Concert review: Slow Joy & Worry Club | 11.03.25, Off Broadway (with photo gallery)

Photo of Slow Joy by Laura Jerele

Slow Joy turned Off Broadway into a living, breathing movement last night with the kind of show where you could seriously feel the floor moving beneath you because the crowd was that unstoppable. Not kidding, the floor was bouncing as much as the crowd was and that was a first for me at good ol’ Off Broadway! And, for a Monday night, the place was jammed early, fans pressed in tight and buzzing long before the lights went down and the amps turned up. Maybe it’s their youth, but the energy snapped into place fast with all of the band’s grit, melody, and motion. It wasn’t chaos, though; it was catharsis. The floor bounced, people bounced, lyrics were screamed in unison, and for a while, the whole room felt suspended in their grungy and poppy sounds. Trust me when I say we’re in good hands with the youth of today with how they brought it at this show! 

There’s something beautifully contradictory about Slow Joy. I feel like they are grunge at their core, even dropping on the stage in their street clothes and attitudes that are not seeking perfection. But there’s also warm pop sensibilities that make the heavy moments hit even harder with genuine melody. It’s not messy, not contrived, but rather raw and something you cannot help but really enjoy. They play with the unfiltered confidence of a young band that doesn’t need to prove anything, just be what they are. No pomp, no pretense. Just power, emo hooks, and heart. Shaking the room not just with noisy amps and jumping fans, but with genuine connection from lead singer Esteban Flores. He didn’t hold back, interacting and jumped in the crowd and sang his freaking heart out. 

Also on the bill was Chicago’s Worry Club, who brought a huge rush of high-energy, emotionally charged songs that instantly brought even more energy to the room (seriously, how did the floor not cave in with that many kids bouncing up and down?). They felt slacker cool with catchy songs, and had energy for days. Their songs were fun and felt pop-meets-high-energy-emo, and I mean that in a good way. But the moment that sealed it was the spontaneous circle pit that formed around someone in a full frog costume. Yes, a FROG costume. It was chaotic, hilarious, and somehow perfect. It was weird in the best way possible, the kind of offbeat joy that made the night feel unique and totally memorable, which is exactly what a Monday show at Off Broadway in St. Louis should be. | Laura Jerele