JAY B Brings Beautiful Vocals and Upbeat Energy to His Final 'TAPE : RELOAD' Tour Stop in DC
- Maggz
- Jul 7
- 4 min read
“What is this for? Are they handing out free drinks?” asked a man walking by the long snaking line in the Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland on June 13. Fans with Aghabongs (GOT7’s lightstick) and photocards dangling from their bags explained that JAY B, leader of their favorite K-Pop group was performing his final show on his 'TAPE : RELOAD' tour.
The energy on the GA floor was electric as Ahgase, GOT7 fandom, waited excitedly for soundcheck to begin, hoping to hear some of their favorite songs before the show formally started. VIP ticket holders of various levels had the chance to take group photos with the artist and listen to a pre-show soundcheck where JAY B appeared in a baseball cap and casual jacket, thanking fans for coming to the show and even asking what songs they would like to hear.
Some fans had signs that they held up excitedly, others waved fans with JAY B’s face on them as they cheered for the vocalist. Dressed in a range of styles, some sported merch from the tour, while many others wore the official GOT7 lime green shade “Love Bird." An excited pair of friends, waving their lightsticks the entire show, wore sweatshirts from the recent GOT7 Nestfest concert that took place in Seoul, South Korea in January and February 2025.
South Korean singer-songwriter Tabber took the stage as the opening act, impressing the crowd with moody vocals and strong bass lines. The crowd had high energy for the artist during vibey tracks like “Baby Doll" and “Chi-Ka,” which features DEAN on the studio recording. Tabber commanded attention from the crowd pressed against the barricade in the crowded pit section of the floor and waved to fans seated in the mezzanine of the theater. A strong R&B style is present throughout most of his songs, with experimental sounds and more rock tones making appearances. A personal favorite, “Hysteric Glamour” is a mash-up of sounds and breathy vocals that leave you wanting to replay the song once it’s over. The tag in the last forty seconds of the track will have you moving, trust me.
You could feel the excitement in the room rise in between sets, fans eager to see their favorite artist perform solo for the first time. Some fans made a last run for the merch booth before rushing back to their spots to not miss a single minute of the show. Soon a smiley and cool JAY B emerged in a dark denim jacket to perform his opening set of the show, taking the stage for upbeat tracks like “Baby” and “B.T.W”. The energy in the room was palpable, the crowd oscillating between cheering loudly and singing along to their favorite lyrics.
As JAY B moved through his set list of fan favorites from his solo album and other singles, he interacted with Ahgase each step of the way. When confetti launched during “Fountain of Youth” the crowd cheered loudly as the pieces of pastel paper floated through the air. During the next break between songs JAY B laughed and commented, “This is a lot more confetti than I expected, isn’t it too much? Are you guys okay?” The fans were definitely okay, it seems like no amount of confetti would have been “too much.”
Moving into the next part of his set, he shared that he would be “changing it up for the next few songs” and the vibe moved into a slower, groovier part of the set with songs like “If You” and “Chosen” from his 2024 first full length album Archive 1: [Road Runner]. Proving that every single one of JAY B’s songs will have you bobbing your head within seconds.
After a quick costume change into a grey suit with sparkly details, JAY B and his back up dancers performed under purple tinted lights accompanied by fog machines. Fans sang loudly along to “Switch It Up” and bounced their lightsticks in time with the upbeat chorus of “Crash.” The venue was filled with screams during more sensual parts of “C (Temperature)” as fans pulled out their phones to capture the moment.
Photo Maggz
In one of his last moments thanking the crowd between songs, JAY B thanked fans for coming to his final performance of the tour. He continued to thank those who worked on the tour, traveling around the US for 6 stops over a week and a half. Ever humble and appreciative of those around him, the vocalist smiled and thanked the crowd as chants of “JAY B! JAY B!” echoed in the theater.
The encore songs showed a bubbly and quirky energy as JAY B and his dancers emerged from backstage to more confetti, dressed in fun graphic tees and sunglasses, singing some GOT7 favorites like “Thursday” and “Go Higher.” The crowd went wild with nostalgic cheers and dancing. The entire show was a nonstop party till the end, fans stopping one another on the way out to compliment outfits and nail sets, handing out beaded bracelets and keychains made for the special final show of the tour.
After the show, fans with VIP packages were able to greet JAY B and participate in a Q&A session. When asked his favorite Pokemon, he instead searched for his favorite Digimon character to share with the fans, showing the animation on his phone to the delight of a room filled with people who had supported his artistry for years. JAY B is a humble and talented artist who connects not only with his fans through his music but also on a personal level through these interactions.
With tour stops in San Francisco, LA, Houston, Atlanta, and Chicago - the singer left an impression on US fans. Closing out the US leg of TAPE : RELOAD in DC, with one final show in Toronto, Canada, JAY B brought his smooth R&B vocals, fluid dance moves, and loveable charm to fans who had excitedly waited for years to see the idol live.
JAY B
Tabber
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