K-pop icon DJ HYO (aka Hyoyeon of Girls’ Generation) lit up Temple Nightclub in San Francisco last night with a high-energy set that kept the crowd moving into the early morning hours. But before things really took off, the night started off mellow.

Doors opened at 10 PM, and by 10:30 PM, a modest crowd of about 45 to 50 people had trickled in. The early sets by DJ Swan and Mario E helped set the vibe, Swan spun a mix of K-pop remixes, while Mario E leaned into modern pop and EDM favorites by The Weeknd, Nicki Minaj’s “Starships,” Daft Punk, and one of my personal favorites, Cascada’s “Everytime We Touch.” The LED visuals during Mario’s set were a standout, syncing with the beat and transforming the room into a pulsing, colorful light show.

If you’re someone who finds clubbing intimidating, this was honestly a pretty casual scene. A few loyal SNSD fans stood out with their light sticks, but the majority of the crowd was a laid-back mix of folks in their 20s and 30s, although I did spot an elderly couple who were rocking a healthy head of grey. Most guys were in t-shirts, party shirts, and even hoodies, while many of the women were "dressed up to the T." It wasn’t really a singles scene; most people came with a group or as couples. They were there to enjoy the show. I saw maybe a couple of guys attempt to flirt, but they backed off for the most part, respectfully, when turned down after several attempts.

As the club filled in, it got packed shoulder to shoulder by 11 PM. There wasn’t much room to dance, so most people settled for bopping in place or swaying side to side. Small dance circles naturally formed, just lock eyes, exchange a smile, sync your head bops, and boom, you’re part of a groove crew with strangers.

 Around 11:45 PM, people kept squeezing in, pushing toward the front in anticipation of the main act, and by midnight, the energy was high. Several groups of girls had already partied too hard on the borderline of passing out and were being helped out by security.

HYO finally took the stage close to 12:30 AM, bringing her signature blend of EDM and K-pop with high-energy transitions that had the entire floor lit. She wrapped her set around 1:30 AM, a short set being the headliner, and despite the slow start and a bit of mayhem along the way, she absolutely delivered.

And shoutout to the guy who complimented my leather jacket, you’ve got excellent taste.