Photo by Ben Nguyen | Mercury Staff
Hobo Johnson along with Nate Curry, The Philharmonik and Mom
Jeans recently took the stage at the
House of Blues in Dallas to promote his sophomore album. Filled with
performances of old and new songs, Hobo Johnson provided a hype show for fans.
The openers at the Oct. 14 show provided a range of sounds
before the main event, with the Philharomik’s synth-laden rants about the world
being followed by Mom Jeans’ punk, and Nate Curry opening the night with a cool
rap beat. While the openers were great, Hobo Johnson’s show was the main event,
and a sight to behold.
The light crew at the House of Blues really outdid
themselves, with the lights complimenting every song to the tee. Hobo Johnson’s
music can be described as a combination of rap and spoken word, even setting up
a song as a slam poetry segment before diving in. When the beat drops and the
more musical part of song starts banging, the lights make Hobo Johnson and the
Lovemakers look like silhouettes in pink red, or purple light. But when he
makes the sharp transition into spoken word, he is illuminated as though he’s
on stage, almost like a monologue in a weird Shakespeare play.
The music selection picks from old and new tracks, including
a long buildup to the famous “Peach Scone” involving the mention of various
other coffee shop treats. Songs from his new album “The Fall of Hobo Johnson”
included “You and the Cockroach” with memorable lyrics referencing the
evolution of humanity and our potential cockroach successors, and “Typical
Story,” the lead single off the album. The lyrics evoke the rollercoaster of
emotions that can be associated with late college — post-college life, the kind
of reflection on love, life and what’s happening.
Hobo Johnson is a relatable performer. Whenever he talks
between tracks, it comes off as just a guy that’s very grateful, slightly
awkward and just trying to have a good time. His reflections even break through
in his commentary, by saying “How’re we feeling tonight!” and then promptly
mocking artists for saying it at concerts. His awkwardness shone when he
relayed a story of shouting “Houston!” to a Dallas audience at the same venue,
and dealing with the following crowd silence. Throughout all of it, he comes
across as just a fellow member in life, trekking through much the same as us,
but with a concert tour.
Overall, the concert was great, with a light show and
setlist to take the audience on an amazing poetry/rap journey. Johnson ended
the night with a rendition of “September” while thanking his fellow bandmates,
and the night ended with a happy mood in the air.