Photos by Bella Lee ; Written by Bella Lee
JAY B enters San Francisco for the fourth time at the second show of his “tape: roots” solo tour. Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and into the Palace Theatre, the fans welcomed him with open arms and hands full with Aghabongs.
The show opened with a rolling thunder. The theatre went dim and the LED screen lit up. The dancers took their positions and the music started playing. The first song to grace the stage was “go UP,” which was a perfect opening song to showcase JAY B’s performance talent. The next songs “The Way We Are” and “FAME” kept the funk groove going, featuring visuals of the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. His vocal stability while dancing full out was incredible. He was able to maintain performing both at the same time, making it look effortless. Both the grooves in the dance and the fun energy in the song transformed the theatre into a dance floor.
After a fantastic opening performance, JAY B greeted his fans, “I was cold before, but now I’m hot because of you.” The fans cheered their support for the artist. JAY B made sure to take a long look at the adoring crowd, taking everything in with appreciation. There was a love in his eyes for his fans. As a veteran artist of the K-Pop space for over 14 years, his fans have been with him through thick and thin. From his original debut group GOT7 to his career as a solo artist, JAY B has earned his status as a K-Pop icon.
In between sets of music, a special VCR video played to keep the audience entertained. The theme of the VCRs were centered around a very fun, very faux, perfume named after the artist. “Smells Like JAY B” was the fictitious commercial, featuring JAY B as an older “Doctor Jay,” complete with its own jingle and theme song. In the K-Pop concert scene, these VCRs are a concert-only experience, setting the live performances apart from televised and recorded performances. JAY B could not take himself seriously even in the recorded commercial, breaking character and laughing at himself in the tape. After one of the VCRs played, the artist did a little bit of the “Doctor Jay” voice to joke with his audience.
JAY B took a moment to address a certain type of person in the theatre. “Are there any couples here tonight?” he asked. Several couples raised their hands and Aghabongs. One of the couples had just gotten engaged earlier that day. “I’m so happy for you,” JAY B smiled. A couple of fans from the audience shouted that they would marry him if they had the chance. “Seriously?” JAY B looked out to the crowd. “That’s…too much. I hope that all Aghases (GOT7’s fan name) meet their partner and find their true love.” After dedicating the next song to the couples in the room, he started “Dive into you.” This song showcased JAY B’s incredible vocal talent. The 14 years of experience, dedication, and training, all lead to this performance. Every audience member could feel the emotion pouring out from his voice, and the crowd was entranced by him.
The only way to describe the night is with the word “comfortable.” JAY B held the crowd’s attention effortlessly with both his performances and his casual banter between him and his fans. Even in silence, he made the audience feel comfortable with his iconic smile. That smile could break hearts and console them in the same breath. In between the performances and the VCRs, JAY B would run off the stage, bringing laughter to the crowd. After the long years of being an artist, JAY B has the confidence to do anything. His vocal ability is incomparable, and his voice tone is iconic. The audience will have his voice in their ears for the rest of the night. And JAY B proved that an artist does not need intense choreography to dance impressively. In fact, the effortlessness of his dancing was more impressive than any choreography could show.
JAY B did not end the night without a surprise. He sang and performed “Sweetie” from his upcoming release. The smooth vocals paired with a vibey dance left a foggy haze in the theatre. The crowd was entranced by it, bringing all their attention to the stage and JAY B’s intoxicating presence.
San Francisco was a special place for this tour. JAY B expressed awe as he reflected on how long he had been touring around the city, but he had never truly experienced the city. “I wrote this in my journal: I’ve been here so many times but it’s the first time I’ve been so close (the bridge). And I made a big decision that I want to see the cities during my tours. Why didn’t I get the chance to explore the area just like this?” With a small smile, he added, “Thanks JYP.” That statement got the audience to respond loudly, expressing support for him. Over the noise of the crowd JAY B said, “Just kidding!” But the crowd understood him.
As the night drew to a close, the fans begged for more. JAY B promised that he would come back soon, but his schedule is packed with music to come. One of those promises was fulfilled, as he sang “Head to Toe,” another unreleased song. Following that was “Velvet Trigger” and “Switch It Up.” He still danced into the end of the night, bringing energy to every soul in the audience. During the encore, decked in a tour t-shirt and sunglasses, JAY B walked through the crowd. He took time to interact with every fan in the room, whether they were close to the aisles or not. His dancers stayed on stage and kept the energy up, jumping and bouncing with the crowd. At a final farewell, he ran off the stage to officially end the night.
JAY B’s “tape: roots” tour is still on! Be sure to not miss this artist’s show in a city near you. There is nothing like hearing his voice on full display and live in your ears. JAY B is a talent unlike any other, and it is a gift to see him perform.
