It was a chilly, drizzly Sunday evening when I arrived at Prudential Center for JYJ’s Newark concert on the 22nd of May. There weren’t nearly as many people as I had expected –- I guess I was picturing something similar to the lines that spanned avenues at last November’s JYJ showcase in Manhattan. Then again, it was a Sunday night, and this was Newark, of all places.

That’s not to say that the energy level was low though, because fans – ranging from hoards of young teenyboppers to older married women (and the families they dragged along with them) – were bouncing off the walls in excitement.

JYJ fans are perhaps the most organized and dedicated fans I’ve encountered. I learned that they had a meet-up at the nearby park distributing red t-shirts hours before doors opened. At the venue, girls in red from head to toe were making their rounds, handing out glowsticks, red light sticks, and white light sticks, which I was told (on multiple occasions, mind you) were to be saved for the very last song.

Once doors opened and the crowd rushed inside, the huge arena felt eerily empty at first. I overheard a guy, probably in his late teens, chuckle as he followed his friends down to their seats. “There’s like nobody here,” he scoffed (only to be hit in the arm by the girls he came with). By the time the show started, the venue was filled to about …60% capacity, 70% maybe.

After the “Be My Girl (Remix)” dance tutorial was shown on the big screen and a few instrumental versions of JYJ songs played, it was finally showtime.

The lights went out, and the chanting/screaming/squealing began.

Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu – collectively known as JYJ – rose from beneath the stage after a dramatic pause following the piano intro to “Empty.” The trio was dressed from head to toe in shiny suits: Jaejoong in red, Yoochun in blue, and Junsu in green. Each with different patterns and feathered accessories, but shiny nonetheless.

After pumping up the crowd with “Empty” and “I.D.S (I Deal Scenario),” the three stood in the center of the extended stage, soaking up the JYJ chants from the audience.

I’ll probably never know if they were disappointed with the turnout that night, but there was a clear difference in energy between the first couple songs and the rest of the concert. It wasn’t that they weren’t trying, but they had a far-off look on their faces, like something else was on their mind. Either way, I think the intensity of the chanting shook them out of their daze because the next song, “Nine,” was executed beautifully.

In that moment, as the three harmonized during that captivating ballad, I finally understood why MTV K readers chose Jaejoong as K-Pop’s Sexiest Male Idol. Sure, I always thought he was kind of handsome (in a girly sort of way), but seeing him in person made me realize just how gorgeous this guy actually is. (Fine, Sunny, you win).

As for Junsu, you can’t say anything about his looks until you’ve seen him in person. The camera does not do him justice. It’s a unique mix of adorable and masculine, and he oozes with charisma onstage. Yoochun also looks younger and much more handsome than pictures make him out to be, and his playful smile is absolutely infectious.

NEXT: Sweet, sexy, and smooth solo performances!