LIVE: Jocelyn & Chris Sell Out The 443

By Mike Kohli Last updated Feb 15, 2022

Editor’s Note: This article was revised to correct some inaccuracies.

Volume… Loud.

Hair… Long.

Apologies… None.

The above is from sister-brother blues-rock duo Jocelyn and Chris’s bio. That short and sweet description is perfectly befitting of this outfit. Though on Friday night at the sold-out 443 Social Club and Lounge in Syracuse, they toned it down a bit for this listening room setting.

Jocelyn & Chris were accompanied by David Bourgeois on percussion and Dan Zavadil on bass. Jocelyn could barely contain her excitement at finally being back on stage, often bouncing around in her seat on the couch while discussing the duo’s new music and what they’ve been working on during the pandemic.

If you want to hear a powerful voice, look no further than Jocelyn Arndt. Her rich, soulful voice leaves you no choice but to focus on her. She doesn’t just sing with her voice. She channels it from deep inside, using her entire body to project her power throughout the room. She emotes with her arms, her legs, her head, her hair, her entire body is her voice. It’s truly a thing to behold in a live setting.

Her brother Chris is no slouch either. His adept guitar playing helps propel the songs and the chemistry between the siblings is obvious. He’s got a bluesy feel that perfectly complements his sister’s voice. There’s an innate connection between siblings, and when it works, as in the case of Jocelyn and Chris, it’s gold. Every song these two have written was created in tandem.

This reviewer originally encountered the Arndts at the 2015 edition of the Utica Music and Arts Festival. At that point, the duo was still finding its voice, but it was obvious that they would become bigger than a mere mid-afternoon festival act.

Since then, they have performed at Mountain Jam, on NBC’s Today show and have toured the country several times over. They have also recently toured with Foreigner, Grand Funk Railroad and Ithaca’s X Ambassadors.

Their latest single, “Sugar and Spice,” released in July 2021, is the lead single from the duo’s forthcoming album and spent 14 weeks on the Billboard AAA chart. Check it out below.

Jocelyn and Chris have a new album set for release in May with extensive touring, including more dates in Central New York, to follow. The lead single, “Run Away” will be released in April and was performed during this night’s performance.

The Arndt siblings are originally from Fort Plain in the Mohawk Valley Region, and still return to Upstate New York to perform. It is highly recommended that you catch one of their shows when they come around. They may not be ours alone for very long once this new album is released. You’ll leave a Jocelyn and Chris show feeling uplifted and excited about the next generation of rock and rollers.

Setlist:

Outta My Head

Make a Move

Jagged

Skeleton Key

Weatherman

Black & Blue

Popcorn

Run Away

The Western

Who Will Save Your Soul*

Problematic