DNCE sold out The Marlin Room at Webster Hall in minutes and it’s easy to see why.
Joe Jonas came out to a roar of screams. Dozens of fans reached out to touch him as he approached the edge of the stage. Jonas clearly has had the time and experience to build his front man act, but the entirety of DNCE unabashedly acts like rock stars the minute they hit the stage.
They played at a rapid pace, barley taking a breath between their first three songs including single “Pay My Rent.” Bassist Cole Whittle is a complete showman, jumping and gliding across the stage to every song. Jinjoo Lee balances him out with a grooving, stoic vibe donning stylish shades during the entire performance. Drummer Jack Lawless provides a crisp and strong beat for the band’s funky, pop tunes.
Having just released their EP Swaay, a lot of their set list is dedicated to covers that clearly show where they find inspirations for the bits of 80s electric beats and sexy lyrics. They easily transitioned between “Waterfalls” and “No Scrubs” by TLC to “Thong Song” by Sisqo. The crowd didn’t miss a beat when singing along. “Sex Machine” by James Brown and “Kiss” by Prince were played later in the set as well.
It’s extremely easy to become addicted to their sound — not only is it upbeat, but the lyrics are so catchy. “Toothbrush” was clear a crowd favorite that night. It features a lot of Jonas’ falsetto. They end the set with hit “Cake by the Ocean” a rowdy and suggestive tune with confetti flying and everyone in a frenzy.
Before exiting, the band took their bows to Queen’s “We Are the Champions.” Jonas wielded a huge trophy and Lee dumped water on the crowd. DNCE seems destined to become huge, but they’re already acting like they’ve made it.