It’s been less than a year since we’ve seen Jo Passed — the indie rock/experimental pop band of Toronto-based singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Jo Hirabayashi — in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, with their last local show at West Philly DIY venue The Pouch in November of 2025. However, in the time since then Jo Passed released their sophomore LP, Away, which dropped in January via Youth Riot Records, the follow-up to Their Prime, the group’s debut LP, which dropped all the way back in 2018 on Sub Pop. And this coming Tuesday, August 18th, Jo Passed will be returning to the 215 when they double-headline Johnny Brenda’s with Maneka, the solo project of Devin McKnight, formerly of Speedy Ortiz and Grass is Green. I recently got a chance to chat with Jo Hirabayashi about his love of Philly, sophomore LP, and even newer music already in the works.
Izzy Cihak: You’ve played a lot in Philadelphia over the years. I saw you back in 2018 at Boot & Saddle and then in 2020 at Union Transfer with Wolf Parade, and I know you played The Pouch just last year. What are your thoughts on the city? Any favorite memories?
Jo Hirabayashi: I love Philly. Specifically, there’s the sandwich from Paesano’s that haunts me and everyone I’ve introduced it to. Joe Pass, the guitarist that my project name references, grew up in Johnstown, Pennsylvania… not the closest but the first time I played Philly, some folks appreciated the shout out to Pennsylvania history in my namesake — I considered this a blessing.
I’ve dreamt about spending more time in Philadelphia too. There’s a homely feeling to the city.
Izzy: Since you last played here, you dropped your sophomore LP, Away, which came eight years after your first full-length. I know the album revolved around your mental health journey and recovery, but I’m curious how you consider it to compare to your debut in terms of just how you approached the writing and recording aspects of it? Does it feel like a pretty organic evolution, or were you trying some things for the first time?
Jo: Away is much more of a home studio record and much more of a production effort than Their Prime. Their Prime was recorded relatively quickly, but it also included re-recording some songs and sessions in a similar way to Away. However, there wasn’t much of a rewrite effort for Their Prime, and more of a switch from recording stuff more in the beds approach to a live approach.
Like I’ve said before, Away was like a painting sitting on a canvas for a while. I just left it for years and would open and add a little detail here and there and then close the sessions. It’s a cool way to work and I could see myself doing another record this way but likely not as the only record I’m working on. It’s something that’s pretty new to be able to work on something for a longer length of time thanks to digital recording, which doesn’t degrade providing you continuous backup and re-archive work. It’s actually an interesting product of digital that is kind of against the proto-AI trends of content creation pushing and transient creation. I’m interested in exploring more possibilities in music like this in the future. But I will not be doing eight-year gaps again.
Izzy: Have you had any favorite reactions to the new music?
Jo: I think my favourite reaction was from this guy Nick Normal in Portland who just said the live set was rad. Ha. There’s been a lot of positive reactions. The reception has been kind and good and then occasionally the album has hit hard for a small select few people. That’s kind of the moments that matter to me.
Izzy: Do you currently have a favorite album track, whether one you most enjoy playing live or one that might signify where future sounds are headed?
Jo: I still enjoy playing “Ico” and I am adapting it to different arrangements and versions now for solo guitar or keyboardless band versions. I think “Mother Night” points to new and future directions for the project.
Izzy: Some artists hate questions like this, but considering that this is your sophomore LP, I have to ask if you have any favorite sophomore LPs of music history? I think that my go-to answers are Meat Is Murder by The Smiths and If You’re Feeling Sinister by Belle and Sebastian, but there are definitely a lot of great ones.
Jo: This is a great question! Sophomore albums are kind of hard. I actually love Pinkerton by Weezer for this because of how fucking good the Blue Album is and how hard of a record that is to follow. I think the more melanchonic response to an epic debut is a great move. Alopecia by the band Why? is maybe my favourite sophomore record ever and definitely still my favourite of their records, if folks remember them. I’m kind of hearing a lot of Why? in This Is Lorelei and some other newer projects.
Izzy: Away is your first full-length for Youth Riot Records. How did you connect with them and what has it been like working with them and being a part of that label family?
Jo: Daniel and Spencer from Youth Riot were at Seattle shows years ago. My old A&R from Sub Pop, Dean Whitmore, put me in touch with them. They’ve been the PNW follow up to Sub Pop release label for So Pitted and some others I believe. They are sweeties, a huge support and lovely people. The vibes have been so great and Daniel does amazing work. The whole experience was honestly very much what I needed after doing a bigger thing with Sub Pop.
Izzy: You have a number of upcoming shows, including a show here at Johnny Brenda’s, which I think is probably the best room in the city. What can be expected of the live show this time around?
Jo: I’m actually playing with two Philly based musicians for this run, Andy Moholt and Charlotte Ann Dole! We’re doing a song from Away that I haven’t played live yet. It’s going to rule, I’m so excited.
Izzy: Finally, what’s next for Jo Passed, if that’s something you’re even thinking about? Is there anything you’re currently hoping or planning for beyond these dates?
Jo: Here are the next record titles as of now for you exclusively:
“The Test” “The Algorithm” “TO the otherside” “Hirabayashi vs the United States of America”
*Get your tickets here.
