Six years after his last U.S. stage, GOT7’s leader and solo artist JAY B made his long-awaited return with his first stateside solo. tour. A lively crowd welcomed him to Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles for his TAPE: RE LOAD in US tour. Originally scheduled for June 2, the L.A. concert was rescheduled to June 8 due to visa issues affecting the Korean production crew. Instead of canceling the shows, they pushed both the L.A. and Atlanta shows to later dates–honoring all existing tickets and keeping their promise to deliver a full show to fans in those cities, despite a tighter and more demanding tour schedule.
The night kicked off with a full set from soloist Tabber, fresh off his joint stage with labelmate DEAN at 88rising’s Head in The Clouds Music Festival the previous weekend. This time however, the spotlight was entirely his. Emerging from backstage, he sang out the iconic opening hook of “007,” “Double O7 / she’s a pro, no hesitation for weapons.” Fitted in a black leather jacket and classic blue jeans, the R&B crooner glided across the stage with laid-back, effortless ease. Members of the audience added their own chants in unison with the song’s rhythmic energy and beats. He continued with a performance of his latest track, “Hysteric Glamour,” before wrapping up his set with the jazzy number, “Chik-Ka,” which set the stage for the main act of the night–JAY B.
The concert’s concept came to life with an opening VCR of JAY B pulling out a tape recorder from a box, loading a fresh cassette tape, and pressing play–signaling the start of the show. His concert setlist spanned across his entire musical discography–songs from his early days as JB of the duo Jus2 and GOT7, to tracks released under his alternate persona Def., and finally as JAY B, the solo artist. In a span of two hours, he took Aghase on a reflective journey across chapters of his musical career that shaped who he is today. iGOT7 (아이 갓세븐, ai-gat-sebeun) serves as GOT7’s official fandom name, but they are often affectionately referred to as Aghase, which comes from the Korean pronunciation of the name. Aghase also means “baby bird” in Korean – a motif fully embraced by the fandom and seen in the glowing green bird-shaped lightsticks that illuminated the venue.
Rather than kicking off with an explosive opener, JAY B opted to begin with quiet confidence, choosing softer releases like “One Moment,” “Present,” and “Baby” from his latest album, Archive 1: Road Runner. Dressed in cargo pants, a simple white sleeveless shirt, and a denim jacket, he set a relaxed, grounded tone. An unconventional way to open the show, but one that fit the tour’s concept. His beautiful live vocals took center stage as he serenaded the audience. A video montage during “Present” offered intimate glimpses into his life–travel moments, a night out with friends, and even clips of his beloved cats. The song, released exclusively on physical CDs as a special gift to fans, sings of a tender apology for the long wait and a quiet vow to stay close from now on. JAY B’s mid-song smile and “Thank you for coming!” added a personal touch to an already heartfelt performance.
JAY B, joined by his dancers, smoothly shifted the concert’s tone with “B.T.W (feat. Jay Park)” and “FAME (Feat. JUNNY)”–the double title tracks from his 2021 EP SOMO:FUME. The former’s chill R&B vibes paired with smooth, controlled dance moves, provided a smooth transition from the show’s mellow opening. The vibrant funk-infused performance of “FAME” boasted warm-hued backdrops and livelier moves that marked the beginning of the higher-energy sets to come.
JAY B paused between to catch his breath and couldn’t help but comment on the heat inside the venue–especially while under the stage lights. Still, he fed off the crowd’s energy and cheers, many of whom were experiencing his solo work live for the first time. They gladly sang along and finished the lyrics whenever JAY B would hold out his microphone during “Livin’” and “Fountain of Youth” from his third EP, Be Yourself. “I’m really thankful for you guys having fun with me tonight,” he commented.
JAY B threw on a cowboy hat to keep his sweaty bangs at bay before jumping back into the upbeat feel-good vibes with“The Way We Are,” “if you,” “Chosen,” “Take it easy,” and “go UP.” JAY B grew more relaxed with each song, grooving freely across the stage. He sent the crowd into a frenzy, feigning embarrassment as he teasingly pretended to pull off his jacket. He couldn’t hide his smile as fans hyped him up during his dance breaks and sang his songs back to him. It was a bright, uplifting section of the show that stood in sharp contrast to the more mature set that followed.
Changing into a loose maroon long sleeve, black pants, and slicked-back hair, JAY B signaled a more mature shift in the set.“Make some noise!” he shouted before launching into “Crash.” Backed by his dancers, he delivered sleek, hard-hitting choreography and an impressive dance break that matched the song’s energy. The fan-favorite “Switch It Up (feat. sokodomo)” followed, placing JAY B firmly in his R&B element. As he wrapped up “C (Temperature),” he paused to acknowledge the crowd’s cheers and became shy to comments calling him sexy. Crossing his arms with a bashful grin, he joked, “I’m a little embarrassed, but I didn’t diet for nothing!”
“We’re going to move onto the next song. It’s gonna get much hotter in here,” JAY B warned with a coy grin. He eased the audience in with “AM PM (Feat. Wheein)” before two female dancers brought out chairs for a steamy performance of “Sigh,” a throwback to his Jus2 era. Bathed in bold red lighting and layered with teasing choreography, JAY B leaned fully into the performance’s sensual tension that drew ear-piercing screams from all corners of the venue. The screams intensified as his male dancers joined him onstage for “Inside” where he held nothing back: hip-thrusting and body-rolling to the floor, sending fans into a frenzy. He ended this segment with “Cloud nine,” pulling back on the suggestive choreography but letting his smooth vocals take the spotlight.
JAY B took a moment to catch his breath, hydrate, and check on everyone–“How was it? Was it really different? What do you like better? The previous vibe or right now?” He held out his microphone and everyone screamed out their personal preferences. “I think the other vibe is better now that I’m older. It fits better,” he said. Before moving on, JAY B announced that a very special guest was in the audience. With a nod to the back of the room, he gave a warm welcome to his fellow GOT7 member, Mark Tuan. Waves of screams rippled through the room as everyone turned to catch a glimpse of him when Mark, dressed in an inconspicuous hoodie and beanie, stood up and subtly greeted Aghase from the VIP section. JAY B finished the main set of the night with a beautiful vocal performance of “Holy Day” before he slipped offstage to prepare for the final stages.
JAY B, now sporting a white T-shirt, blue jeans, and sunglasses, returned shortly with all of his dancers to transform the concert into a dance party. Special remixes of “FAME (feat. JUNNY),” “Take it easy,” and “Crash” blasted through the speakers and the entire venue, from JAY B and his dancers onstage to those in the back of the floor and balcony, pulsed with energy. JAY B let loose, freestyling with ease and even teasingly lifting his shirt for a split second, riling Aghase up even further.
Loud chants transformed into nonstop screams and singing when JAY B closed out the night with back-to-back performances of some of GOT7’s greatest hits. Aghase belted the lyrics to songs such as “Page” singing, “I think I love you” wholeheartedly, while JAY B splashed them with water in return. From there, the nostalgia continued: “Thursday,” complete with flawless fan chants and playful poses from JAY B and his dancers; “Go Higher,” which turned into a mini Waterbomb festival as JAY B and his dancers drenched each other with their watter bottles; and finally, “Before the Moon Rises,” a soft, sentimental send-off to end the eventful show.
No matter which chapter fans first discovered him—as JB of Jus2 and GOT7 or JAY B the solo artist—the show served as a reintroduction to his artistry, and a celebration of his growth and evolution throughout his career. He left the stage with one last heartfelt message:
“Thank you for giving me such energy and dancing well with me today. Everyone, always be happy. Until now, this is GOT7’s JAY B,” he stated.
With the Korean members of GOT7 having completed their military service, it’s only a matter of time before fans can look forward to more from both JAY B and the group as a whole.