Brooklyn’s very own Baby’s All Right hosted Hojean’s long-awaited encore on August 27. The Long Island native brought his 2023 “Cherie Tour” setlist back to life for a packed venue of almost 300 people.
Fans know Justin Hojean Yi as Hojean, an indie R&B artist who has captured his audience with heartfelt lyrics about love and intimacy (not to forget his signature hoodie and big boots), and Wednesday night was no different.
Despite doors opening at 10pm and Hojean’s set not starting till 11:30pm, Baby’s felt alive as the crowd of mostly 20- and 30-something year olds bounced along to what can only be described as the opener Sophie The Homie’s hour-long ‘positivity session.’ Her beautiful vocals and sunshine-like personality lit up the otherwise dark room, giving an insight into her life and the experiences that shaped tracks like “Will You Leave” and “Home.”
Before long, cheering fans welcomed Hojean on stage, kicking off 1.5 hours of smooth R&B tunes and witty exchanges with the crowd.
Standout Performances
In such an intimate setting, it is no wonder everyone knew the words to almost all the songs. The 21-song setlist, including two unreleased tracks and the fan-favorite “Lock Me In” as the encore, took the audience on a journey of love and yearning. A few songs stuck out in particular, highlighting Hojean’s beautiful vocals and the band’s expertise on the guitar and drums.
Pick Up Your Phone
Since this show was pitched as an encore of Hojean’s 2023 tour, named after his five-track EP Cherie released the same year, the crowd knew to expect some fan favourite songs. The low, sultry track, punctuated by a steady drum beat and plucky guitar melody had everyone swaying on their feet. Hojean made sure to pick up a fan’s phone from the front of the crowd for a quick video, all while hitting all the high notes.
Cruel
“Cruel” continued the themes of yearning and longing for a lover, this time conveying, in Hojean’s own words, the “sadness, bitterness, and despair” felt at the loss of a relationship. The intimate staging and small crowd felt particularly attuned to this track, as if they themselves were asking “when I’m around someone new, I swear it feels so wrong, when I think how could somebody be so cruel?”
Unreleased Tracks
The show was the perfect place to debut two unreleased tracks from an upcoming project, set to release in September 2025! Fans were noticeably excited to get a preview to new music, and this presumed new EP would be Hojean’s first since Cherie.
The first track, coming up just after his most streamed song “Over 85,” was a sweet and mellow number that once again had the crowd grooving along. Hojean’s guitarist Adam Manson and drummer Caleb Matheson had the chance to show off their skills on their instruments, eliciting cheers and a round of applause from the floor.
The second unreleased track, titled “Wanna Run,” was described as being “about liberation and yearning, and yearning about liberation” by Hojean. In a sharp contrast to the first, “Wanna Run” boasted an upbeat and fun vibe that was well reflected by Hojean constantly moving left and right on the stage to interact with fans in all corners of the room.
Cherie
To close off the night, fans were treated to the namesake of Hojean’s latest EP and Tour, “Cherie.” A personal favourite, this two-minute-long track reflected the otherwise quiet and chilly night in Brooklyn where 300 people had gathered to watch one of their favourite artists perform. After two hours of partying with Hojean and Sophie The Homie, everyone seemed to enjoy the moment to sit back (metaphorically of course) and relax as they soaked in the last moments of the show. In true Hojean fashion, the crowd watched as the artist and his band did their bows and walked off stage, only to come back just minutes later to perform one final track for an encore, giving fans one last taste before truly ending the show.
Energy Levels
For a late concert on a week night, the small and intimate venue was surprisingly full of energy till the very end. The whole room screamed out lyrics to “Close To Me” and “Over 85,” pointing to each other and jumping up and down as Hojean moved across the stage. Fans handed over their phones in selfie mode to get a one-of-a-kind video of Hojean and his band on stage, while others held up signs stating “Peruvians Love Hojean” and “Hojean I Love You,” guaranteeing interactions from the very enthused artist. Though the crowd started trickling out at the fakeout ending, most people remained to hear the final encore before escaping into the night (read: taking the train, bus, or an Uber home to get a few hours of sleep before school or work).
Verdict
Hojean’s night at Baby’s All Right, announced just four weeks before it took place, will be one to remember for all who attended. Fans who were unable to attend due to timing or location (and there were many in his Instagram comments) should look forward to hearing the two unreleased tracks and more from Hojean in September!
Keep up with Hojean on Instagram, X, and YouTube. For more concert recaps, check out our review of Ateez’s NYC show here!
