JJ Wilde

It  has almost been a month since JJ Wilde brought her All My Vices tour to the 2037 Gottingen complex.  The show marked the talented singer-songwriter’s first return to the region since her 2022 New Year’s Eve Performance down the street on the Grand Oasis stage in front of City Hall.   Prior to that performance, Wilde and her band were on stage in Truro as part of the Rock the Hub festival where this writer first experienced the singer’s live show.

What was impressive about that performance, was the way in which the band was incorporated into the performance, as it was less about JJ the solo artist, instead there was a true band dynamic at play, which made for a memorable night.   Fast forward 2+ years, and JJ Wilde’s band is fully intact with Mitch Milley on drums, Dan Bossenberry and Jay Danza on guitar, and Steven Lavery on keys and bass.  During this most recent Halifax performance, it was clear that the band has eschewed the poppier elements of its sound and JJ has really leaned into those warmer tones of her vocals and become a full-fledged rock band.

JJ Wilde

Plenty of acts  can roll into town, and put on a performance that is a note for note copy of their studio recordings, but those are also the same shows that fail to leave an indelible mark on the patrons in attendance.   Then, there are those shows where the performer (and/or band) showcases their true talents, and elevate their catalogue by adding in new elements to the performance.   On this tour, JJ Wilde is doing just that by leaning into those soulful honey-hued vocals and showing by she is become a familiar fixture on rock radio airwaves.     It’s great to hear those older tracks such as “Off the Rails” and “Mercy” find new life, with a meatier backbone and especially with “Mercy” it has a gritty snarl about it in its current state.

Jay & JJ

It’s the re-working of those beloved tracks, and the new gems off of Vices such as “Best of Me”,  “Bad Side” and “Mess to Make” that really took this show to the next level.    Back in Truro for the Rock the Hub performance, there was a disconnect for me somewhere in the performance that it lacked something, and I couldn’t put my finger on it at the time.   Whatever that may have been at the time, it no longer the case, as the Halifax performance was one of my favorites of the year, as there was no pretense or air of artificiality, this was as authentic a show as one could hope for.  The growth and maturity in the sound for JJ Wilde will pay dividends for years to come for the talented rocker.

JJ Wilde

Fionn