Singer-songwriter JAY B made his return to Chicago at the Copernicus Center for his “tape: roots” tour. As both a soloist and a member of iconic third generation K-Pop group GOT7, he’s been crafting a discography through multiple personas and projects since 2012. Along with writing and composing his own music, he’s also made a name for himself as a vocal powerhouse. It’s not uncommon for his name to be brought up in debates about who the best voices in the genre are, and his live shows are fairly strong supporting evidence for that claim.
The setlist for “tape: roots” was a jam-packed journey through his solo career (both as JAY B and his alter ego, Def.), and of course the reminder that his group and their music is always close to his heart. His music usually stays within the R&B genre, typically mixed with some soul and indie elements, but he kicked off the evening with some funkier and more upbeat tracks like “go UP” and “The Way We Are”.
For moments that called for choreography like “Velvet Trigger”, “Layback”, and “FAME”, JAY B brought in his charming and extremely talented team of dancers. Songs like “WANT U” and “Whiskey” pulled the focus back to the soloist and allowed him to show off the smooth, versatile voice he became so well known for. As a unit their moves were precise, smooth, and everyone looked like they were having a blast together. Before signing off for the night, the singer thanked the crowd again for their support, and closed with a few GOT7 fan favorites including “PAGE” and “THURSDAY”.
The venue had a fluorescent green aura from all the bird-shaped GOT7 lightsticks, nicknamed “ahgabongs” (and a couple of NCT’s “neobongs”, which JAY B jokingly called out several times). His fanbase is fiercely loyal, and JAY B’s role as his group’s leader is one he takes very seriously; he was full of gratitude for the support he’s been given over the years and expressed it repeatedly during the night. Knowing that he led the charge to keep GOT7 in control of their name and the rights to their music made it all the more heartwarming.
JAY B’s skills are top-notch, he has a rich and vibrant solo discography, and the environment he creates at his live shows is exciting and carefree (aside from the rude fans who repeatedly yelled at him while he was trying to talk). It was refreshing to see an artist from a bygone era of K-Pop still drawing lively crowds and performing at such a high caliber. His charismatic group of dancers took some of the weight off of him, but he still spent almost two hours straight singing and dancing to the fullest extent. All without being out of breath or off-key, mind you. It was the kind of live show that raises the bar for other artists in the genre, and it didn’t take anything but JAY B’s talent and charm. Smaller venues, simple production, and a sharp crew was all he needed to put on a memorable and lively concert.
Listen to JAY B’s newest album TR.EE here!
