Djo (the d is silent), also known as Joe Keery, is a sleeper band that like most artists these days, rose to fame with a song going viral on TikTok. The song is “End of Beginning,” originally released off the sophomore album Decide (2022), but became an internet sensation two-years later. Its success is likely due to its universally relatable nature, no matter what stage of life you’re in. Being back in “Chicago” could be any place, or any state of mind for the listener. The nostalgic synths and soft vocals make for a picturesque montage soundtrack. It’s no wonder so many people have latched onto this song, myself included.
Keery got his start in music with the Chicago-based psych-rock band Post Animal in 2015. In 2016, Keery made his TV debut as Steve Harrington in Stranger Things, which became the role he’s known for. He departed from Post Animal to focus more on acting, but started releasing music under the “Djo” moniker at the end of 2019. Three albums and six years later, Djo hits the road on the “Back on You Tour,” with a sold-out stop at The Anthem in Washington, DC on May 1.
Upon arriving at The Wharf, I was taking a stroll looking for a happy hour spot, when I noticed a massive line of people. I remember thinking “it can’t be…” considering it was only 5pm, with doors not opening for another 90 minutes. Sure enough, this was the end of the GA entry line for Djo, and The Anthem marquee wasn’t even in sight yet. I hadn’t seen a line this long in years, and so I knew the hype for this show was real.
Post Animal kicked off the night: Dalton Allison (bass), Jake Hirshland (guitar/keyboard), Javi Reyes (guitar), Wesley Toledo (drums), and Matt Williams (guitar). They opened with “Caving In,” a spacey, mellow track emanating Pink Floyd. They invited Keery out to play with his former bandmates for their new single “Last Goodbye.” Keery returned to the studio to record the upcoming album Iron with Post Animal. They remarked that it was “great to play with all six of us.” Keery stayed mostly to stage left, and really let his friends shine — no “hogging of the spotlight,” everyone shined as part of their collective unit. “When I Get Home” (2016), a Tame Impala-esque track, is a psych-rock jam band lover’s dream. They concluded with “Dirt Picker” and said “DC, we’re Post Animal we got one more, it’s a fast one. Move around and go crazy. Really do it up for us.” It definitely skews from their mid-tempo synths into a punkish, Led Zeppelin hybrid imitation. The jam just kept going, and you could tell the guys on stage genuinely love playing together.
Watch Post Animal perform “Dirt Picker” live for Audiotree on YouTube:
Djo opened with a shortened version of “Runner” and then straight into the lyrically comical track “Gloom” — both songs also open the 2022 album DECIDE. There’s just something so funny and awesome about the line: “Your girlfriend scares me. She’s got bad breath.” The next three songs “Link,” “Charlie’s Garden,” and “Basic Being Basic” all from The Crux are even better performed live. “Link” has the opening line: “I just graduated, top of my class. Furthest from last. So why do I feel so bad?” I find it painfully relatable. Towards the end of the song, he tossed his hat out into the crowd. “Charlie’s Garden” is about escaping and delaying reality, which features vocals from fellow Stranger Things actor and friend, Charlie Heaton. “Basic Being Basic” is probably my favorite from The Crux; it was the first single from the album, and it being my favorite is ironically, a bit basic. The bridge frequently gets stuck in my head, and chanting it live felt so cathartic. After the song he muttered “I’m a little funny.”
During “Fool,” Keery introduced the band and also stated “I like DC. You’re nice to me.” He played The Crux opener “Lonesome Is a State of Mind” on an acoustic guitar with simple picking. Before playing “Figure You Out,” Keery noted that during the last song, a single piece of confetti fluttered down from above. In a dry tone he said “we could only afford the one piece,” but that it was fitting for the song. He pointed out a sign in the crowd and said, “Adam told me what that said. That is not appropriate,” in a somewhat joking manner. If anyone knows what the sign said, I would love to know. “Egg” was played live for the first time, then followed by “Fly,” a calmer tune that had notably ethereal lighting during the performance.
“It really does mean a lot that you guys came tonight. There’s a million things to do tonight,” Keery said prior to “Delete Ya,” another single from The Crux. To introduce “Chateau (Feel Alright)” he said, “this song is for all the people NOT in love because it’s right around the corner.” He said the last four words in a sing-songy mischievous tone, making me wonder what he meant by it. “Chareau” is a melancholy fan favorite from Djo’s first record Twenty Twenty (2019). The crowd was singing so loudly that he said “you don’t even need me,” sporting a grin. “Roddy,” also from Twenty Twenty followed, keeping in the same vibe as “Chateau.” Toward the end, there’s a heavy bass breakdown that was transcendent hearing live.
“End of Beginning” was played so casually despite its massive success– truly just another song in the setlist in the best way. The bridge chanting, “You take the man out of the city not the city out the man” and the jam to close out the song gave me chills all over. Afterward, Keery announced “we’ve got two more songs for you guys,” but added air quotes to the statement.
Watch the official music video for “End of Beginning” by Djo on YouTube:
“Gap Tooth Smile” seems to be becoming a fan favorite, judging completely from the screams that emitted the second the song began. Like a lot of Djo songs, the bridge is a highlight, and is enhanced in a live setting. Keery exclaimed he was “definitely not going to sleep tonight, this is too much fun!” The regular set concluded with “Potion,” an acoustic guitar track that’s earnest and yearns for authentic companionship in its lyrics: “I’ll try for all of my life. Just to find someone who leaves on the light for me.”
The band returned for an encore with “Back On You,” the second-to-last song on The Crux features a heavenly sounding chorus at its opening. Keery said cherrily “this isn’t the last song either!” It’s a heartfelt lyric to loved ones, and has a climatic outro with the choir vocals floating in the background. Djo invited Post Animal back onstage for the grand finale, “Flash Mountain.” This may have been one of the best closing songs to a set I’ve ever seen. “Let’s GOOOO” Keery bellowed as his besties joined him onstage. There’s a riff in the song that’s got to be an homage to Stone Temple Pilots’s “Interstate Love Song.” There’s also elements of Led Zeppelin (specifically the song “Black Dog”), Black Sabbath, and Pink Floyd. It was an incredible time.
I’m ecstatic to see Djo again at All Things Go Music Festival later this year at Merriweather Post Pavilion.
Here are some photos of Djo performing live at The Anthem on May 1, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Carolin Harvey.
Here are some photos of Post Animal opening Djo at The Anthem on May 1, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Carolin Harvey.
