John K @ School Night LA [Review]
The Monday after Thanksgiving might be the toughest time slot in America. We’re all full of turkey and rocking our fat pants and thinking maybe, just maybe a marathon of trashy Hallmark movies is the right call.
Well, all that Netflix and Chill energy was thrown out the window for John K it seems. A big LA crowd happily made the trek to Hollywood for the oh-so respected “School Night” showcase at Bardot and stayed out way past acceptable bedtimes to catch Epic Record’s hottest new artist. And for the record… yeah, we’re talking the whole package in terms of hot y’all… from voice to tunes to bod to current hype levels. Just sayin’. For clarity!
You know what a Monday night crowd isn’t about? Boring shows. John K got the memo. He hit the stage with stadium energy and went straight into his feisty tune “Let me let you go.” No banter is necessary to introduce yourself when the songs can do the talking.
John K’s set was a cool 40 minutes, but he managed to play a total of NINE bangers, including a cover of “Hotline Bling” Drake himself would be giving snaps to. I mean, the odds of a tight set like that where every song is a winner? Cue the slow clap from the crowd as well and maybe a few kisses. Before slaying the vocals on the uptempo ballad “6 Months,” John instructed the crowd to hold on tight to their lovers. And let’s just say, high school dance chaperones would have been terrified. The rest of us were all… damn, it’s time to embrace cuffing season.
Not to add to the FOMO or anything, but John debuted five new songs last night…FIVE. True to form, each track was authentically John K. and serving this special combination of soulful vocals, real and meaningful lyrics, and synth-driven instrumentation that makes you want to dance and bump and move your bod.
Speaking of bumping and body talk - we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the star of the crowd - John K’s manager, recognized by his fresh new fade that included the artist’s name… buzzed into the side of his head. Dude was the hype man we’ve all dreamed of. He partied and sang along to every song like a boss. He shouted from the crowd reminding John to share his social handles. It was bro-down city and we were all there for it. Seeing unabashed love for the music was almost as infectious as John’s stage presence. With these powers combined, the LA crowd was moving, grooving, and actually demonstrating physical reactions to every song. This, in and of itself, is a testament to John K’s star power and ability to connect with people. Being cool is being yourself and that turned a chilly night in Hollywood into something warm and cozy and authentic as hell.
At the end of a long-ass Monday evening, every audience member would agree that John K is not to be overlooked. You could teleport last night’s stage into any room, anywhere and get the same reaction. He could sing those songs in front of thousands of people and the vibe would remain electric.
For the fans and soon-to-be fans that weren’t there in person last night… fear not! New tunes are debuting in the very near future and if we have anything to say about it… John K is going to be a top priority. At Epic. At award shows. In your Spotify account. Everywhere.