JANNABI’s First Kuala Lumpur Show Was a Night of Big Singalongs and Even Bigger Feelings
For a band visiting Malaysia for the first time, JANNABI already seemed to understand exactly how to win over the room.
The Korean band brought their JANNABI 1st Asia Tour: Sweat & Stardust in Kuala Lumpur to ZEPP KL on Aug. 21, marking their first-ever performance in Malaysia. From the opening gong to the final note, the night was filled with loud singalongs, warm conversations and the kind of live musicianship that made the songs feel even more alive than their recorded versions.
The concert began with Choi Jung-hoon walking onto the stage with a gong, followed by Kim Do-hyung and his signature guitar. The welcome from the crowd was immediate and loud, setting the tone for a night that would constantly move between energetic rock, soft ballads and everything in between.
JANNABI opened with “TOGETHER,” and fans were already jumping and singing along from the first song. The live band sounded especially strong, giving the track a bigger and more energetic feel in the room. “LOVE” followed, with Do-hyung delivering a guitar solo that quickly became one of the early highlights
Then came “BABY I NEED YOU,” where the crowd showed just how ready they were for this long-awaited debut. When the band suddenly stopped midway through the song, fans immediately filled the silence with a loud “JANNABI!” chant. It felt almost like the entire venue had collectively decided what should happen next.
Jung-hoon appeared completely at ease throughout the performance, casually moving around the stage, lifting his microphone toward the audience and even standing on a box while keeping the performance going. It was the kind of relaxed confidence that comes from knowing exactly how to work a live stage.
The set continued through songs including “CONFESSION SHOW,” “GOOD GOOD NIGHT,” “LEGEND,” “BAD DREAMS,” “CLAY PIGEON BOY,” “LAND OF NIGHT” and “WISH,” allowing JANNABI to move between their different musical colours. The band's ability to shift from pop-rock to harder rock and then into softer moments kept the concert feeling dynamic without ever losing its flow.
The connection between the band and Malaysian fans became a recurring theme throughout the night. Do-hyung admitted that the audience's energy was so intense that he felt like his ears were almost ripping. He also said that it was rare to feel this kind of tension at a show, praising Malaysian fans for their energy.
Jung-hoon shared an even more personal reason why the Kuala Lumpur stop meant so much to him. “Back in 2015, we had our first foreign fans, who was from Malaysia, so it was extra meaningful for us to be doing a show here.” He then asked the crowd if any of those first Malaysian fans were in the room, creating an emotional moment for longtime supporters.
The middle of the concert brought a softer change of pace with “JACK KEROUAC” before the beautiful “SHE” and “NOVEMBER RAIN” medley. “SHE” was especially sweet, with the kind of romantic warmth that could make anyone want to fall in love. Paired with “NOVEMBER RAIN,” the two songs created one of the night's most tender moments.
Before performing “NOVEMBER RAIN,” Jung-hoon explained that the song was particularly meaningful to him because he wrote it about 10 years ago in his tiny studio. Looking back at the younger version of himself who wrote it, he joked that if he had known this day would happen, he might have written a happier song.
Of course, JANNABI had to bring “FOR LOVERS WHO HESITATE” to their first Malaysian show.
The band asked fans to turn on their phone flashlights, transforming ZEPP KL into a sea of lights. The audience sang along so loudly that the members visibly looked pleased and proud. But Malaysian fans were not ready to let the song end.
After the performance, the crowd began asking for “한 번 더,” or “one more time.” JANNABI happily agreed, resulting in what Jung-hoon described as the first time they had performed “FOR LOVERS WHO HESITATE” twice in a row.
The second performance somehow became even better. Jung-hoon added extra ad-libs, and the crowd responded by singing even louder. He repeatedly said he was “very happy” and admitted that he understood the feeling of being sad when a good song comes to an end.
It was also another example of how comfortable JANNABI had become with the audience. Both Jung-hoon and Do-hyung came down closer to the fans during the show, yet even away from the main stage, they continued to deliver the same strong vocals and guitar performance.
The energy returned in full force during “WHAT'S UP,” JANNABI's own take on the 4 Non Blondes classic. The performance had the entire venue moving, with Jung-hoon even getting the crowd to squat down before bringing them back up. It was instantly familiar while still carrying JANNABI's own style, making it one of the most exciting performances of the night.
The final stretch continued with “BLUE SPRING,” “SUMMER,” “SOUND OF MUSIC” and “DREAMS, BOOKS, POWER AND WALLS,” before the band closed the set with “SEE YOUR EYES.”
After 24 songs, JANNABI's first Malaysian concert left a simple but lasting impression. This was a show built around live music, strong musicianship and a genuine connection between the band and the audience. Even for listeners who may not consider themselves longtime fans, the quality of the live band and Jung-hoon's distinctive vocals made the concert easy to enjoy.
More than anything, JANNABI's Kuala Lumpur debut felt sincere. It was a long-awaited first meeting, but by the end of the night, it felt surprisingly familiar.
And perhaps that was the best part.
Special thanks to Friedrice Entertainment for inviting us.
SETLIST: JANNABI 1st Asia Tour : Sweat & Stardust in Kuala Lumpur
- TOGETHER
- LOVE
- BABY I NEED YOU
- CONFESSION SHOW
- GOOD GOOD NIGHT
- LEGEND
- BAD DREAMS
- CLAY PIGEON BOY
- LAND OF NIGHT
- WISH
- JACK KEROUAC
- MEDLEY: SHE, NOVEMBER RAIN
- FOR LOVERS WHO HESITATE
- MAY THE TENDERNESS BE WITH YOU!
- I WILL DIE FOR YOU♥x3
- AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY
- TELL ME
- COLORFUL
- WHAT'S UP
- BLUE SPRING
- SUMMER
- SOUND OF MUSIC
- DREAMS, BOOKS, POWER AND WALLS
- SEE YOUR EYES
