The Forecast Called For A Torrential Djownpour In Portland

Beloved indie rock band Djo, the musical project of multi-hyphenate talent Joe Keery, returned to New England for a sold-out show at Thompson's Point in Portland, Maine, on July 21. The venue is located in a historic industrial rail yard on the Fore River with a capacity of over 6,000 fans, making it the band's largest headline performance in the region. The last time Djo performed in the Northeast, it was at a sold-out College Street Music Hall in New Haven, CT, almost 10 months prior, making their return highly anticipated.

Not even a torrential downpour could scare away New England. Fans of all ages were buzzing with excitement as they spilled into the venue, equipped with ponchos and rain gear for the forecasted storm. They also came prepared with thoughtful and imaginative outfits inspired by Djo's visual language and iconography. Many fans created hand-sewn shirts and purses with apple patches referencing "Gap Tooth Smile", 8-ball patches referencing the band's second album Decide, and cheeky phrases like "It's no use Djo," a clever play on a line from Little Women. Fans flocked to the merch table to snag exclusive and creative designs like a woven blanket with a tennis ball motif, Djo scrunchies, enamel pins, and more.

Australian psychedelic rock veterans Pond kicked off the night with electric energy. Frontman Nick Allbrook sauntered on stage in a royal blue sweater that perfectly matched his piercing blue eyes. He screamed, "You are legends...thanks for coming," before delivering his signature raw and gritty vocals. The rain began to pour down as they jumped around the stage. Pond merges activism and art, taking a moment before the song "Daisy" to acknowledge that it is inspired by the "bush fires that come along every year and paint the sky black" in Australia, so they welcomed the rain today.

The five-piece band played tracks from across their expansive discography, like the aptly named "The Weather" and their latest single, "Terrestrials," which cover themes including consumerism and environmental destruction. Allbrook's unbounded energy was infectious as he jumped down from the stage to stand on the barricade with fans. He maintained his impressive falsetto and grit after each dance move, a testament to his stamina. Pond preached the importance of community, saying it's "great for your mental health being around other human beings," as their set came to a close.

The rain intensified as fans sang along to tracks on the preshow playlist. Songs by artists like Beck and Tame Impala, a band Djo is currently on the road with, kept spirits high. The lights dimmed, and the crowd released thunderous cheers. Keery stepped out on stage in the darkness, waving his arms and grabbing a guitar. Rich red and orange lights flushed the stage as the haunting opening notes to "Awake" filled the speakers. The grunge track from The Crux Deluxe served as an explosive way to start the set. Quiet, anticipatory verses pulled fans' attention in before the cacophonous bass drop and flashing lights lit up the venue for the night. The combination of screaming "I'm awake / I'm awake" and the beating drops of rain shifted the show into overdrive.

Djo sprinkled tracks from his four albums across the setlist, with the groovy Decide single "Change" making its live debut in New England. The punchy and sparkling electronic production complemented Keery's vocals as they floated through the summer air. Miraculously, the storm completely cleared out after the first few songs. "How wet are you guys on a scale of 1 to really wet?" joked Keery. The now clear skies reenergized the crowd and the band. During "Lonesome Is a State of Mind," Keery jumped down off of the towering stage and ran across the barricade to high-five lucky fans.

Keery was excited to visit the scenic coastal town where he revealed they spent the day "eating lobster rolls and having oysters; it was a very welcome stop for us." Joyful and swelling tracks like "Potion" and "Charlie's Garden" were made to be enjoyed live in the summer on the water. The warm lighting by designer Carlos Katsurayama created a light show both on stage and in the sky, as pink and orange lights projected onto the clouds. More atmospheric tracks like "Egg" were especially resonant at this venue, where a nearby lighthouse ended up flashing in sync with the lights on stage during the bridge of the song.

Multiple members of the band hail from Massachusetts, making this "somewhat of a homecoming" show, Keery shared. Turns out they had family in the crowd, a detail fans caught during the viral breakout track "End of Beginning," where Keery shouted out his sister by changing a lyric to say "Hi Caroline!" Other familiar faces hidden in the crowd included the members of Tame Impala, the band Djo is opening for on tour this summer between his stint of headlining shows.

Djo returned for a three-song encore, including the euphorically nostalgic track "Chateau (Feel Alright)" that boasts dreamy vocals and hazy instrumentals. Their performance of the rock ballad "Back on You" reminded everyone about the importance of connection and the unifying power of live music. Singing lyrics like "Now when the rain started falling / I had to close my eyes to keep myself from washing away / But in the dark backseat I heard something / It was you telling me 'I got your back any day'" served as a moment of catharsis. They ended their set with "Flash Mountain," an explosive track from Djo's debut album, complete with jumping, mayhem, and fakeouts, including a moment when Keery brought his acting chops to the table. He pretended the power had cut and they had to stop the track before screaming "PSYCH" and returning even stronger for the final chorus and addictive guitar lick.

As if on cue, the rain stopped until Djo stepped off stage, leaving fans wondering if the night was all a fever dream. Djo will be back in New England on July 28th and 29th when they open for Tame Impala in Boston, MA at TD Garden. Make sure to catch Djo live before their summer performances and festival appearances end in August. Buy tickets here.