It seems like Joe Keery can do it all. 

From playing Steve Harrington in the Emmy-award winning TV show “Stranger Things” to being on the Billboard Hot 100 as the singer Djo, Keery’s career has been nothing if not successful. As more of his songs rise to fame, he is slated to open for Tame Impala’s “Deadbeat Tour” on U.S. stops in July and August.

When I found out about Keery’s alter identity as Djo two years ago, it was hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that my favorite character on my favorite show was also creating my favorite songs. But if I had any remaining doubts, they disappeared thanks to his performance at The Chicago Theatre on Friday.

After DJ b.i.g.s.h.r.i.m.p opened the show with upbeat 2000s songs, Keery showed off his guitar skills and band’s talent with his first song of the set, “Awake.” Although the song starts slow and mellow, the guitars’ crescendo in the second half truly energized the audience. 

After his introduction, he switched to one of his hit songs, “Change,” from his 2022 album “DECIDE,” before playing a series of songs from his latest album, “The Crux.”

Although I more than enjoyed songs like “Link,” “Lonesome Is A State of Mind” and “Potion,” I was sad to see that Keery did not play any songs from “The Crux Deluxe” other than “Awake.”

However, any disappointment disappeared when the unmistakable chords of “Charlie’s Garden” came on, transporting me back to Lollapalooza 2025, the last time I had seen Djo and also the last time he performed in Chicago.

As expected, he paid homage to his time in Chicago at DePaul University with “End of Beginning” and gave a monologue expressing his gratitude after the song. 

“As a young, interested musician, I saw so many bands here that I loved and adored and aspired to be like.” Keery said “And to be able to travel across the country with my friends and play on some of these stages, meet these bands, see these bands and be enabled by the community that fostered it here, this really wouldn’t have been possible without any of that.”

When he returned for two encore songs, “Chateau (Feel Alright)” and “Back On You,” all I could do was wish I could “turn back the time.”

I don’t know when Keery will perform in my city next, but one thing is for sure: If he’s “back in Chicago,” I’ll be there, too. 

Correction: A previous version of this story misstated that Keery did not play any songs from his album “The Crux Deluxe.” The Daily regrets this error.

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