Trust Ceremony: Jhariah’s Tour Brings Washington DC Together for a Night of Dancing
- Blake Stolarik
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
“Thank you for making sure everyone here feels safe and comfortable to be themselves, engaged, and present tonight.”
Jhariah shared this sentiment onstage between songs last Monday, but it truly was more than just words. From the moment I walked into the venue, I was met with warm smiles, friendly conversation, and even a hug as I was welcomed back into the green room space. Every touring member of the team took the time to make sure that fans felt seen and valued, taking pictures and signing autographs despite being absolutely exhausted from previous shows and the long trip to Washington DC.
Lora Mouna set the tone for the evening with her dreamy indie-rock set. She opened her set with her hit song “How Did We Get Here,” a track I feel powerfully features her haunting vocals. She played a mix of songs from her debut EP, phases of becoming, as well as a cover of “Paparazzi” by Lady Gaga and “The Difference,” a song yet to be released.
Aesthetically, her stage presence is beautifully curated with deep reds, velvet textures, ribbons adorning her guitar, and many a calculated hair flip. Not only was her voice emotive, but her posture and movements onstage only highlighted the soulful yearning in her music. If you’ve never heard of Lora Mouna before, I highly encourage you to go check out her work. She is incredibly talented and has an ability to express feelings in her songs that I didn’t know could be put into words. I cannot wait to see how she continues to grow her creative work in the future.
Jhariah and their band brought so much energy to Union Stage that you never would have guessed that it was a weeknight. They primarily pulled from their latest album Trust Ceremony, which can only be described as an adventure of sound. The album reflected the band and the crowd in many ways – transcending boundaries through a multifaceted perspective. Drawing influences from dance-punk, emo, prog rock, pop, hip-hop, and Latin dance, no two songs are alike. Neither were two people in the crowd. Jhariah opened the show with “Tooth Pact” and notably killed a cover of Paramore’s “Hard Times.” At one point, a fan shouted out from the crowd, asking when Jhariah would release new music. They didn’t have to wait long as the band launched into an unreleased song: “Lead.”
As far as dynamics go, I don’t think I’ve seen another band live that can hold a candle to the genuine joy shared between Jhariah’s band members. Onstage and off, they were supportive and encouraging of one another. They certainly gave my camera a workout, running, hopping, and dancing around the stage together and leaning over the crowd. The show had no barricade, so the band was able to connect with their fans on an incredibly personal level. Many had made friendship bracelets to give to Jhariah, ensuring that although they got onstage wearing only three, they left with an armful. That same energy carried over to the crowd, with people twirling together in a mosh pit, one even flourishing a large, iridescent fan in the air.
All in all, Jhariah puts on an incredibly dynamic and emotional performance and this show has joined the ranks of the most fun I’ve had at a live music event. You could feel the love the artists had for their fans and the music alike. There is still time to catch a show and I highly recommend you do if Jhariah is dancing into your area! The band will be heading to the UK and EU in October.
