For nearly two decades, California punk outfit Joyce Manor has supplied the vibes for countless post-breakup rage drives, hopeless nights of solo drinking, and spite-induced greenouts for Emos of all ages. So when this once frenetic band, known for its irreverent, youthful energy, announced a return from its most recent four-year hiatus, with its members now in their mid-30s, many wondered if they would come back soft, quiet, tired, and perma-hungover as so many punk bands of the oughts have.
Fortunately, I can say that after seeing Joyce Manor at Montreal’s 2026 Warped Tour, this is not the case.
Despite being given a lacklustre slot around two in the afternoon, frontman Barry Johnson and his band brought an intense, focused energy to their Friday set. They smashed through songs new and old (but especially old, to the delight of most), rounding the bases on standout tracks from their discography like “Heart Tattoo,” “Falling in Love Again,” and “Constant Headache.”
Songs off their new album, I Used to Go to This Bar (2026, Epitaph Records), were sprinkled in as well, and they’re plenty of fun as well. But by this point, the Torrance-born trio must know just how potent their back catalogue is for fans. Every familiar number cut straight through, with Johnson’s rough yet deftly controlled voice giving me goosebumps and a sudden wellspring of angst from within, just like on those teenage nights when I’d get high and play “Catalina Fight Song” over and over and over again.
Despite the heavy, hopeless tone of Joyce Manor’s music, the band looks comfortable, confident, and grateful to be there. Unlike some artists, who seem to peer over the heads of their crowds as they envision whatever fruit tray awaits in their green room, Joyce Manor looked back at us, exuding a humble power that only drew us in further.
