Gig review: Better Joy at The Bodega

Ahead of the headline act, and marking her first performance at The Bodega, Dear Lily captivated the audience with her delicate, acoustic singer-songwriter style. While she sometimes performs with a band, this set was a stripped-back affair, highlighting the vulnerability in her music.

Early in the set, she introduced a new song, Saviour, a fragile yet moving piece that showcased her emotive vocal delivery. With only two officially released songs to her name - Eternal, which came out in October, and The City - Dear Lily made sure to feature both in her set.

Eternal came early on, with a particularly striking bridge that stood out as a highlight. Midway through the performance, she began spelling out her name to help the audience find her on social media, only to realise it was already displayed on the screen behind her.  “I’ve never had one of those before,” she admitted with a laugh, adding to the charming, unpolished feel of her set.

A surprise moment came with a singer-songwriter-style cover of Dreams, during which she endearingly forgot some of the lyrics - a slip that only made her set feel more personal. Wrapping up with The City, Dear Lily announced it would be her last song, prompting a collective groan from the audience - proof of just how much she had won them over.

If Dear Lily’s set was a tender introduction, Better Joy’s was a full-bodied celebration of music, energy and connection. On the third night of her tour, she radiated warmth and enthusiasm, embodying the joy in her name.

The set featured a mix of released and unreleased tracks, kicking off with Situations before later debuting This Part of Town, an unreleased song that added an air of exclusivity to the night. 

Throughout, she was visibly in her element, engaging with the audience and encouraging them to dance throughout the show. A standout moment came with What a Day, where she invited the crowd to sing along to the chorus - admitting that not every crowd had been as willing. Then, the performance of Plugged In, a song about falling in love, was a particularly emotional peak, its slow build culminating in a powerful release.

Midway through, she acknowledged Nottingham’s special place in her heart, sharing that her parents had met at Nottingham University.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Nottingham,” she said, visibly moved by the turnout. The large crowd seemed to shock even her, adding to the genuine gratitude she displayed throughout the set.

One of the most memorable moments came during Waiting on Time, when she took a knee on stage and, without prompting, the entire front row followed suit - a striking moment of synchronicity between artist and audience. She took this opportunity to introduce her band before launching into Steamroller, a track she dedicated to anyone who has ever felt held back or doubted. Unlike the joy and warmth that filled the rest of her set, Steamroller was pure cathartic rage, marking a sharp emotional shift.

The night closed with Dead Plants, not as an encore but as a final, definitive moment. She admitted that Steamroller had gotten to her, and as she teared up a bit before performing the next song, a band member quietly handed her a tissue - a touching moment of real emotion on stage, that everyone in the room could share in. 

Despite its heavy subject matter, dealing with the slow decay of relationships, the performance was chaotic in the best way. At one point, the band lost sync, but rather than derailing the moment, they simply laughed it off - making it an authentic and beautifully imperfect ending to an unforgettable night at The Bodega. 

Better Joy performed at The Bodega on 30th March 2025.

@betterjoymusic