On March 4th, Korean-Canadian R&B artist JUNNY returned to a familiar place, The Vogue Theatre, where he grew up watching artists from all over perform. He mentioned early in the show that it had been three years since he'd been back home, and how happy he was to be back and performing at such an iconic venue in downtown Vancouver. The Vancouver stop of his tour felt less like a regular tour date and more like a full circle moment, with him coming back to his home province, British Columbia.
The evening began with Miles Lloyd and his smooth vocals and laid-back R&B grooves. His performance was an even blend of intimacy and energy, keeping everyone engaged throughout the first part of the show. Miles had a relaxed stage presence, and delivered polished music as he moved through a set of emotion-driven tracks. With his music, he built anticipation for what was to come.
The lights dimmed and the smoke began to pour out from the machines, signifying that JUNNY was ready to come out any moment. The anticipation from the crowd was obvious, with many people screaming his name. The initial reactions were deafening as he ran out onto the stage, beginning with an introduction and giving thanks to his fans who had come from various parts of Canada and the U.S. to see him perform.
JUNNY effortlessly blended alternative pop and R&B melodies together, keeping everyone's arms in the air for the entire night. He turned the historic venue into a chorus of voices and movement. "Invitation" and "Movie" struck me the most, when he performed them, he gave a heartfelt and emotion-driven performance of dancing and singing, not only moving himself but the microphone stand as well.
Fans waved lightsticks and phone flashlights the entire night, creating a heartfelt environment in the vintage theatre. The transitions between heartfelt tracks and upbeat tunes were effortless, and kept the crowd engaged throughout the entire night.
The most memorable part for me was at the beginning when he spoke about his journey on tour, and how happy he was to be back at home and performing at The Vogue for the first time. He expressed his gratitude for his fans all over the world. I always find it nice when artists genuinely love their craft, and dedicate it to the people who support them the most.
By the time the final song ended, nobody had begun to prepare for it to be over.