My Navy-enlisted friend texted me one morning back in September. This usually means quickly debriefing each other about daily random inconveniences, but today was a special occasion. The text read “Bro jojis coming to Denver,” and I immediately made a decision: fly out to the Mile High City to see Joji’s “Pandemonium Tour” concert on October 17th.

Now, did I plan out my trip responsibly? Hell no. The concert was the night before the last day of school before Fall Break and I had an exam the following morning but I have priorities. Joji was my introduction to R&B and alternative hip hop, and helped me cope with the crippling romantic loneliness that I’ve been experiencing for the past 18 years (with rizz). After Ubering out of Vandy and taking a flight to the Denver International Airport, my friend picked me up and we booked it to Ball Arena. We somehow found parking immediately and took our seats for a show of a lifetime.

Before Pink Guy-emeritus took the stage, we were greeted by three unique appetizers. SavageRealm took the stage first and was the most hilarious by far. He played “Gary’s Song” – I think that’s all that needs to be said. Lil Toe was next, and my god have I never been so bewildered. He somehow convinced the audience to sing along to “Suck My Nutz,” resulting in a call-and-response with half of the audience shouting “What the f*ck do you mean” while the other half answered with “You don’t wanna suck my nuts.” A simplistic yet heart-wrenching masterpiece capable of evoking such drama and turmoil within one’s body and mind. Kenny Beats’s entire set was just him DJing to pop songs, while the crowd’s audible impatience toward newly-reformed Filthy Frank overpowered the bass-boosted booms pummeling our ears.

Lil Toe’s performance was pretty wild, but it stood no comparison to what Joji had in store. Before this man even steps foot on stage, the jumbotrons show him yanking his meat backstage before shoving a microphone stand between his legs and riding it like a Quidditch match, all without washing his hands! Yum. Other zany happenings included a Super Smash Bros match where Joji-Game-and-Watch gets slapped around by his own hype-man SavageRealm, an EDM rave where Joji shoots pool noodles out of a t-shirt launcher, and a 2-minute, 23-second long pee break recorded with a urinal-shaped timer.

Witnessing Joji live was one of the greatest experiences of my life. “SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK” is my most listened-to song on Spotify, and others such as “Glimpse of Us,” “Like You Do,” and “Die For You” are not far from that spot. Hearing these songs live made the hours of listening to radio and my liked-songs playlist worth the time spent. His performances were visually spectacular as well: colors plumed onto giant video screens, corresponding with each album cover and the mood of each song. Platforms carrying each musician rose and fell, as stage lights went haywire with neon and luminosity. As Joji prematurely left the stage before performing his two most popular songs, fans (including myself) began barking and chanting for him to come back for one last song. As the finale of “Glimpse of Us” left the melody unresolved, Ball Arena went dark and all that remained was a black screen with the word “JOJI” fixated in the center.

There are very few musicians who can bring forth the suffering and melancholy locked deep within me. I don’t tend to be direct with my emotions, which has played a huge role in my relationship with music being my epitome of emotional expression. I can’t explain it, but Joji’s straightforward lyrics induce such desolation towards the one we can never be with. Someone lost in the blue, someone who could take the world off our shoulders if it was ever too hard to move; the one who encapsulates the intimacy chained deep inside Joji’s twisted fantasy of warmth and allure. 

Despite the pandemonium that Filthy Frank’s spirit generates, Joji is a master of manipulating human emotion through song, lyric, and performance. What other madman gets stoned, masturbates, throws a rave, then cries his broken heart out? His deranged persona allows him to not only provide an interactive experience for his fans, but an unforgettable emotional rollercoaster that loops around our souls for a 4-hour-long adventure that I wish never ended.

Featured Image by Emma Chang