Joywave & Hunny in Houston, TX
All Photos By Lena Rayne Photography
Joywave headlined at Last Concert Café in Houston, Tx on October 4th, 2024 with support from Hunny on their Permanent Pleasure Tour!
At the Last Concert Café in Houston, Tx the Permanent Pleasure Tour, featuring Joywave and Hunny, delivered an unforgettable evening that left me feeling like I’d just been embraced by a close-knit family. The venue, known for its intimate setting, was the perfect backdrop for this show—a small, lively space with a full bar, water stations, and a few local vendors, including 8th Wonder Distillery. The buzz in the crowd was palpable right from the start, and I immediately met some incredible fans who’ve followed Joywave for years, adding to the overall excitement in the air.
Hunny kicked off the night with an energy that felt like it radiated across the entire city. Their set was magnetic—Jason Yarger’s vocals soared, and the chemistry between band members was undeniable. It was a joy to watch them truly enjoying each other’s company on stage. Hunny is an American rock band from Newbury Park, California, formed in 2014, with members Jason Yarger (vocals/guitar), Jake Goldstein (guitar), Kevin Grimmett(bass), and Joey Anderson (drums). I was hooked by their electric stage presence and found myself mentally adding them to my Spotify playlist before their set even ended.
Their setlist was filled with powerful, catchy tracks like “Halloween,” “Good Will Hunting Song,” and “Vowels (And the Importance of Being Me).” At one point, Yarger handed the mic to the audience, and the crowd responded with an infectious enthusiasm. The energy was pure and raw. Hunny’s drummer, Joey Anderson, was particularly captivating—his beats seemed to pull the crowd deeper into the heart of the music, keeping us locked in from start to finish. As a first-time viewer of their live performance, I was thoroughly satisfied and will definitely be keeping an eye on this band.
After a brief 30-minute intermission, the stage was set for Joywave. While waiting, I had the chance to chat with some of the coolest people, including Joywave’s videographer @HeelHuston and members of Hunny. Getting to interact directly with the band and compliment their performance felt surreal and gave the night an extra personal touch.
When Joywave finally hit the stage, the energy in the room reached a new height. The stage was minimal, set with a rotary phone and dim blue light, but the fog seeping into the crowd set the mood for what was to come. Clad in cat pajamas to match the theme of their latest cat-inspired album, Joywave had the audience grinning from ear to ear before they even played a note. Joywave, formed in 2010 in Rochester, New York, consists of Daniel Armbruster (vocals), Joseph Morinelli (guitar), and Paul Brenner (drums). From the moment they opened with “Graffiti Planet,” the room was filled with a contagious, joyful energy that had everyone moving.
“I want to touch you but I’m scared,” Armbruster sings on the infectious single “Scared,” an ode to codependency that’s as much about connection as it is existential dread—and ultimately that dichotomy between humor and hopelessness lies at the core of Permanent Pleasure. “I think the job of an artist is to explore any side of being a person and self-awareness is a huge part of being a person,” Armbruster summarizes. “I think artists who ignore humor aren’t being true to themselves and it’s a huge part of who we are despite having thoughts on the record that are on the darker side of things. I feel like you have to wink a little bit to make it okay. You have to make a joke about the asteroid as the asteroid is about to hit.”
The visuals were on point, adding depth to their already captivating performance. Tracks like “Somebody New,” “Brain Damage,” and “Tongues” were clear crowd favorites. The lead singer, Daniel Armbruster, had an easy rapport with the crowd, even picking out a fan named Adalyn to request a song. In classic Joywave fashion, he playfully told her no before circling back to her at the end of the show for an unexpected twist—Joywaveclosed the night by performing “Destruction” twice, with even more energy the second time around. It was a hilarious, unforgettable moment that solidified the connection between the band and their fans.
