Jonathan Roy…it’s Nice to Meet You Too

The North American leg of Jonathan Roy’s Nice to Meet You Tour culminated in the capital this weekend, and fans crowded Ottawa’s Bronson Centre on Friday night to take in the catchy, contemplative sounds of the Montreal-born alt pop artist.

Following a short opening set by Quebec vocalist LARAW, Jonathan Roy and six band members took the stage, sparking an easy energy that quickly filled the intimate venue. At center stage, a floor-to-ceiling screen featured engaging graphics alternating with silhouettes of Roy’s athletic physique and trademark man bun. The smokiness surrounding the four musicians and two backing vocalists added an element of mystical lustre as Roy got things started with “Ayahuasca (Lay Me Down)” from the 2023 album, Life Distortions.

Jonathan Roy performs at the Bronson Centre in Ottawa. Photo by Rob Clairmont

The setlist continued with fan favourites from previous albums, such as My Lullaby (2021), as well as the Chris Stapleton cover of “Cold.” The crowd also got a glimpse of the newly released single after which the tour is named, “Nice to meet you,” from the upcoming album, Symphony of Doubts. From the floor, fans reacted with the kind of excitement that commands hips to sway and hands to rise in the air as the truth of Roy’s lyrics collided with their own life experiences.

Jonathan Roy performs at the Bronson Centre in Ottawa. Photo by Rob Clairmont

For this reviewer, a highlight of the show was the live acoustic performance of “Money,” first released in 2021. This mini show-in-a-show spotlighted the impressive talents and synergy of a band that continues to evolve in its collective success. With jaw-dropping solos on bass, guitar, keys and drums, as well as deeply piercing backing vocals, “Money” satiated the hunger of an adoring Jonathan Roy audience.

Jonathan Roy performs at the Bronson Centre in Ottawa. Photo by Rob Clairmont

Roy, the 35 year-old son of Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy, has been on a journey of self-discovery that has catapulted him from net minder in the Quebec junior hockey league, to cast member of the 2012 musical, Don Juan, to a pivotal encounter with Canadian pop legend Corey Hart. It was the unexpected connection with Hart that led to Roy signing onto Hart’s label, Siena Records, and the release of the Mr. Optimist Blues album in 2017. Despite having previously released two English and one French language album, Roy credits Hart and this album as his official music debut. Since Mr. Optimist Blues rose to #3 on the charts of billboard Canadian albums, Roy hasn’t looked back.

Jonathan Roy performs at the Bronson Centre in Ottawa. Photo by Rob Clairmont

Incidentally, having a famous hockey coach dad may have influenced Roy’s early desire to follow his father’s footsteps into a life of hockey, but Roy attributes his passion for music to his mother, who played piano often at home and equipped prepubescent Jonathan with his own piano, guitar and drums.

Roy’s drive to follow his inner musical pilot and realize his dreams shows no signs of slowing down. With three albums in that many years, a full calendar of European tour dates just around the corner, and more than 200 million views on streaming platforms like YouTube, Roy is well-positioned to claim his place on the international music scene. By all accounts, Roy appears humbled by his success. At one moment early in Friday’s performance, he paused to express a moment of gratitude for the opportunity to perform to the Ottawa crowd, and to encourage the audience to accept that life is short, and to hold on to what matters and not be shy about spreading love.