J Balvin lit up Houston’s Toyota center on Thursday night with a performance that many are calling one of the best of the year. The colomnian superstar brought his “Back To The Rayo” tour to the city with pure energy, vibrant visuals, and a sound that shook the arena from floor to ceiling.
The begging of the show kicked off with a video showing blueprints of the vehicle from the “Rayo” album cover being built. It gave off major “Back To The Future” vibes, esspeically when the car sped off the screen like it was about to time travel. Then the stage light flared to life, spotlighting the actual vehicle as it rolled foward and postioned itself on the center stage. The lights flickered and smoke poured out built suspense. The door slowly opened… and J Balvin stepped out of the vehicle, making his grand entrance, fans cheered out loud, asked the fans “Estamos listos?? Let’s Go!” as the notes of “Doblexxo” one of my favorites feating Feid started, amping up the energy! Along with “Reggaton” and “Amarillo” being the first three songs!
J Balvin kept the momentum going with his stage presence and effortless charisma. The energy was non-stop, he launched straight into a run of back-to-back hits, barely giving the crowd a moment to catch their breath. Every song had people screaming, dancing, and singing every word! It was like a giant party. At one point, Balvin finally paused and just stood there, soaking it all in. The crowd was roaring, and for a second everything felt still. That moment hit me. It made me realize… J Balvin really deserves his flowers. He’s not just a performer, he’s one of key influences that helped shap the new wave of urban Latino music. He helped open doors for so many artist coming up now.
One of the biggest standouts of the night were the dancers. From the very first song to the final bow, they brought pure fire to the stage. Every routine was sharp, filled with high-energy adding layers of visuals to each track. Their wardrobe changes, stage presence, and ability to match Balvin’s energy. Honstly, they didn’t miss a beat the entire night, and it made the whole eperince that much more unforgettable.
Proudly repping Colombia, J Balvin paid homage by blending in traditional Colombian dance music, it was a heartfelt nod to his roots. Then, as a surprise tribute, he played “Hips Don’t Lie” by Colombian legend Shakira.
There was a brief break and out of nowhere, a massive inflatable head slowly inflated in the center of the arena, along with inflatable hands what looked like a second stage. Out of the smoke, J Balvin emerged once again this time on the secondary stage. The crowd reacted to the intro of “La Canción” when it began to play. Along side with other hits like “Rojo”.
J Balvin took a pause and spoke to the crowd. He challenged us to break the record to scream at the top of our lungs, not just for hype, but to release everything weighing us down. For those battling depression, stress, or just going through it silently. He reminded us to let it all go, and to fully enjoy the night with the people we came with. It felt like a collective exhale—healing, freeing, and unforgettable. Making his way back from the second stage, J Balvin walked through the crowd to the rhythm of Cosa De Locos. He took his time, smiling, high-fiving fans, and soaking in the energy. It was a genuine moment connecting with everyone around him.
To wrap up the night, J Balvin came back out with one final surprise—dressed head-to-toe like Marty McFly from Back to the Future. The dancers joined him, now transformed into sleek, metallic robot characters, moving in sync to the pulsing beats of “Ritmo” and “In Da Getto.” The whole stage turned into a futuristic party—like a reggaetón rave from another dimension.
As the final beats hit, the iconic car from the Rayo album cover made its way back to the stage, lights flickering, smoke trailing behind it. J Balvin climbed in slowly, taking one last look at the crowd. With a big smile, he waved, shouted his thank yous, and just like that—poof—he disappeared into the smoke, like he’d just time-traveled out of his own show.
It was the perfect send-off: high energy, full of character, and unforgettable. Classic Balvin.
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