t leave behind, he was still able to translate his world to the audience. The production value in his set was something worth noting, as the songs flowed beautifully and he really gave it his all on stage– although just an opener, at times, it felt like he was the headliner. Stopping after the show to chat with him, he was super down to earth and very appreciative and made for good conversation. If you don't know detahjae now, may I suggest tapping in very quickly as his stardom is imminent.
Long before it was time for JVB to hit the stage the chanting of their names began with a roar, and lasted for quite a while too. The audience was so eager for the first sound of “DANCE. BOUNCE.” to play through the venue speakers, maybe showing how excited they were for them to come on would make the time pass quicker. Alas, the clock struck 9 and JVB’s DJ EWOOK hyped the crowd with banger after banger, even jumping and dancing with the crowd. The final song of his set came to a close and out from the shadows stepped Joey Valence and Brae, falling into their respective marks on stage. Beginning with the opening and title track off their newest album HYPERYOUTH, the crowd went off as the beat dropped, which was about 30 seconds into the duo stepping on stage. From here, the night was jam packed with hits both old and new, including a song from their most recent release “HYPERYOUTH (afterparty)”. In which the party never ends, about a week prior to the show, JVB dropped six new tracks to continue the HYPERYOUTH legacy. The fans could not wait to hear the new stuff so when Brae mentioned playing a new song, the entire crowd erupted into a roar and eventually settled into a chant of “push the pipe” which is an extremely upbeat track that JVB were more than happy to perform.
After seeing JVB so many times over the course of the years, one thing I have come to notice is the dedication from the fanbase. The fans in the very front row even brought some nostalgia to the show, ZooPal Plates, in reference to HOOLIGANG Joey Valence & Brae’s first album PUNK TACTICS. Funny enough, JVB fans are referred to as the HOOLIGANG, making this moment even more special, highlighting the dedication that the fans have for JVB. Other JVB lovers brought more memorabilia that has correlation to the duo including rare Pokemon cards and omnitrix watches, which happen to also be referenced throughout JVB’s discography. Beyond the material items, the energy the HOOLIGANG brought was unmatched as people were headbanging and even crowd surfing all night long, making the show one for the books.
My personal favorite song is The Party Song because as the song goes, “I like to go off, I like to party, party!”. The lights during this song were so fun and because the song was played mid set, the crowd was warmed up and everyone was dancing and having the most fun. The night continued on and the rules that JVB set up for the show were followed; Mandatory dancing, check. Mandatory sweating, check. Scream the lyrics, check. And most importantly, leave it out on the floor, check. From the dance battles held between Brae and Joey on stage to the dance battles held between the fans in the crowd, this night was nothing short of a party.
To wrap up the evening, both Joey and Brae take time to come down to the barrier after the show to connect with the crowd and take a few pictures, sign a few items, and chat with a few people. Joey Valence and Brae are the most appreciative music artists I have ever encountered and they are very vocal about their respect and love towards their fans. Not only do they make great music, they produce a memorable night filled with so much love and acceptance. A JVB show is always a safe space for everyone to be themselves and exactly who they want to be, all while enjoying good music, making friends, and dealing with all the changes that life brings, that is HYPERYOUTH.
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