Victoria Monet Showed She's Ready for Bigger Rooms at the Joy

Victoria Monet at the Joy Theater, by Steph Catsoulis

It was clear Friday night in New Orleans that the acclaimed R&B songwriter is a breakout star, or maybe one that has already broken out.

[Photographer Steph Catsoulis shot the Victoria Monet show at the Joy Theater on Friday night and filed this report.]

Victoria Monet is in an in-between place. Her show Friday night at the Joy Theater sold out months ago when her “Jaguar II Tour” was announced, as were many other dates on her tour. The line to get into The Joy wrapped around the building, and even though people were entering, it never seemed to end. People were still waiting to get in when the opening act Ambre was performing. It felt like Monet needed a bigger venue.

But many think of her as a new artist who is just breaking out. She wanted to perform at the 2023 VMAs but was told it was ‘too early’ in her story to do so. She has been grinding as a music industry warrior and has written for Ariana Grande, Chloe x Halle, Blackpink, and many more. She was nominated for two Grammys: Record of the Year for Grande’s "7 Rings" and Album of the Year" for Thank U, Next. She has released four albums and three EPs since 2014, but people have really started to see her as an artist in her own right with 2020’s Jaguar. Her sexuality, confidence and ambition have been infused from the start, but that combination has come together as an identity that, as Friday night showed, is helping people finally see her clearly.

Victoria Monet onstage at the Joy, by Steph Catsoulis

She opened the night with "Moment,” a perfect starter because the lyrics say "this your motherfuckin' moment" and right now is Monet’s moment. And she was ready for it, complete with a production that was captivating from start to end from costume changes, swaggy and sexy choreography, an insane light show, and a bad ass backing band. She presented herself as an arena-level superstar and the show felt like an event.

Monet played hit after hit after should-have-been-a-hit with her charisma, power, and seemingly effortless finesse, and her sparkly outfit and retro feel gave off Tina Turner vibes. Fans knew every word and would not stop dancing.

Her encore was "On My Mama” from Jaguar II, and the moment illustrated the multifaceted musical world we live in. Everyone went crazy when she and her dancers did the choreography by Sean Bankhead that has become a TikTok sensation. Bankhead has choreographed for Cardi B, Normani, Missy Elliott, and they even created a YouTube tutorial for the routine, which pays homage to hip-hop.

The encore felt like the Monet moment in a nutshell—a major artist in some circles on the verge of a becoming a pop star but still sharing the spotlight. Based on the night from line to finish, it’s hard to imagine we’ll get another chance to see her in a theater again.

Victoria Monet and her dancers, by Steph Catsoulis