Joji was born under the name George Miller in Osaka and started his career out as a comedian on YouTube. Due to his health and lack of interest on his side he stopped his quite successful career in 2017 to pursue his music career under the name Joji. after trying to launch his music the singer received a lot of negativity regarding his sound with his fans preferring his comedy/music and refusing to acknowledge him.
Signing with 88Rising and releasing a song with the Chinese hiphop group Higher Brothers it wasn’t long until his music was a brand name. this definitely showed at the show in Amsterdam. The hall was absolutely packed when I came in and it only became busier the closer we got to the main event.
When I came in there was a guy singing melancholy rap music, I didn’t catch his name but though he wasn’t bad it wasn’t really my vibe. I decided to go find a place to sit as Afas had removed the big seated area from the bottom floor so I had to make my way up. Following the rapper there was another guy introduced, this was Lil’ Toe whos other alias is Ammo. He was funny, it wasn’t great but I was entertained with a song like Suck My Nutz and cracking dumb jokes. What I found out later is that though he’s classified as a Soundcloud rapper; his life goal is to stop drug abuse amongst young people. To be fair this guy has potential, I’d put his songs on a playlist for chill days.
After first performing as Lil Toe he then said he had to go to the bathroom and came back as his alter AMMO. So technically we were already three opening acts in. It was getting really busy up on the balcony with people just sitting and standing everywhere while loudly exclaiming “now what? we can’t sit anywhere?” right over the music, So I got up and left the balcony to go back downstairs as it annoyed me a lot.
Following this and quite a while of waiting the fourth act was out on stage, A lot of girls were fangirling hard and after a song or so I agreed; this guy was rather good. Rei Brown. a New York based Japanese artist. I’ve seen him classified as a lo-fi R&B and indie pop artist but also as a bedroom pop? I’m confused but I also get the vibe they’re going with. His songs are slow, passionate and sometimes even dirty like with his last single Do You Like That?.
He was good, I was dancing and enjoying myself during his set but by the time he finished I was ready to go home. The show started at 8 and it was already almost 9.30 by the time Joji started. What I read online is that usually it takes him about 2.45 hours from door open, which is kind of long… There was a lot of cheer before the guy started his set. A lot of people were already drunk and barely able to stand on their feet.
He started out good, quite energetic and talking a lot but in general it wasn’t enough to captivate me, I’m not saying hes bad at all but he wasn’t too special. I enjoyed it but there was so much talking and random stuff going on. he stood on a higher platform so he was easy to spot but he kept moving backwards and I couldn’t see him when he did.
- Reanimator (Instrumental, rock version)
- Sanctuary
Play Video
- Yeah Right
Play Video
- NIGHT RIDER
Play Video
- Will He
Play Video
- Daylight
Play Video
- YUKON (INTERLUDE)
Play Video
- Pretty Boy
Play Video
- worldstar money (interlude)
Play Video
- I Don’t Wanna Waste My Time
Play Video
- Attention
Play Video
- Ew
Play Video
- Die for You
Play Video
- Like You Do
Play Video
- Afterthought
Play Vi
- Can’t Get Over You
Play Vide
- Plastic Taste
Play Vide
- Gimme Love
Encore:
- Slow Dancing in the Dark(Acoustic)
- Slow Dancing in the Dark
Encore 2:
- Glimpse of Us
After an hour of his set however I had to take myself home, with my alarm going off at 5 am and as my general opinion on the show is that it took a long time to get anywhere; it wasn’t amazing but it wasn’t bad. I enjoyed myself with the random acts. Ive seen really bad reviews on the internet about the guys show but I don’t think he deserves that because he wasn’t bad at all, maybe a little mismatched??
Rating 6/10
