Yaeji playfully smashes expectations “With a Hammer” at Fox Theater

After 3 years of delays and postponement, Yaeji finally took the stage at Fox Theater in Oakland to a full venue. The building excitement from the years of waiting filled the room with a feverous buzz. Everyone was more than excited to see Yaeji’s first demonstration of her most recent album With a Hammer.

Jessy Lanza kicked off the show with a playful set, warming up the crowd for the main act. The performer and her band played for 45 minutes, blessing the crowd with soft vocals, smooth synth, and heavy drums. Entrancing video visuals backed the artists on stage. When the act started, the room was barely half full; when they were done the room was packed and hungry for more. An initially modest crowd turned to an incandescent gathering of excited fans.

When Yaeji finally entered the stage, a bright pink sun rose behind her. Wasting no time, she leapt into exhilarating dance, bouncing around the stage. Fog streamed out from the stage, covering the already steamy crowd in another layer of haze. Wearing glasses and sporting pink hair, Yaeji presented the venue with her face-paced music and flashy visuals; there was no shortage of flashing lights and colorful patterns shown on the backdrop of the stage. She was then joined on stage by two dancers. Together, the three eagerly danced around until leaving the stage after only four songs. The puzzled crowd was then surprised by the backdrop suddenly lighting up to display a closeup of Yaeji singing softly. Yaeji then returned to the stage.

The crowd was ecstatic as she initiated the next act of the show with “Fever.” Yaeji had her playful yet cool personality on full display as she showed off impressive choreography. At times, all that could be seen of Yaeji and her dancers were their silhouettes. The crowd was loving every second of it. The show was broken up by a mix of slow and fast songs to keep the energy going without tiring everyone out. The room shook from the booming speakers and people energetically dancing along with the performers.

Following the end of the second section of the show, a similar video lit up the screen. Once the video concluded, Yaeji ran onto the stage with her iconic hammer to smash the screen, leading directly into fan favorite song “Raingurl.” The crowd went crazy. She pranced around the stage with the hammer, emphasizing the weight in its incorporation into her dance choreography. An electrified fan yelled from the crowd “Yaeji got a hammer!” This thrilling sentiment reverberated around the room by deafening cheers. The finale of act three was the slower “Done (Let’s Get It)” to cool down the show; the crowd did not calm down.

Meeting the demands of the crowd, Yaeji triumphantly returned to the stage. The smooth songs of the encore brought the crowd down from the hyperactive speed of the preceding show. Rather than the excitement dissipating all at once, Yaeji gradually brought the energy down. In the final moments of the show, Yaeji took a moment to thank the crowd. She proclaimed her feelings of immense catharsis and appreciation for being able to perform her songs and dances in what was her biggest show yet. Her backup dancers, Madison Wada and Iliana Penichet-Ramírez also expressed excitement and gratitude to their families who were Oakland locals in the crowd. Lastly, Yaeji once again thanked the crowd and let Oakland know that she would definitely be coming back. Fans applauded and cheered as Yaeji left the stage for the final time, blowing kisses and waving to the satisfied audience.