“I keep forgetting it’s noon,” said Joe P to the crowd at the daylight-dodging Music Hall at World Cafe Live. “They’re tricking us, it’s dark in here.”
New Jersey basement rocker Joe P made a return appearance to Free At Noon today, bringing his band, a setlist of new songs from Garden State Vampire, and some unfamiliar but more-than-welcome faces to the weekly event. To anyone who thinks good ole fashioned rock music died in the aughts or even earlier, you’ll like what Joe P has going on. His Arctic Monkeys-tinged guitar sensibilities and charming frontman persona made for a lively midday shock to the system. Devoted fans in the front row held on to every deep, dripping romantic lyric, and appropriately rose and fell with the sharp dynamics of the music like a turbulent ocean.
What makes Joe P so appealing is his flair for stadium rock, but with an edge. Think, if Young the Giant shred so hard they broke a string — as Joe literally did on stage today. His last Free At Noon (almost exactly two years ago) at Ardmore Music Hall was also a roaring success, proving his internet fame translates to in-person popularity as well.
Stream his latest, Garden State Vampire, available now. He has no tour dates on the books now, but stay tuned for more opportunities to see Joe P in the new year.