Surf. Film. Music. They’re three unique worlds, but Jack Johnson found a way to bring them together on his latest tour, which rolled through Phoenix and treated fans to a relaxing yet joyful evening celebrating some of his favorite things.
The surf: Johnson’s larger-than-life stage setup featured footage he took in the late 90s, he said, of his friends as they conquered waves- and had plenty of spectacular wrecks. Other videos of rolling waves put you just under the surface, watching from below. Johnson also intermittently told stories about surf culture throughout his set, like how there would often be a jam band on the beach you could hear while watching the people out on the water.
The film: The home videos added a personal touch that deepened the fan-artist connection. In today’s world, anything homemade and authentic feels extra special.
The music: Almost thirty songs came to life via guitar, drums, keys, and vocals- “Upside Down,” “Banana Pancakes,” “Sitting, Waiting, Wishing,” and plenty more. Covers, collabs, and acoustic versions peppered the set, which has been unique to each city on the tour so far. In Phoenix, some favorites were Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” (RIP) and Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky.” After opening the show with their low-key desert-nights-sounding instrumentals, Hermanos Gutierrez came back out to play half a dozen songs with Jack Johnson and his band.
The experience: Laid-back and judgement-free, like a night in with your closest friends and your favorite songs as the soundtrack.
