JAY B brought his 2026 tape: roots tour to Los Angeles on Sunday, September 13, to kick off the North American leg at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre. Fresh off the release of his third mini album TR.EE in June, the GOT7 leader and singer-songwriter returned to the city for an intimate showcase of his evolving solo artistry, including recent releases, unreleased tracks, and fan-favorite songs spanning his entire career.
The night opened with a playful video featuring JAY B as the face of a fictional perfume, “SMELLS LIKE JAY B,” with the tagline, “Smells like JAY B, moves like JAY B, dances like JAY B, loves like JAY B.” The perfume ads would be the running joke, providing comedic relief between the different segments.
JAY B entered the stage in a simple cropped polo tee and jeans with a fashion-statement belt and immediately launched into “go UP.” The funky, groovy choreography and bright energy of the song were a refreshing way to start the night. The song seamlessly transitioned into the upbeat “The Way We Are,” keeping the momentum going. The crowd happily joined in by chanting “ayy ayy” to hype JAY B up during the instrumental outro. JAY B quickly followed with “FAME,” bringing colorful retro vibes to round out the first light-hearted section of the night. When the song ended, the crowd erupted in barks, a common way that K-Pop fans show their affection for their artists. JAY B playfully barked back.
JAY B greeted Ahgases, the shortened name of GOT7’s fan club “I GOT7,” and hilariously introduced himself as “GOT7 from JAY B” before quickly correcting his mistake. Marking his first L.A. return in a year since TAPE: RELOAD, the show was a meaningful reunion with fans who had been waiting to welcome him back. He shared how fun it was to do the “ayy ayy” chant with fans and encouraged everyone to keep up the energy before diving into more performances.
The energy immediately picked back up with “B.T.W,” which prompted some of the loudest fan chants. Ahgases perfectly sang their lines when JAY B pointed his mic to the audience. Next was the dreamy, unreleased R&B track “Sweetie,” which slowed things down. The song ended beautifully, with the music cutting out as he sang the line, “I can’t help but sing for you,” leaving his flawless vocals lingering in the air for a moment.
Taking a moment to catch his breath, he joked that it has been getting harder to sing and dance because he was getting old. Fans laughed with him but reassured him that he was not old yet. He encouraged fans to have fun with the next few stages.
The mood shifted with “Time,” one of the tracks from TR.EE, bringing a moodier hip-hop sound to the set. This stage then flowed into “We,” where JAY B softened his delivery, singing sweetly and tenderly to the audience. He then brought out a mic stand for “Dive into you,” turning the performance into a showcase for his powerful yet emotional vocals.
The sentimental moment was followed by another VCR that leaned right back into the show’s ongoing “Smells Like JAY B” theme. This time, the perfume commercial was a flashy parody, with JAY B taking on the role of a sleazy “Dr. JayB” endorsing the product. Even JAY B himself could barely commit to the cheesiness of the concept, eventually breaking character at the end and laughing at his own performance.
Following the comedic relief, JAY B’s signature sexy style took center stage with “Hold onto My Back.” He delivered sensual choreography, including some suggestive belt-grab motions, along with his impressive falsettos. He continued with “Layback,” the title track from TR.EE, bringing a more upbeat but equally sensual energy. JAY B danced across the stage with smooth yet provocative moves, earning plenty of screams from the audience.
Because it was such an intimate venue, JAY B and Ahgases could easily engage in back-and-forth banter. During the following ment, JAY B wiped away his sweat and jokingly checked whether everyone was still having fun. He also poked fun at the Los Angeles crowd for taking his ridiculous perfume video so seriously instead of laughing at the jokes. He particularly noticed the male fans in the audience and asked if they were ready for the next song, imitating their deep voices to usher in “Overflow.” JAY B attempted to sing the opening notes in his deepest voice before laughing at himself and resuming the song’s original register. For “Count on Me,” JAY B kept things intimate, at one point wiping himself down with a towel before throwing it into the crowd. He also squatted near the edge of the stage to sing directly to a fan, once again demonstrating how his show was meant to be a shared experience with his fans.
Another VCR continued the “Smells Like JAY B” storyline, this time presenting an interview-style segment about the perfume. JAY B talked about wanting to be genuine, comparing himself to a scent that lingers. In contrast to the earlier comedic VCRs, this felt more meaningful as it expressed his intention of wanting to show his authentic self, to leave his own lasting impression.
The stage reset for “Hush” with a mic stand positioned at center stage. Against a backdrop of clouds, JAY B returned in all-white, the entire scene taking on an almost heavenly quality with the lighthearted and cheery song. He revisited his roots with “Rainy,” a song released under his former stage name, JB, the version of him that many longtime fans were first introduced to. Noting that neither song had made the setlist on his last tour, JAY B shared that he wanted to highlight his live vocals rather than dance and performance this time, leading to him choosing those two songs in particular. He also surveyed how many people in the audience had attended his previous Los Angeles show and how many were seeing him for the first time.
JAY B teased that he had a spoiler, prompting Ahgases to immediately speculate about GOT7. JAY B quickly and humorously denied it by emphasizing how busy all the members were, especially with two still serving in the military. Fans also shouted out requests for additional unit activities, including JJ Project and Jus2, as well as for an acting project. As he kept debating how much to reveal, fans impatiently demanded that he “Just say it!” Finally, JAY B put an end to the speculation by revealing that something new would be coming on September 21, though not under the JAY B name. JAY B has also built a distinct solo identity under the name Def., the moniker he uses for his more introspective R&B and self-produced music, allowing him to explore a softer, more personal side of his artistry outside of GOT7 and JAY B.
He also teased another release featuring “Sweetie” toward the end of October and even recalled how cool he thought he looked in the music video. With multiple releases coming soon, Ahgases cheered excitedly at the announcements and even requested more locations for the next tour.
The set resumed with “Whiskey,” where JAY B commanded the stage in a calm, cool, and collected manner as he lazily moved around and leaned on the wall as he sang. For “One Call Away,” JAY B returned to his performance mode with some chair choreography. The song ended with him kneeling on the floor, resting his head against the chair for a particularly dramatic finish.
Once again, the audience responded with barking, and JAY B couldn’t help but laugh. Despite all the fun, JAY B sadly confirmed that the show was almost over. The crowd immediately responded with disappointed groans, not wanting the night to end. JAY B pretended to cry as well, but comforted everyone with the news that he would try to come back.
But before the night could really end, he had one more surprise. He had another unreleased song to share with fans called “Head to Toe.” He explained that the track would be released separately from “Sweetie,” giving fans yet another release to anticipate. He asked the audience if they were ready before admitting that he was not. Instead, he used this moment to cheekily take off his jacket first in preparation for “Velvet Trigger.” The song helped build the tension and energy for perhaps the most anticipated song, “Switch It Up.” His 2021 debut solo song had fans singing along and even filling in for the sokodomo’s featured rap verses. The unreleased track “Head to Toe” then brought a harder-hitting R&B sound with EDM-inspired elements, providing an explosive close to the main set before JAY B finally exited the stage.
The encore began with a heartfelt VCR video message from JAY B to Ahgases as he reflected on GOT7’s 14-year journey and the many different sides he has shown fans throughout the years. He thanked them for their continued support and encouraged them to hold onto the happy memories they had made together. The entire crowd was visibly touched by his sentimental message and quickly began to shout for his return.
Loud “JAY B!” chants soon filled the theater, and JAY B reappeared wearing his black tour T-shirt, sunglasses, and a Dodgers hat. An EDM-heavy instrumental version of “Switch It Up” kicked off the encore, followed by remixed versions of “go UP,” “Break It Down,” and “Fountain of Youth.” JAY B danced his way around the stage before descending into the audience, walking through the aisles and reaching out to touch fans’ hands as he made his way around the venue. Multiple towels graced with JAY B’s sweat were tossed into the audience by him and his dancers as the Wilshire Ebell Theatre effectively turned into one giant dance party.
During his final ment, JAY B admitted that he had worried about touring in the United States again, but he knew fans had been waiting for him and ultimately decided to return. He expressed that he wanted to make up for some of the memories from his previous visit and create great memories this time around.
He also noticed the many boyfriends who had apparently been dragged to the concert by their girlfriends. JAY B took the opportunity to thank them, saying that while he was incredibly grateful for the Ahgases who had supported him throughout the years, he was genuinely grateful for the boyfriends who came along and supported their partners too. He showed his soft side as he genuinely wished for fans to find love and get happily married. The couples that he pointed out jumped up and down with joy and professed their love for him in response.
The final encore of the night paid homage to his idol group days as he sang the fan-favorite GOT7 songs “Thursday” and “PAGE.” Ahgases waved their Ahgabong lightsticks proudly and loudly sang along to all the members’ parts. Finally, JAY B closed out the night with “Before The Full Moon Rises.” As an extra treat for fans, he flashed his abs a couple of times throughout the encore. The nostalgic GOT7 tracks brought the concert full circle, celebrating the roots that have remained an important part of JAY B’s identity even as his solo career continues to grow.
And in true JAY B fashion, he wasn’t quite ready to leave without one last silly moment. As the opening instrumental of “go UP” played once more, JAY B popped and locked his way off the stage, ending the night on a happy, playful note.
With tape: roots, JAY B revisited the songs and sounds that shaped his journey while also highlighting his artistic growth. From fan-favorite tracks that brought audiences back to his earlier years, to new songs that hinted where he is headed next, the night felt like a celebration of his past and a preview of his promising future. JAY B triumphantly returned to Los Angeles as a well-grounded solo artist who honors his roots while continuing to evolve, and reunited with the dedicated fans who have loved and will support him every step of the way.