LIVE FROM THE PIT: Joey Valence & Brae and Whatmore

JOEY VALENCE & BRAE brought their unwavering positivity and energy to their biggest ever headline set at The Roundhouse.

Opening the night was up and coming pop forward hip-hop group WHATMORE who got the crowd warmed up in a brief thirty-minute set showcasing all their influences.

Opening with DJ led mixes whilst each member showcases their lyrical flow. The crowd started to dance and celebrate the joy that is live music. The group then transitioned into showcasing their instrumental skills by bringing guitars and bass into the set. This allowed WHATMORE to prove why they have already started to gain a following, their passion for the craft of their music with that alternative pop sheen.

The crowd began to showcase their energy that they would only grow for the rest of the night.

JOEY VALENCE & BRAE’s DJ Ewook warmed up the crowd even further with a short fifteen-minute set of classic sing-along tracks. This got the crowd in the mood to party with mosh pits already opening up. The crowd was full of anticipation for the night’s headliners.

As soon as JOEY VALENCE & BRAE took the stage the crowd began to show their love for the duo. Chants of their name erupted in any gap they had between tracks. Everyone in the room was there to show how much they loved the headliners. When each track hit the crowd reached a new high of energy. The set covered every aspect of the duo’s career and showcased every type of hip-hop they can do. Everything they do on stage is positive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OklSZmIx9-o

The duo play expertly off each other making sure to show their genuine love of each other. Hugging each other, giving each other praise and exchanging dance moves on stage. Their relationship is what makes their music so likeable, they have passion for their craft that shines through every track. Their stage presence is some of the most uplifting around, they challenge everything that can make music toxic and inapproachable. They fight everything to make their gigs a true safe space for everyone.

The main set concludes with the fan favourite The Baddest which creates a surge of power through the audience, the pits reach a chaotic climax, everyone is dancing to see if they are the baddest when the real answer is JOEY VALENCE & BRAE. The duo leave the stage briefly, the volume of the chants forces them to come back near instantly. When they come back they start the two song encore with Punk Tactics which keeps the same energy that has been kept up all night. It’s simply a joy to see JOEY VALENCE & BRAE bounce off each other on stage. The final track of the night is the melancholic Disco Tomorrow which creates a reflective mood in the audience. People crowd surf till the end but it’s an oddly emotional finale. Confetti covers the audience as the song comes to a close, capping off a night of pure joy.

JOEY VALENCE & BRAE don’t leave the stage, instead they walk into the crowd and start talking with fans, it’s some of the most casual behaviour you will ever see from music superstars.

Words: Will Freeman

Photos: Ben Blissett