The rising singer-songwriter & her band delivered a beautifully hypnotic set at sold-out San Diego show
Rising indie singer-songwriter Jordana has had an impressive run these past few years, with a fanbase that continues to grow on the heels of her wonderful 2024 album Lively Premonition. That album beautifully injected elements of soft rock and folk into her sound, with violins and other string instruments more prevalent. Right now, Jordana is in the middle of a big US tour, and this past week, she and her band stopped by The Voodoo Room in San Diego and delivered a stunning set for an excited sold-out crowd.
The all ages crowd at Voodoo Room, most of whom were experiencing Jordana live for the first time, were treated to a breathtaking performance as she and her band played Lively Premonition front-to-back – she has throughout the entirety of the tour so far. Taking the stage to a brightly-lit yellow neon “JORDANA” sign, the band set up to a sea of loud cheers as Jordana emerged, sporting platinum blond locks and a violin in hand.
The opening sophistipop strums of Lively Premonition opener “We Get By” set the mood, with fans singing along gleefully while Jordana crooned the anthemic chorus, injecting her sweet violin touches in between verses. With the band in telepathic lockstep with one another, they rolled through a run of crowd favorites, from piano-pop highlight “Like A Dog” to the synth-y, midtempo lounge-pop gem “Raver Girl.” The highlight of the set for me though was her performance of album single “Anything For You,” an affecting, longing ballad with a slightly plucky, Americana twang to it. The crowd was eager to lose themselves in the poignant, confessional lyricism and magnetic musicianship of the moment; it felt as though Jordana was singing to everyone individually, and the catharsis in her performance was palpable.
She and her band closed out the Lively Premonition section of the set with album closer “Your Story’s End,” a modern take on Laurel Canyon-esque singer-songwriter rock music that had the crowd reeling in the palm of her hand. The combination of intimate riffs and heartfelt lyricism hit a subliminal sweet spot for everyone in attendance. From there, Jordana and company ended the main set with a lively cover of Steely Dan classic “Any Major Dude Will Tell You,” – off their 1974 album Pretzel Logic – which had fans smiling from ear to ear, even if they weren’t super familiar with the track.
The band then left the stage to a raucous reception, but the cheers would not let up, beckoning them back to the stage for one last encore, which Jordana was happy to oblige. To this writer’s delight, she played “Summer’s Over,” “Sweet to Dream,” and finale “Better in the Dark,” her trilogy of tracks that she collaborated on with San Diego alt-pop stars TV Girl. It was the perfect end to a perfect show in downtown San Diego, and a gorgeous encapsulation of Jordana’s artistry. With songs and performances on that level, there’s no telling what her ceiling is. For now, the crowd got exactly what they wanted, but Jordana also left them hungry for more. You can’t pull that off any better.
