Grayson Thran
Staff Writer
When you go to a concert, you’re typically pretty aware of what you’re getting yourself into. When it comes to JPEGMAFIA, that’s another story. For me, this show was the definition of expectation-breaking in all things; form, musicianship, and energy, and it’s an easy recommendation from me.
On Sept. 13, JPEGMAFIA performed with Jane Remover and RXKNEPHEW at the Franklin Music Hall in Philadelphia. It was something of an impromptu show for me. I saw Jane Remover was performing with him and decided to pull the trigger on two tickets to go with a friend.
Remover was the first up, as she entered the stage, a robotic voice played over the speakers “Jane, Jane, Jane, Jane,” which then played into her first song. Unlike the studio versions, her whole set had autotune. It was really jarring, but over the set’s 30-minute length, my ears got used to it and it gave the live versions an identity of their own. Adding an extra layer of noise to the already heavy instrumentals.
The second opener was RXK Nephew. I had never listened to him prior to the car ride up, I personally wasn’t a fan until I heard him perform live. It was all about presentation for me. At least 20 people rushed to the front of the stage, and the crowd turned into a sea of moshes. I’ve never seen a crowd jump up so fast, their stage presence was perfect. There really is an energy in his sound that you just can’t find anywhere else, especially live.
The show’s opener lineup was great, although RXKNephew’s setlist ran long compared to Remover’s. I wish they would’ve given them a somewhat equal set time. RXKNephew’s set just ran a little long for me. I felt like there wasn’t a lot of range in his sound, so it slowly started to blend together at a certain point, although, I think that’s just because of how the songs were mixed and the fact that I’m a newer fan.
Finally, JPEGMAFIA came onto the stage, his catalog of a setlist was impressive, He went from deep-cut to album back to deep-cuts I hadn’t even heard before. Hearing his music live was something that I’ll never forget, and I don’t think my legs will either. Even being outside of the main pit, there were tons of moshes around. You just can’t help but to dance during a performance like this. Chants were a constant theme from his set, and my voice was ruined.
This is honestly the best show I’ve been to in my recent memory. The venue was great. Between the energy of the whole show, the visuals, and the crowd, I would highly recommend going. For the cost of travel and the range of music you get, if you’re someone who loves to hear more experimental music, JPEGMAFIA is an easy yes. Just make sure to wear earplugs!