South Korean phenomenon ATEEZ, short for ‘A TEEnager Z’, have unlocked a new milestone in their career -- performing and selling out a stadium show in North America. Their ongoing world tour “Towards the Light: Will to Power” stopped by the 22,000-capacity BMO stadium in Los Angeles on July 20th.
As no surprise the date sold out quickly and a second date (July 22nd) was added to accommodate all the ATINY's. If you weren't aware ATINY is the official fandom name, which combines the words ATEEZ and Destiny. It means that ATEEZ's future is inextricably linked to their fans.
ATEEZ are no strangers to Los Angeles as before their debut they trained at the dance studios Movement Lifestyle and Millenium Dance Center. This is an interesting fact since most acts train through highly regimented programs in Seoul.
Since their debut in 2018, it's been a whirlwind few years for the 8-piece group. This year especially as members Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho made history in April as the first-ever K-Pop boy group to perform at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Then on May 31st, they released their tenth EP Golden Hour: Part.1 through KQ Entertainment, RCA Records and Legacy Recordings. The album peaked at #2 on the US Billboard 200 charts. The group shows no sign of slowing down as they are now touring across North America.
Before ATEEZ hit the stage we were treated to a special performance from the Japanese boy group Be:First. This marked their first US performance for the 7 member group. It was a short but impressive set as they performed their three hit biggest songs "Mainstream," Boom Boom Back" and "Masterplan." The group are no strangers to ATINY's as ATEEZ collaborated with them for the single "Hush-Hush."
A few minutes after Be:First got off stage, lights went down and dancers hounded the stage. In the distance, Ateez appeared wearing matching white ensembles. The sounds of the rambunctious hype song "Crazy Form" filled the stadium. ATINY's roared with deafening screams, clearly the perfect song to start the night.
What makes ATEEZ stand out above the rest of the K-pop groups is their strong combination of cool dark aesthetic and musical undertones of hip-hop, pop and electronic trap mixes. Their rebellious and youthful personalities is also trickled throughout their music and dance performances. Since they are signed to the smaller company KQ Entertainment, they have a hands-on approach to the creative process marking them a strong force.
For three hours, Ateez transported us into the lore of their world. Their visuals weave lore of pirate adventures and multiple dimensions. Their strong synchronized choreography, powerful singing and rapping, and immersive storytelling made the night fly bye.
The chemistry between the group was undeniable. They are the strongest when they perform together as they have a tight bond with one another, but they also shine as individuals.
The leader of the group Hongjoong is a natural performer as he spitfires all his rapping verses with charismatic confidence, especially on anthem tracks like "Guerrilla." The other main rapper Mingi is also a natural performer with a strong commanding presence with deep low-pitch vocals. The oldest of the group Seonghwa is a well-rounded and exuberant performer with his dance and rap vocal skills. The youngest of the group Jongho powerhouse vocal range and melodic tone were a showstopper. San got the biggest cheers of the night thanks to the cheeky up-close camera shots of his skilled dance moves. Rounding out the best dancers are Yunho, Yeosang and Wooyoung who's are all gifted with eye-catching techniques and magnetic energy.
Keeping things interesting the group would split their time on stage. San, Yeosang and Wooyoung performed the euphoric hip-hop ballad "It's You," Mingi and Yunho duetted the nostalgic track "Youth," Jongho had the whole stadium in awe as sang on the spiral stairs “Everything,” and rounding it out Hongjoong and Seonghwa performed their fun hip-hop duet “MATZ” wearing fur coats and black sunglasses. Each performance featured meaningful skits, creating a theatrical atmosphere to the night
There was never a dull moment as the group performed a total of 25 songs including hit songs like “Say My Name” and the return of "HALAZIA." ATEEZ are known for their over-the-top music videos and witty lyrics which made the night extra entertaining. Towards the end of the night the stage transformed into a Western bar where they went wild with all the over-the-top songs including "WORK," “ARRIBA” and “BOUNCY (K‐HOT CHILLI PEPPERS).”
Ending the night on a high note, the group closed with the euphoric melodic song "Utopia." The whole stadium singing, dancing and screaming along.
