Joywave – Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, MN – April 23rd, 2025

Joywave with Little Image – Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, MN – April 23rd, 2025

Review and photos by Kate Klaus

Every show needs a giant rotating cat in the middle of the stage, and Joywave’s Permanent Pleasure Tour had that and much more for a joyous crowd at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis, MN.  

Indie rockers Little Image started off the night with a magnetic performance.  From the moment they hit the stage, there was a connection and sincerity — you can tell they love what they’re doing, and it helped to form an instant connection with the crowd. Coupled with charismatic energy and polished but emotional songs, their performance was captivating and invigorating, with the crowd bouncing and smiling. Shrouded in mysterious, moody lighting for most of the set, lead vocalist and guitarist Jackson Simmons let the music speak for itself, while drummer Troy Bruner was frequently engaging the crowd, leaving his kit to hype up the fans on the rail and even climbing on top of his drums to further energize the room.  By the end of their set the Varsity Theater was on fire and eager for Joywave to take the stage next. 

A Joywave show is not just a concert — it’s a full-on experience, and this performance was no exception. From the minute they stepped on stage, the band radiated a sort of witty energy that’s completely infectious. Daniel Armbruster, their charismatic frontman, controlled the room like a stand-up comedian crossed with a mad scientist of synth-rock. Taking the stage in pajamas and surrounding the rotating cat, they opened with “Scared” off of their recent release “Permanent Pleasure”.  Their combination of indie rock, electronic textures, and straight up anthemic choruses sounded massive in the packed theater, and yet clean, and full of clever details and melodies.  Throughout their set,  it felt like they were just as excited to be there as the fans, and every song felt like it was played with fresh energy and enthusiasm.  Their set included “787 Dreamliner”, “Brain Damage” and others off of their most recent release as well as older favorites, closing with “Destruction” off of 2016 album “Swish”.  The entire performance was unpredictable, entertaining, and sonically airtight. All together it was a beautifully eclectic evening with a healthy dose of wit, weirdness, and genuinely great musicianship.