Current Joys Concert Review

Bodies wrapped around the Quartyard venue in downtown San Diego on October 27 as concertgoers buzzed about the upcoming Current Joys show, a sense of nostalgia rippling through the line. The Current Joys project, spearheaded by artist Nick Rattigan, released its first album titled “Wild Heart” in 2013. Indie teens around the globe have been mesmerized by his voice ever since. 

Rattigan is also known for his part in the surf rock band Surf Curse, which was established in 2012. The band is most well known for songs like “Freaks.” Rattigan’s voice in both discographies is distinct in its whine, whether coated in sadness or excitement. 

Fans clad in thrifted outfits and wired earbuds looked forward to seeing the music many of them had on repeat during the pandemic. One listener, Ivy Virtue, said she was among Current Joys’ “top 0.5% fan base” in 2020. As the world seemed to be ending, Rattigan’s somber voice perfectly encapsulated the complicated feelings of 16-year-olds nationwide.

The open-style venue began to fill up with bodies as fans whispered about which songs they were most excited to hear live. The Quartyard show started with the song “Ghosts,” followed by "Televisions" and “Desire.” For the first half of the show, emotions flowed through the crowd. Many listeners had eyes closed and were swaying as they were taken back to old times through lyrics like “I just want to make you cry/For all those times you made me cry.” 

There seemed to be a shared sense of wistfulness. Rattigan’s supporting band, consisting of three other musicians, maintained faces of serious expressions throughout the beginning of the show.

As the clear night continued on, the crowd was taken on an emotional journey. One audience member, Isabella Qualls, mentioned how this was her fourth time seeing Current Joys. She was mesmerized as Nick sang “Different Age.” Another popular song, titled “Symphonia IX,” played about halfway through the set; somberness washed over fans’ faces. However, Rattigan didn’t keep the sober vibes going for long. He began jumping across the stage, maintaining a fun and playful stage presence for long despite his somber lyrics. 

As the crowd’s spirits began to lift, Rattigan concluded the set with “New Flesh” and an encore of “Kids,” which is Current Joys’ most popular song due to its popularity on TikTok. Both songs brought out whoops and hollers. Fans held up records as they moshed, belting their hearts out to lyrics filled with heartbreak and reminiscing. Security struggled to contain the crowd, the barricade began pushing in as listeners fed off each other’s energies. There wasn’t too much aggression from either side of the barricade, though; no one could keep an angry face as Rattigan bounced around the stage and fans followed suit. 

Current Joys gave their final goodbyes, even shouting out those who were lingering around the venue to hear. As the crowd started to move towards the vibrant streets of downtown San Diego, there were only smiles. 

Written by: Charlotte Hopkins

Photography by: Erin Seitzler