Words by Reagan Denning // Photos by Sarah Peter
jxdn delivered an electrifying performance Sunday night in Washington D.C. for his highly anticipated ‘WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS TOUR.’ Known for his raw energy and powerful vocals, he brought a show that was heartfelt and intense, leaving fans completely in awe. jxdn’s setlist was a perfect blend of popular breakout hits as well as new songs from his latest release, WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS.
GUNNAR and LØLØ understood the assignment and warmed up the crowd with their infectious energy and compelling stage presence. Both artists brought their unique styles to the iconic 930 Club and won over the audience by ensuring that the start of the night was filled with excitement over what was to come. GUNNAR opened first, immediately getting fans moving with a cover of “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet, as well as his newest single “Dirty Blonde,” and a number of his other hits like “They Didn’t Tell Me,” and “Bad Idea.” LØLØ took the stage next, maintaining the high energy with a number of her own hit tracks including “hot girls in hell” and “debbie downer,” as well as a cover of “I Love It” by Icona Pop and Charli XCX. Her debut album, falling for robots & wishing i was one, is now out on all streaming platforms.
jxdn burst onto the stage in a flurry of movement while being greeted with thunderous applause and cheering from his adoring fans. Against bright strobing lights and a cool reflective backdrop that read “You Are Music,” his sincere performance was nothing short of spectacular as he showed off his commanding stage presence, powerful vocals, and unique artistic vision. He was accompanied by an incredible band, consisting of Tosh, Kenji, and Marton, that matched his high energy throughout the night by showcasing their intricate musical skills during each song. The singer got the crowd fired up immediately with the hit single “STRAY” followed by “CANDLES,” both from his recent sophomore album, WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS.
“When I’m performing, if you can’t tell, I’m not on drugs, I just love the fucking music man. So, for the rest of the night, I’m glad that we get to have fun, but this shit is church for me. You know what I mean? This is fucking healing. I don’t care what you believe in or don’t believe in, but you obviously believe in music because you are fucking here, and I thank you so much for being a part of that!”
After an intense opening to his set, he took a moment to address the audience, “I make music because music saved my fucking life! My first four years [in the industry] destroyed me – it took the love and the art out of my music. I made this album for myself, in hopes that you know you’re not going through this shit alone.”
He then took fans on a musical journey through his discography, singing popular tracks from “YOU NEEDED SOMEONE I JUST HAPPENED TO BE THERE,” and “DEAD OR ALIVE,” to “WANNA BE,” and “DRUGS.”
“What happens when the music stops?” he paused to ask, “I found out that the world keeps fucking singing man!” he exclaimed, causing the audience to roar in excitement at his statement. jxdn launched into the album’s passionate title track, “WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS,” eliciting lots of emotion from fans who sang along to every word.
Towards the end of the night he also gave the crowd a preview of where the sound of his music is heading by covering the iconic rock song “Miss You” by The Rolling Stones. Leaving the stage following the last song of the set, “STRANGER,” he returned a few minutes later for a short encore of “Lifeline” – a track released in 2023 by ILLENIUM, featuring jxdn – and both the fan and band favorite, “ANGELS & DEMONS.”
“I hope you heard my words and not just my fucking lyrics. All I want is some love in the fucking world!”
jxdn fully embodies the future of pop-punk rock music, leaving a lasting impression on the industry that will linger long after his final notes and lyrics fade away. With unwavering energy and enthusiasm for his craft, he continues to showcase his undeniable talent during the tour, and a room full of devoted D.C. fans singing along to his music was the perfect backdrop for a night to remember!
Keep up with jxdn:
Website // Instagram // TikTok // X // Facebook // Spotify // Apple Music // YouTube
Keep up with GUNNAR:
Website // Instagram // X // TikTok // Facebook // Spotify // Apple Music
Keep up with LØLØ:
Website // Instagram // TikTok // X // Facebook // Spotify // Apple Music
