Electro-pop trio Joywave has toured with the biggest names in the alternative/indie music space, including The Killers, Bastille, Smashing Pumpkins and Thirty Seconds to Mars. Simultaneously, they have produced several mixtapes and EPs and full length works packed with catchy, groovy hits, including their most recent studio album, “Permanent Pleasures.”
As part of the band’s multi-month “Here to Perform” national tour, Joywave is coming to Tucson’s 191 Toole on Monday, May 5, ready to play music from across their over decade-long discography.
“Music is something that we do to feel less alone in the world and less alone in existence. When that resonates with people, and they find people to feel that with those connections, it is very special,” member Daniel Armbruster said.
Joywave’s Armbruster (vocalist/multi-instrumentalist), Joseph Morinelli (guitarist) and Paul Brenner (drummer) started their musical career by winning first place in the Greece Olympia High School talent show, they jokingly shared. Raised in Rochester, New York, the trio together formed Joywave in 2010, and have since travelled the world performing their music, selling out headline tours and performing high-energy sets at Lollapalooza, Coachella and Riot Fest.
Joywave released it first EP over a decade ago and hit the charts for the first time for the No. 1 hit “Dangerous,” RCIAA platform certified single released in 2013 in collaboration with electronic music project Big Data.
“I’d say you have probably heard ‘Dangerous,’” Brenner said, when prompted by Armbruster to explain the band’s sound.
The back-and-forth bantering, calling upon one another when they were not prepared to answer and teasing jokes between the trio was the “most authentic” versions of themselves, Armbruster said. They are simply a group of men who enjoy one another’s company, music and performing.
“What Joywave is about is entertaining. As long as we’re entertaining each other, it’s a good day,” Armbruster said.
“Permanent Pleasure,” released May 17, 2024, is the band’s fifth studio album, with the deluxe version released last month. A nod to home, the album uses audio samples from the 1984 historical compilation release “The Rochester Sesquicentennial.” The band steps away from the sonic sound comfort zone in the album, switching out drum components and lean into guitar and string sections while simultaneously staying true to themselves. The album’s energy is like that of the sleeping cat on the cover, Armbruster said — simply chilled out.
The deluxe album, released April 11, features an added six songs, including “Yellowish Sunbeam, Scared (Acoustic) and four live performances tracks.
“‘Yellowish Sunbeam’ connects back to the artwork of ‘Permanent Pleasure.’ We recorded it at the same time as the rest of the album, butI do not know why we cut it. In hindsight, we shouldn’t have. It’s one of my favorite songs on the album. It’s got a nice groove,” Armbruster said.
Joywave began its “Here to Perform” tour in the fall. In the spring, it began circling back across the country, hosting concert shows at cities they previously missed. Tucson was among those cities, which holds a personal connection to Armbruster, as several family members call it home.
“Our fans not only connect with us and the music so well, but they connect with each other really well. They have formed incredible bonds,” Brenner said. “Good people with good vibes.”
Joywave
WHEN: 8 p.m. Monday, May 5
WHERE: 191 Toole, 191 E Toole Avenue, Tucson
COST: $29
INFO: joywavemusic.com
