Joost Klein Live in NYC – Concert Review

Nobody expected the international success of Joost Klein — least of all, Joost Klein himself.

Once a teenage Dutch YouTuber, he exploded onto the global music scene after his appearance at Eurovision 2024. Joost competed in the international music competition as a tribute to his parents, both of whom he lost at a young age. Tragically, he never made it to the finals, following an incident involving a production crew member, the investigation of which later being dropped. Despite the heartbreak of being disqualified by the European Broadcasting Union, Joost may just be having the last laugh.

After months of anticipation, Joost Klein finally arrived on U.S. shores ready to perform. This colorful Frisian artist fuses genres such as hip-hop, gabber, hardcore, Euro pop and whatever else he feels like into a sound that is unmistakably Joost. Every stop on his first U.S. tour had been sold out for months, with buzz steadily building on social media platforms like TikTok. Hype was through the roof by the time he hit Irving Plaza on March 31st and April 1st. Fans started lining up at 8 a.m., and by 6:30 p.m., the line wrapped around the block. Some had driven in from other cities; others had flown in from Europe — proof of how deep Joost’s fanbase runs.

After opening acts from a live DJ and Boston rapper DJ Lucas, Joost hit the stage with his signature energy. He opened with “Europapa,” wearing the now-iconic blue suit he wore for Eurovision, followed by recent tracks “Why Not?” and “Kunst und Musik,” the latter accompanied by his signature dance moves.

Though he recently released a new album, Joost didn’t neglect his earlier material. Emotion ran high during “Papa en Mama,” a tribute to his late parents. As he sang the chorus, you could hear the grief still lingering in his voice.

But Joost kept the vibe alive, revving up the crowd with certified bangers like “Ome Robert,” “Meeuw” and “Buurman uit Berlijn” — his collaboration with German rapper MCR-T.

Meanwhile, the crowd was intense, sometimes too intense. During the first night, a few fans fainted from the crush, and a small fight briefly broke out mid-set. However, neither the venue nor Joost was to blame. Despite what some on social media claimed, the incidents were isolated. Most of the audience, while wildly energetic, knew how to hold it down. After all, unity is one of Joost’s core messages.

And then — there were the mosh pits. If you’ve seen a Joost show, you know he lives for these. He actively encourages mosh culture back in Europe, and NYC fans delivered. Circle pits broke out at Irving Plaza both nights, matching his unrelenting pace.

Between songs, Joost brought out some of his crew: Jungle Bobby, his producer Tantu Beats and his loyal cameraman, who goes by the name Lyon.

Both nights featured the same setlist, though night two had a slightly calmer energy. During that second show, Joost debuted a potentially new single, which he asked the crowd not to film. Joost fans will catch the hint: yes, it involved “Crazy Frog.”

When he launched into his song “Filthy Dog,” Joost went full throttle, throwing down the Dutch Gabber dance with wild energy and the crowd matched beat for beat. He carried that same fire through “Boom Boom” and “We’ll Meet Again,” standout tracks from his latest album, titled “Unity.”

Like night one, he closed with a ‘Boiler Room’-style set, and just like that — it was over. The entire experience felt like a fever dream. You’re left wondering what just hit you, but wanting more. Some lucky fans followed him on to Los Angeles. Sadly, I didn’t have the time nor the cash to join them, and the post-concert depression hit hard.

As of now, Joost is back in Europe playing festival dates, but as his song says — we’ll meet again