Joy Crookes and Simpson – The Foundry – Philadelphia (A PopEntertainment.com Concert Review)

Joy Crookes and Simpson – The Foundry – Philadelphia, PA – April 6, 2022

Joy Crookes was stunned to hear her Philadelphian fans sing her lyrics back to her at her show at The Foundry on April 6. "It's so strange coming to an American city I have never been to and hearing you sing my lyrics back to me," she told the crowd on Wednesday night. Her song writing skills are incredibly impressive, it's no wonder the audience had her music memorized word for word. Joy Crookes' debut album Skin delves deep into the topics of heartbreak, politics, culture, and self-discovery.

Opener Simpson brought the house down with her experimental mesh of musical styles. Soon after Simpson left the stage, the slow, bassy intro of Joy's song "I Don't Mind," the first track on the album, began to play. Joy's voice sounded even more flawless than on her record. Hearing her soft, alto vocals is like listening to Amy Winehouse reincarnated. The energy was raised during the catchy upbeat tune "Trouble" as the audience danced alongside Joy. The carefree stage presence of Joy and her band of four was completely contagious to the crowd. The atmosphere in the venue was exhilarating.

The lights dimmed and Joy took to the front of the stage. She brought the crowd to tears with her soft, emotional vocals in the words of "To Lose Someone." The eyes of her fans filled with tears, as everyone could feel every ounce of pain in her lyrics. Joy then hooked up her electric guitar during "Poison" and "Don't Let Me Down" like a true rockstar.

Following her rockstar moment, Joy Crookes got personal with her beloved fans, telling them that touring in America has brought her life around full circle. She told the story of her grandmother's immigration to America, dedicating her next song "19th Floor" to her. This was only one of many moments that Joy took the time to interact with her listeners. At one point, she accepted a card written by a fan. She also asked the crowd where to go on a night out in Philadelphia, taking the input of shouting fans hoping to grab her attention.

There was truly magic in the air on Wednesday night as the beautiful words and sultry voice of Joy Crookes stole the hearts of Philadelphia. There is no doubt that the music of Crookes is going to blow up, so you don't want to miss out on a live performance of hers. It is truly a night to remember.

Brenna Hallman