Live Review: jxdn - O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, London 02/10/2024
jxdn woos a lively Empire.
Walking on stage with a lit cigarette with his back to the crowd and hands to the sky, jxdn is met with a wall of noise largely created by his young female fanbase, shouting along to every word. During his first song Stray he gets in amongst the front row of the crowd straightaway. Jaden Hossler, performing under his stage name Jxdn is a 23 three-year-old from Tennessee, who started out on TikTok has been making music since 2020, with his highly personal lyrics documenting his struggles and growth. A charismatic performer, he has a lean physique and flamboyance of a young Mick Jagger.
Drummer Tosh has an immense, almost primal energy behind the kit, and the fact he has worked with Travis Barker, signing him to his label and producing and co-writing some of his hits. In a passionate exchange between songs, jxdn exclaims: “It only took me 5 years but I made it to London Town! Take videos but don’t watch the show though your phone! Everyone tells me London shows are the wildest so let's go!”.
For’ Wanna Be’ he gives the mic to a girl in the front row to sing a verse. Quite candidly, he admits so many songs he wrote on his last album don’t resonate with him anymore as he’s grown and hopes his fans have too. Arguably his biggest and best anthem, before ‘Better Off Dead’ he introduces the song he says doesn’t feel better off dead and is “Much better of fucking alive!”, presumably talking about rehab, addiction and getting clean, which gets a huge positive reaction from the crowd. ‘Lips’ has a frantic drum solo by Tosh, shaking the venue with all the other band mates leaving the stage.
Midway through the set, acoustic track ‘Pray’ has the crowd singing as loud as Jayden, many of them holding paper hearts in the air, and it's clear the song means a lot to them tonight. The stage is adorned with the powerful words “When the music stops the world keeps singing” on a striking backdrop with effects, with two big graphics stating ‘You are the music’ and ‘Music can bring the world together’.
Final song ‘Angels and Demons’ is surely a set highlight with Jaden asking his fans to put their phones away somewhat ironically he adds, as he started his career using his phone. A massive crescendo follows, with the crowd jumping and chanting along as one in a spectacular end to an immense performance.
Words by Brendan Sharp
Photography by Stefania Semini / @arach.nee
