VOILÀ Casts a Spell Over Phoenix with The Magic Word Tour, 10/29/25

An evening of suspense, spectacle, and pure showmanship, VOILÀ’s stop at Valley Bar in Phoenix was nothing short of magical. The entire tour sold out the first week of sales, in fact, this basement venue was the fastest stop to sell out on The Magic Word Tour  and the anticipation in the room was palpable. Fans arrived dressed to match the show’s official themes: velvet capes, glittering makeup, magician’s hats, and sparkly rabbit ears. It was clear before the first note that Phoenix was ready to play along.

Prelude: Unlocking the Magic

Before VOILÀ even appeared, the show had already begun. The lights dimmed, and an electronic woman’s voice filled the room — the magician’s assistant who would guide the night’s journey. She issued a series of “challenges” to the audience, teasing them with snippets of classic and alternative rock anthems like "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Livin’ on a Prayer, encouraging the crowd to sing louder and louder until they had “earned access” to the performance. The pre-show blended these hits with choruses from VOILÀ’s own songs, turning the warm-up into a communal call to arms and the magic word was energy.

Act One: Happy Never After

With a suspenseful repeating “dee dum dum dum, dee dum dum dum—ooh ooh,” the lights flashed, and the duo of Gus (vocals) and Luke (guitar) burst onto the stage to launch into "Drinking with Cupid." The room erupted instantly, the crowd singing as loudly as Gus himself, whose vocals were astonishingly true to the studio recordings, full of clarity, charisma, and control.

The first act was loosely built around songs from Happy Never After, including the undeniable crowd-pleaser "Drop Dead Gorgeous," which had everyone jumping in sync to Gus’s chant of “Jump! Jump! Jump!” leading up to the final chorus. Between songs, the band paused to soak it all in. “We weren’t sure if anyone would even come to these shows,” Gus admitted, laughing. “But I guess you guys did—so thank you.”

They promised a setlist that spanned their entire career so every fan could hear their favorite track. That promise carried throughout the night. Act One included "Pull the Plug and Cursive" — which featured Luke spraying a dramatic fountain of water into the air — as well as a stunningly emotional Therapy to close the act. Gus’s voice trembled with soul as he repeated, “When you were never fed love on a silver spoon / You learn to lick it off knives, you do, you do.” The crowd roared in response.

Act Two: The Cure for Breathing

The electronic narrator returned: “Are you ready for the next trick?” And so began Act Two: The Cure For Breathing. They opened with "Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You," ending with Luke theatrically licking his guitar to cheers and laughter.

After the first two songs, the narrator called for “intermission.” Gus and Luke took the opportunity to interact with the crowd, asking everyone to light up the room with their phone flashlights. But to their surprise, fans had already organized a secret project — dozens of handmade, light-up magic wands illuminated the venue, each labeled with a VOILÀ song title. The sight was breathtaking, and the band began their emotional rendition of "Long Story Short," turning the moment into one of connection.

Luke jokingly announced, “I’m bad at math, so I play dress-up for a living, but I think we’re on our second-to-last album now?” Before he could continue, the electronic voice cut him off: “Incorrect! It’s time for you to choose.” Out came a black magician’s hat filled with thirteen song titles. The band invited a fan — chosen for singing her heart out all night — to the stage to draw one. She pulled "At Second Thought," and though a few fans groaned that it wasn’t "Ballerina," the room quickly erupted into cheers. The crowd scream-sang every lyric.

Act Three: Glass Half Empty

The narrator’s voice returned over suspenseful music: “Well, well, well… it seems you’ve unlocked Act Three: Glass Half Empty.” The crowd roared as VOILÀ launched into "Voodoo" and "Dead to Me," before a phone rang over the speakers with the familiar chime of the VOILÀ hotline. That cue led into "It’s Got A Ring To It," cleverly echoing the intro to "Heartbreak Hotline" from their discography.

Act Four: The Last Laugh

As the evening reached its final stretch, the narrator’s voice returned once more: “This is your last time to dance, your last time to cry, and your last time to fall in love.” The crowd cheered wildly as Act Four began, showcasing songs from their most recent album, The Last Laugh.

Branson from NOT A TOY, one of the night’s openers, joined VOILÀ on stage for afterh(ours), the collaboration energizing the room even further. After Branson exited, the duo closed the set with Train of Thoughts and disappeared briefly backstage.

Of course, Phoenix wasn’t ready to let the night end. A chorus of “Encore!” chants from “magicians,”  the affectionate nickname for VOILÀ’s fans, filled the room until Gus and Luke returned. They ended the night with a three-song encore: "Something Blue," "Glass Half Empty," and "Figure You Out." At one point, Gus leapt into the crowd to sing among the fans, further embracing the connection built throughout the night.

The Magic Word

The production value and attention to detail were immaculate — voice overs, acts and costume changes to props like antique candelabras-turned-mic-stands, bunny ear headbands gifted to fans, and the vintage rotary phone serving as a prop and a callback. The show felt less like a concert and more like an immersive experience: proof that VOILÀ are more than a duo; they’re storytellers, illusionists, and incredible entertainers. With a performance this sharp and a fanbase this devoted, it’s only a matter of time before VOILÀ graduates to much larger venues.

If you missed your chance to snag tickets for this sold-out tour, don’t worry, their latest single, TIC TAC TOE, from the upcoming The Last Laugh (Part II), offers a glimpse into what’s next for this electrifying act.

And with that, one final question remains:
Do you know the magic word?