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Joey Valance and Brae are two names that have been heard floating around the internet for sometime now. The LA hip hop duo gained popularity with their song PUNK TACTICS, and back in August, the hip hop duo released their third studio album, the ever-energetic HYPERYOUTH, which they toured around North America, and made a stop at Toronto’s Danforth Music Hall on October 21st.
First to the stage was rap duo AG Club, which was made up of Jody Fontaine and Baby Boy. This duo brought all the energy to the stage, infecting the crowd with their grooves and dance moves. From their extravagant entrance to their sudden exit, AG Club was the perfect opener when it came to getting the crowd pumped up and ready for our headliners. Fontaine was interacting with the crowd every other song, and went down onto the barricade to sing with fans. At one point, he encouraged the crowd to split right down the middle and then jump in when the beat dropped, kind of like a hip hop version of a wall of death. That was the sort of energy that could be seen throughout the night. After a 30 minute set, AG Club played their last song, and then made an Irish goodbye, but they certainly wouldn’t be forgotten by the crowd.
Now, this was an unconventional performance as there was no changeover time. As soon as AG Club departed, a DJ known as Ewook would come onstage, and play a medley of different early 2000s pop music to keep the crowd entertained. Ewook would occasionally come out from behind his DJ deck to jump around and sing along to the songs he was playing. The crowd followed his lead, and jumped and screamed along to songs they all knew well. After Ewook finished his set, there was barely any time to breathe before our headliners made their entrance.
Shortly after Ewook’s set, the DJ didn’t leave the stage even as the lights went dim and the crowd erupted in cheers. Everyone started to chant “JVB” until JVB took to the stage. They began their set with the first three songs of HYPERYOUTH: HYPERYOUTH, BUST DOWN, and GIVE IT TO ME. As soon as the duo set foot on the stage, they would not stop moving around. Both Joey Valence and Brae were dancing and jumping around, and the crowd fed off their energy.
They went on to play hits such as HOOLIGANG, STARAFIGHT, and OK. Right before they played IS THIS LOVE and LIVE RIGHT, the duo encouraged the crowd to make a friend after the songs. They added, “so long as you have your friends and the shit that you love you’ll be alright” and began to play the intro to LIVE RIGHT.
Not many people would expect the volume to get as loud as it did at the JVB show as they played LIVE RIGHT. The bass was so loud, the crowd could feel it in their bones as they brought out their flashlights as the bittersweet song about growing up played. When they sang the lyrics “so long as I got my friends”, both Joey Valence and Brae looked at one another, and then back at Ewook. After that heartfelt performance, they picked up the energy they had before with WASSUP, NAPALM and ended on their most popular song, PUNK TACTICS.
Although, they weren’t finished quite yet. The crowd hadn’t had enough of HYPERYOUTH. They began to chant “JVB” until JVB once again reappeared and played one of their more popular songs, THE BADDEST. After that, you’d expect another high energy song, but instead they played a mellower song, DISCO TOMORROW. The song featured a Brae-only verse about his beginnings in JVB. The duo ended their set with a bow, and Joey Valence left the crowd with a positive message: “Be yourself, love yourself and do whatever the fuck you wanna do”.
