The term ‘pandemonium’ has a myriad of meanings –– referring to chaos, mayhem, and madness, while also referring to the capital of hell in other pieces of literature. Yet by Joji’s definition, it’s meant to evoke a provocative reaction from the crowd of Araneta Coliseum, one that’s mostly filled with angsty twenty-somethings (like myself), late teenagers decked out in all black, echoing Joji’s style choice of darker colors, or those dressed up as his alter-egos, Filthy Frank and Pink Guy.
Joji’s Pandemonium Tour in Manila was a huge deal –– especially as this show marks his first solo performance here in the Philippines, and one of his first in Asia as a whole. His mere presence was something that the crowd ate up in an instant, as his entry to the song “Sanctuary” already had fans screaming in anticipation with every step he took up on stage.
Photographed by Iya Forbes. Exclusive Photo for Billboard Philippines.
Surrounded by dazzling visuals from the gorgeous stage production, songs like “Yeah Right” and “Night Rider” gave the show a solid start and offered a glimpse of Joji’s camaraderie with his excellent band members: SavageRealm (DJ), Isaac “Gator” Sleator (piano), Joshua Snow (guitar), and “The Bear” (drums).
In between his set, Joji proudly proclaimed “Manila is the greatest city on Earth!” — eliciting cheers from all sections of the venue. He followed it up by stating, “Manila has a lot of pretty girls – including some pretty guys too!” to which he transitioned to his performance of “Pretty Boy.” “Attention” and “Ew” stood out as some of Joji’s best performances of the night –– but could have been executed much better if only the songs hadn’t ended abruptly. Through these tracks, it only highlighted a recurring issue throughout the show wherein tracks were not finished beyond the second chorus.
Photographed by Iya Forbes.
There’s no denying there’s weight in his songs. From the first note, everyone’s united in a whirlwind of feelings — some you didn’t even know you had. But, if you were expecting a life-changing experience: thinking that Joji’s biggest hits would change your life’s trajectory, or even fulfill your sad boy dreams, that was sadly not the case. From abrupt conclusions to one-too-many inside jokes and memes, that albeit were on brand from the online comedian turned artist, there elements that allowed him very little space to demonstrate his artistry and evolution as a musician.
Joji then took an unexpected intermission, leaving DJ group Yebi Labs (with SavageRealm at the helm) to transform Araneta into a massive rave that rocked the coliseum to its core. Paired with inflatable balls, pool noodles, and strobe lights, audiences were treated to an immersive experience that was backed by remixes of A$AP Rocky, Skrillex, Lil Uzi Vert, and of course, Joji himself.
Photographed by Iya Forbes.
Photographed by Iya Forbes.
While it was an engaging and fun bit that turned up the energy of audience members, the set felt out of place with the structure of the show and marked a jarring transition following the sentimental note that the previous set of tracks left the crowd in.
Following the set, Joji came back to pick up the pace with fan-favorite “Die For You” and a SoundCloud classic “Plastic Taste,” among other tracks performed as he neared the end of the show. He performed the crowd hit “Gimme Love,” marking the beginning of the end of the show. With the audience chanting “GLIMPSE OF US! GLIMPSE OF US!”, Joji catered to their demands and closed off the show by performing two of his biggest hits, “Slow Dancing In The Dark” and “Glimpse of Us” before concluding the show with a quick farewell.
Photographed by Iya Forbes. Exclusive Photo for Billboard Philippines.
Having experienced Joji’s Pandemonium, it wasn’t the riotous or enthralling experience that audiences have expected, nor was it a hellscape in terms of it being terrible. It was underwhelming from Joji’s end, given that he may have been feeling under the weather due to the health issues that prompted the cancellation of the rest of his tour in Asia. Nevertheless, Joji’s first time in Manila left Filipino audiences wanting so much more –– both for better and for worse.
