My first live Rolling Quartz show, 3 years ago, convinced me this was a great rock ‘n’ roll band – better yet live than on video – I was impressed with their musical chops, their cohesion as a band and their engaging stage presence. Having seen them numerous times since, it is clear they work hard to continuously polish all aspects of their live act. Old fans were clearly ecstatic over the performance, and newbies they dragged along were now new fans.
Rolling Quartz is:
- Jayoung – vocals
- Iree – guitar
- Hyunjung – guitar
- Arem – bass
- Yeongeun – drums
History
The band in its current form started in 2019, and released their first single, Blaze, in late 2020. They have now toured North America three times, with additional visits for festival events. In addition to the US and Canada, they have toured Europe three times and had their Japan debut in Tokyo earlier this year.
The Venue
This is the band’s second time at PhilaMOCA, a friendly, independent performing arts venue in central Philadelphia. When I arrive at 2:30 PM on this steamy hot day, there are already a couple of dozen fans queued up – some sitting on folding chairs, others with umbrellas to fend off the hot sun and on again-off again rain showers.
The Music
Rolling Quartz wastes no time getting the crowd going with a rousing, rocking delivery of their rock hit, RE.BOLD, followed by a hot, two-cover medley: Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes and Birds by Turnstile.
Next up is their 2025 single, My Turn, featuring more relentless, killer drumming by Yeongeun. As good as everyone else is on this number, it’s hard to ignore that drumming!
It’s now the perfect time for introductions: as Jayoung names the members, each in turn struts her musical stuff. The solos build to a crescendo and then, Blaze – this catchy rock tune sets the crowd, well, ” aBlaze”.
Not satisfied with the fire they have set, Rolling Quartz turns up the temperature further with another fan favorite, Rock ‘n’ Roll Paradise, which thrills the crowd with its varying tempos, a breakdown with a nicely executed guitar duet and syncopated, machine-gun drums.
Other set highlights for me include:
Jayoung engages the crowd, assigning them a part in the bouncy, pop-y anthem, ONE.
Bohemian Rhapsody Jayoung humbly shares that they were worried about taking on Queen’s massive classic, Bohemian Rhapsody, but that they really wanted to do it, so they worked extra hard on this cover. The hard work shows – if I dare say, Freddie would have approved, and I think the rest of the band would, too, especially Hyunjung and Iree’s perfect rendition of Brian May’s guitar solo. Jayoung really did the song justice with her rich and versatile voice. And she made it look easy – even on “Galileo, Galileo!”
Delight – though a fan favorite, this hard rock tune with sweet backup vocals, has not always been included in US sets. Excitement explodes as the dreamy intro tips off the crowd. The rapid, riffy instrumental refrain gets everyone pumping fists and shouting, “hey…hey…”.
Everyone’s solos: Iree and Hyunjung display their different personal styles as each delivers a medley of rock classics, featuring Iree’s bluesy, emotional bends and runs, and Hyunjung’s classic- to prog-rock shredding. Arem’s bass intros and solo are jangly and gritty and more complex than before. Yeongeun, too, shows you can improve on “great”. Jayoung has earned her place as a world-class vocalist, in command of her unique voice, at times lush, velvety, or tender.
Azalea – as Iree’s solo (The Messiah Will Come Again) has just opened the hearts of everyone in the room, Jayoung easily steals those hearts with this tribute to the 1990’s rock hit, which itself is based on what might be Korea’s best-known and loved poem.
Encore
Rolling Quartz returns to the stage for an encore: Romantist, with Yeongeun on piano. This 2025 single really displays the sweet and tender facet of Jayoung’s voice. It is a fitting close to the evening, a song dedicated to the Diadem(s), the official name for the Rolling Quartz global fan base.
Set List
- RE.BOLD
- Seven Nation Army/Birds (covers: White Stripes/Turnstile)
- My Turn
- Blaze
- Rock ‘n’ Roll Paradise
- ONE
- Roll the Dice
- Bohemian Rhapsody (cover: Queen)
- Delight
- Iree guitar solo
- Azalea (cover: Maya)
- Masquerade
- Fearless
- Hyunjung guitar solo
- Stand Up
- Sing Your Heart Out (cover: Crying Nut)
Encore
- Romantist
YouTube: youtube.com/@ROLLINGQUARTZofficial
Remaining tour schedule & tickets: 2026 MY TURN North America Tour: https://linktr.ee/rqmyturn (US & Canada)
Special thanks to WAV Company, Leo Presents, and the Han brothers, who take such good care of the band, and are a couple of great guys!n brothers, who take such good care of the band, and are a couple of great guys!
Rolling Quartz
Photography by Jonathan Lane
https://www.photographer-jonathan-lane.com/home
Leave a Reply