New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani surprised the audience during Djo’s sold-out performance at Forest Hills Stadium last night. Footage of the unexpected cameo is included below.
Djo—the musical project of Stranger Things actor Joe Keery—headlined the massive Queens venue on July 17, with Australian psychedelic rock band Pond providing support.
During the performance of “Charlie’s Garden,” Mamdani unexpectedly appeared via a pre-recorded video message on the stage screens.
While the track typically features a voicemail-style cameo from Keery’s Stranger Things co-star Charlie Heaton, the mayor stepped in to congratulate the musician on his sold-out Forest Hills Stadium show.
The crowd erupted at the sight of Mamdani, making much of his message difficult to hear over the cheering. Heaton was also reportedly in attendance for the event.
Watch the footage of the moment below.
“Charlie’s Garden” is featured on Djo’s third studio album, The Crux, which launched in April 2025.
Keery has previously noted that the voicemail heard on the original studio recording was not real. The song serves as an homage to his friendship with Heaton, whom he lived next door to while filming the final season of Stranger Things in Atlanta.
Djo is scheduled to support Tame Impala on a series of North American arena dates this summer. The artist will also return to the UK next month to perform with Lorde at All Points East in London’s Victoria Park on August 22, followed by a performance with Forwards Presents in Bristol on August 28.
Earlier this year, Djo’s 2022 single “End Of Beginning” hit Number One on the UK Singles Chart following renewed interest sparked by the Stranger Things finale. The track first entered the charts in February 2024, peaking at Number Four before eventually reaching the top spot nearly two years later.
Reflecting on the song’s themes regarding his time in Chicago, Keery told NME last year: “I’m not trying to live in the past. I have new memories that I’m linking to [Chicago]. I’m not 27 anymore. That’s a part of me, maybe, but not the whole part.”
Mamdani is frequently seen supporting the New York City music scene. His inauguration last November included a performance of “Bread And Roses” by Lucy Dacus, whom he had previously joined on stage at the All Things Go festival at Forest Hills Stadium.
The mayor has also been spotted in the crowd at a PinkPantheress concert prior to the mayoral election and appeared on stage during an MJ Lenderman set at Brooklyn Steel.
Recently, Mamdani shared his list of all-time favorite rappers, citing New York legends The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, and Nas, alongside Chicago artists Lupe Fiasco and Common.
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