Stranger Things Star Joe Keery Sells Out Palace Theater

Fresh off his Coachella performance, Stranger Things star Joe Keery sold out Saint Paul’s Palace Theater. Performing under the moniker Djo (pronounced simply as Joe), Keery pulled double duty as he played solo and with his former bandmates in Post Animal.

Although best known for his iconic role as Steve Harrington on Netflix’s Stranger Things, Keery has found massive success in his musical projects. His breakout hit ‘End of Beginnings’ has earned over a billion streams on Spotify. And yet, he remains incredibly grounded.

Taking the stage with a simple yellow zip-up, hat, and a bit of stubble, Keery is as unpretentious as they come. His stage presence feels authentic, and it is clear that his music comes from a place of passion and heart.

Prior to seeing his performance, I had only just learned that he was the singer behind End of Beginnings. I didn’t even know that Keery even had much of a musical background. What started as me being excited to see an actor from one of my favorite shows live evolved into discovering a new artist I genuinely enjoy. Diving into his discography has been a pleasant surprise.

Keery’s music is ethereal, thoughtful, and relaxed. It comes across as very down to earth. That feeling clearly connected with the audience as everyone seemed to be right there in the moment too, with hardly a cell phone in sight.

Songs that stood out most to me were fan favorite ‘Chateau (Feel Alright)’, ‘Charlie’s Garden’, ‘Basic Being Basic’, and ‘Delete Ya’.

A highlight of the night was seeing Keery take the stage with opening act, and former bandmates, Post Animal. The psychedelic rock group performed with similar vibes to Keery’s solo work – with a strong emphasis on gritty instrumentation.

It was cool to see Keery not only support his former bandmates by bringing them on tour, but to also join them for the last few songs. It made for an engaging set that felt more like coheadliner than an opener. Keery clearly has a lot of love for the guys in Post Animal, and seeing their dynamic on stage was a joy.

Keery isn’t the only Stranger Things actor with a musical carrer. Perhaps in the future, we could see him tour alongside his Stranger Things co-star Maya Hawke. They could call it the “Scoops Ahoy Tour” and have Finn Wolfhard open for them.

That bad joke aside, Keery has done well shedding any possible baggage that may come from his success in Hollywood. He has firmly established himself as an earnest and thoughtful musician. Throughout the night, his music and connection to the fan were prominently front and center.