JOHNNYSWIM Enchants St. Louis Fans

–by Carrie Zukoski

Thursday night at The Pageant can be surmised in two words: genuine and authentic.

JOHNNYSWIM’s When The War Is Over pt. 2 month-long 18-city tour kicked off in St. Louis (well, they tacked on a night in LA the week prior, but after the official tour announcement was made).

Shua, the opener, wore his heart on his sleeve. Full of grace and humor, Shua’s short 25-minute set was filled with stories about almost giving up on his music career, now being on his first tour, and how JOHNNYSWIM has been central in his music career. Yes, he sang, too. His indie-folk songs are haunting and beautiful with captivating, melodious vocals that were a perfect match to open for JOHNNYSWIM. Among others, he performed his “saddest song,” “Broken” and covered Leon Bridges’ “River.”

 

Touring in support of their 5th studio album, When The War is Over, the duo that is JOHNNYSWIM brought their blend of folk/soul/blues/pop music to ecstatic fans, some who had driven more than 4 hours to see them in person.

Their set began with Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano Ramirez facing one another behind a curtain lit with red lighting and fog swirling low on the stage, the couple sang the heartfelt, harmonious “Alchemy.” They then emerged and switched gears to the more poppy, catchy “Dopamine,” while Amanda strode across the stage and Abner stayed present at the mic with his guitar.

 

The night continued with heartfelt melodies, shared memories, and life-affirming emotions expertly woven into dreamy and vibrant bursts of hope and comfort that these two have been creating since 2005. From “I’m Alright” and “Don’t Let It Get You Down” to “Summertime Romance” and “Adeline,” the set brought genuine connections, warmth, and affection to every person in attendance.

Find more photos from the night here: https://bit.ly/JSWIM25cz

The entire setlist can be found here.