The Joy Formidable Tickets

It has been a week now since Welsh trio Joy Formidable rocked Webster Hall. First off, they packed the house! They sold out the venue and did the same the previous night at Music Hall of Williamsburg. These kids are not a flash in the pan. It was only a few years ago that front woman Ritzy Bryan (guitar/vocals), Rhydian Dafydd (bass/backing vocals) and drummer Matthew James Thomas (drums) played the same venue to a much smaller audience. 2011 saw them promoting their debut album, The Big Roar, which boasted the bold, radio friendly hit "Whirring". Then the trio was reliant on heavy chords and long, free wheeling jam sessions. That is, "Whirring" live was probably a 10 minute song. Bryan relies heavy on feedback and sheer force on the guitar. They are but a few chords, but they demand attention and can be most potent. Dafydd (maybe the hardest name in rock to spell) is every bit a LEAD bassist. Like the title of their debut record, his ax roars and sets a heavy handed tone. And Thomas is more than capable behind the kit. Their rise was pretty significant and before that tours end they headlined the far bigger Terminal 5 and even managed to support the Foo Fighters for a few gigs. In January of this year Bryan and Co. released their sophomore record, Wolf's Law. While it might not have the extended jams and electric hooks their debut has, it is solid nonetheless. During the nearly 1 and 1/2 hour show they showed some more versatility and growth than 2011. Songs like "Austere" and their first single from Wolf's Law, ""This Ladder is Ours", were played tighter, and without the extended jams. Bryan, adorned again with a little jumper and tights, thrashes around and gets the absolute most out of her tiny frame. Her voice is commanding and she is an engaging leading lady. At first glance she has the look of Mary Stuart Masterson's character in Some Kind of Wonderful. She has a sweet and demure exterior. However when the house lights go off, so does she! That blonde pixie haircut of hers makes the whole thing even more disconcerting. You gonna take my order or rock my socks off? It's the latter folks. During this tour they are mixing in some slower tempo tracks too, namely "Wolf's Law" and "The Everchanging Spectrum of Life." Bryan is up to the task, as is her rhythm section. But when "Wolf's Law" reaches it's fiery finish you remember why you bought the tickets. When these three musicians lay it all on the line and play to/for the rafters, it is when they are at their best. It can be heard toward the beginning of "A Heavy Abacus." It can be heard as "Cradle" comes to its bombastic, howling, and supremely satisfying conclusion. The show might have been last week. Their have been myriad of events, both rewarding and miserable in the days that followed. But when I think back at little Ritzy and her mates tearing the hell out of the East Village a smile comes to my face. Things could always be worse.

Went to see them at Stage AE in Pittsburgh. One of the best live bands I've ever seen. I felt bad that it wasnt even sold out in a smaller venue but they played like it was a sold out stadium of people. I've seen alot of rock shows and this band is in my Top 3 favorite ones ever, seen them one before as an opening band and they didnt dissapoint then, they upstaged the featured band. GO SEE THEM and you wont regret it.

I love TJF and they just kicked so much ass here! I loved the show

AMAZING Show! The Band was great! They totally killed it- the crowd was awesome- RUN To see the Joy Formidable every time you can!

I can't believe how good this band is live! I expected a good show, but it exceeded everything I had hoped for. They were fun, intense, they sounded perfect, I can't wait to see them again!

This was a fantastic show. I wanted to give 4 stars because Webster Hall charges so much for beer, but the band was so excellent live I had to go with 5. The opening act, Blood Red Shoes, was excellent as well.

The review is not only about the Joy formidable but also for Blood red shoes who opened for them and set the mood for a great evening. It was a VERY loud concert but the everybody enjoyed it, a lot of interaction with the audience and even let them play the instruments for a while.

Great band saw them witht the Foo Fighters last year and loved them,

April 14th at the Upstatate Concert Hall was a night to remember. The Joy Formidable put on a rocking show that had their audience dancing and cheering from the first note. It was such an electric feel in the room, not a still body to be found. Guitar, bass and drums meshing together into a symphony of Indie genius. Ritzy Bryan defies all sense of logic. How could a tiny girl like that hit the guitar sounds so hard, making sooooo much noise, which is definately not a complaint!! And her vocals were amazing, so strong, making you say no wayyyyy, but WAY she is the full package and the band together did not disappoint! My only let down was that it had to end. Oh, and it was my first mosh pit experience and what a BLAST :)

Phenomenal Show* The band really interacts with the audience. Being right up front, I was totally awestruck. I can't wait to see them again.

All of the performed well I liked the first dose better. This was a little soft for me

Joy Formidable will never disappoint! This smaller venue made the concert feel as if it were a personal performance.

This was my first time seeing The Joy Formidable and I was completely blown away by the rich an intense sound this trio produced. They are all equally and amazingly talented with their instruments, enthusiastic, and individually heard. Most of the songs get built up as if will be their last of the set, but they kept going- amazing energy. I'm no audiophile, but I wish the venue had better equipment (or sound technician?) to keep up with the band- there was speaker distortion that dulled my experience and ruined Mitzy's dialog between songs. I drove 4 hours to see them, got home around 5am, went to work at 9am and it was completely worth it!

Great energy, great performances, great music, great venue = spectacular show!

Ritzy is a powerhouse packed in a cute, compact body.

Great show, tons of energy. The band was on for 1.5 almost 2 hours and played almost every song off their new album AND previous album. New songs Forest Serenade, Silent Treatment, etc. sound AMAZING live. Also, the encore set of Wolf's Law into Whirring was just incredible. While band was awesome, the venue (The Fonda) was only okay. The sound was a bit too bassy and there were some weird distortions sometimes. I've seen The Joy Formidable at other venues before so it was definitely the place, not the band. Still great show overall though.

A rip-roaring concert. Energising from first to last. Got the crowd going from the beginning and held them for the whole gig. Favourite song - Whirring - could have played that all night and I would have gone home happy!! Cradle, Greatest Light, Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie were all perfection - not a duff song performed, the whole gang were on great form. Of the new stuff from WOLF Little Blimp and the Maw Maw Song are obvious rockers but anyone who doubts their artistic capabilities should listen to them perform Silent Treatment to realise just how accomplished they are as musicians. Just didn't want them to stop. The set list seemed effortlessly put together but so effective. Rarely have I seen a band that engages their audience so well and when Ritzy catches your eyes with that amazing wide-eyed gaze you really believe she is playing to you alone. The combined best bits of Courtney Love / Tanya Donnelly / Kim Deal rolled into one beguiling on-stage persona. Can't wait until the next tour back in the UK, hurry back!!! They came across as having a great time on stage and that was reflected by the audience and then some! Took some friends as a surprise. They hadn't heard them before and left as converts - don't need to say anymore.....

I just saw these guys a few months ago, at The Troubadour, before their new cd came out; that show was great, and this one was a little bit better, because they played some new stuff that sounds fantastic live. Their shows are so energetic, and Ritzy is always so eloquent and her voice is pitch perfect live...you really can't beat these guys for a fun and entertaining rock concert, every time!

This band just gets better. Big projector screen this time playing videos, pics. Etc in the background. They played songs from Big Roar to Wolfs Law plus one oldie, While the Flies. Awesome! Loved it! Did some moshing at the end of Whirring, crowds got crazy.

Excellent show!! I was right at the front near the stage and the sound was great!