Nick Rattigan of Current Joys. Photo by Atikis Curiel

Have you ever noticed how your favorite band or artists just keep getting better, release after release? Exploring new sounds and genres to mix things up. Well, seeing Current Joys live for the third time was like discovering a hidden gem all over again – this show was pure magic! If I count the Surf Curse shows, this would be the fifth time I've seen the man behind Current Joys and lead singer of Surf Curse, Nick Rattigan, live. He is, without a doubt, one of the most talented musicians, and he performs with his entire being, pouring his passion into his songs and performances. When you go to one of his shows, know you are going to get one of the best performances you will see!

For this show, I went with my younger brother, and we both regard Current Joys as one of our favorites. The venue would be one I have never been to, 1720. I have seen Current Joys before at The Wiltern and at The Vermont Hollywood. It was an interesting choice for a venue, especially in the given location. If you have been to 1720 or in the surrounding area, you know what I am talking about. However, the venue was ideal in terms of providing an intimate experience; it was smaller than The Vermont Hollywood and The Wiltern. If I can compare it, it is very similar to the Echoplex in Echo Park.

The interior of the 1720 was like a gutted warehouse; it was dark, and the floor was huge. There is a lot of uninterrupted space, with no pillars in the way and no booths, making it perfect for when the crowd starts to mosh later. The stage was decorated for Halloween, as the show itself was called “Fright Night.” Some concertgoers were in costumes, as befitting the event's name and the proximity to Halloween. Even the openers and Rattigan and his bandmates

There were two openers for this show: the first was Lala Lala, dressed as an angel, and the second was Untitled (Halo), dressed as the nurse from the Blink-182 album cover. They both had their own unique style and sound. The one thing they both shared was that they had an experimental sound to some of their songs that they performed. Lala Lala especially stood out to me in terms of their music. If you follow Current Joys to any extent, you're familiar with his musical tastes and what he listens to, so you can see why he chose these two bands to open. They are very much up Rattigan's alley of music.

Soon after Untitled (Halo) had finished up the preparation for Current Joys was underway, then about 15 minutes later, that’s when the bandmates entered, and the lights dimmed, and the backdrop had changed to a dark forest. All the band members wore dark hooded robes and applied black and white makeup that resembled the style of the black metal band Mayhem. As the band members took their respective instruments, Rattigan walked on stage, adorned in a hooded robe and wearing the same black and white makeup. Then he began the show with an older song from B-Sides, Rarities and Demos, “Ghosts.” I have never heard this song live, and like all his songs, it's fantastic. He played some of my favorite songs that night, such as "Desire," "Cigarettes," "My Blueberry Nights," and "Become the War Jets." My brother and I had a blast.

One part I want to highlight is something I am still thinking about. It was the moment after Rattigan had finished Ghosts, and after he had got the crowd riled up, he played “Televisions,” and the crowd went wild. My brother and I were standing when we were suddenly rushed from behind and found ourselves in the midst of a crowd of people jumping, crowd surfing, moshing, and singing. To be in that, at that moment, is surreal. You are there for the same reason as the other concertgoers; it's this connection, this immersion, and feeling that is shared with everyone in attendance. And you cannot get that same feeling when you attend a stadium or a much larger venue, not to diss anyone who goes to those concerts, because some artists are just that big that they must use a stadium. But this is raw and powerful, and Rattigan delivers that experience. Whether I am at a Current Joys concert or a Surf Curse one, I will immerse myself in that feeling and in that experience

Current Joys at the 1720 10/28/25

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