A Trip Down Memory Lane With JAY B on his [TAPE: RELOAD] Tour

As the saying goes, “save the best for last” without a doubt, and JAY B did just that, closing out his [TAPE: RELOAD] tour in none other than Washington, D.C. It’s been five years since JAY B last set foot in the States, and an even longer seven years since his last appearance in Washington, D.C. Back then, he was touring alongside the members of GOT7, making this solo return all the more special.

Oddly enough for us DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) natives, the show wasn’t held in Washington, D.C., but just across the state line in Hanover, Maryland—a surprising choice, considering how rare it is for K-Pop acts to come this far out. Still, no complaints here. If anything, hopefully it encourages more groups to make their way to this side of the DMV.

Joining JAY B on this tour is rapper and singer Tabber, who you may know from his track “007 (feat. SYD)” or his appearance on Show Me The Money 10. Tabber is no stranger to performing stateside, as he just finished out a tour this past May and took the Head In The Clouds stage in June. His performance featured some of his stand out tracks such as “Being,” “Baby Doll,” and “Honey!,” and his latest release “Hysteric Glamour.” This is my second time seeing Tabber and I can confirm he is a performer you need to see.

What makes this duo truly exciting is how seamlessly Tabber complements JAY B’s sound and creates a bridge into his set. JAY B, who has done a spectacular job of presenting himself as a soloist while honoring his role with GOT7, has found a balance between his past and his present to deliver a standout performance–a performance that felt like watching a tape of your memories, a setlist that seemed to take you back in time. There was a moment when I looked into the crowd and thought, “Wow… I’m back in 2019 at my second GOT7 show,” as if I was dropped right back to that day. The audience felt the same too, maybe not that exact memory, but the feeling of welcomed nostalgia, where you could see fans genuinely admiring the moment and being completely present.

But like memories, nothing is linear, and the setlist took us on a roller coaster of both emotions and vibes. We jumped around to his exciting songs such as “B.T.W” and “go UP,” watched in complete awe during “Switch It Up (feat. sokodomo),” and sang along to “Holyday.” I would be doing a complete disservice to not mention him performing “PAGE,” and “Before the Full Moon Rises.”

Had the night been a tape, the director’s cut would feature snapshots of JAY B jumping around the stage, with confetti dancing from the ceiling, and the green glares of the Ahgabongs in the audience. It's a bittersweet feeling to know that a show is coming to a close, but it's endearing to know that you had the experience.

Many congratulations to JAY B on finishing his first solo U.S. tour and even more thanks for letting us be in attendance. Until next time!