With the “ACT: LOVESICK” Tour, TOMORROW X TOGETHER Are Ready to Level Up
The post With the “ACT: LOVESICK” Tour, TOMORROW X TOGETHER Are Ready to Level Up appeared first on Consequence.
“We tried In & Out Burger!” says Hueningkai, the youngest member of TOMORROW X TOGETHER. Seated next to his bandmates in a suite in downtown Los Angeles, he’s recounting some of his favorite memories from their time in California in late July. “And Panda Express,” he and Yeonjun add in sync. The American experience is in full swing.
Assembled comfortably like this the day after a sold-out show at the Microsoft Theater — the last in a string of entirely sold-out stateside dates — there’s a bit of an air of relief among the band, relaxed in each other’s company. But, more than that, the members of the K-pop quintet seem grateful. “In the beginning, we had doubts about whether we could really do this,” Taehyun shares. “But it ended really well.”
Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun and Hueningkai make up TOMORROW X TOGETHER, whose name is often shortened to TXT. The group was formed by BIGHIT MUSIC under the umbrella of HYBE, who debuted the group in the spring of 2019 with the irresistibly joyful “CROWN,” one of the many, many songs featured in a set that stretched over three hours. Over the past few years, TXT have attracted a global fan base thanks to their vibrant sound and even brighter personalities, leading with a welcoming energy that people — young people and members of gen-Z in particular — can’t help but gravitate towards.
Even the more technicolor tracks in their repertoire often include heavier themes. “It feels like everyone’s happy but me/ In moments like those, when tears fill your eyes/ Hold my hand tight, should we run away?” they sing on “9 and Three Quarters (Run Away).” “Can’t you see me?/ My friends don’t understand me anymore,” they cry on the sweeping “Can’t You See Me,” which received a rock-infused revamp for this tour.
The group, which was named Consequence’s December 2021 Artist of the Month, was still relatively new to the scene and building momentum when the pandemic began. Rather than letting the time of stagnancy deter them, they dove into their music, spending their time rolling out a set of albums collectively referred to as The Chaos Chapter and expanding their skill sets as songwriters, producers, and performers. In 2022, they’ve continued trying new things, digging into darker aesthetics with minisode 2: Thursday’s Child. This tour, “ACT: LOVESICK,” is their first world tour.
From how polished the show was, though, the idea of this being their first global trek is almost hard to believe. From a number of costume changes to endless choreography, riff-offs between songs (those mics were on), playful teasing, and heartfelt comments to fans, known as MOA, “ACT: LOVESICK” was proof that TXT is ready for the next level. “American MOAs have so much energy,” says Yeonjun, eyes wide. Beside him, Soobin nods in serious, enthusiastic confirmation. “We got so much good energy from them.”
For almost all the American MOAs in the crowd at “ACT: LOVESICK,” it was the first chance to see TXT live, save for the lucky few who may have a caught one of their shows on their debut showcase trek back in 2019. It’s a testament to the discography they’ve assembled in just a few short years that a concert with such a run time could leave any tracks on the cutting room floor — only a handful of crowds got a taste of fan-favorite track “Cat & Dog” — but the set list was designed to allow each member time to shine.
Yeonjun took the stage solo for two new dance break transitions. Soobin led the improvisational dance charge on the exuberant “MOA Diary (Dubaddu Wari Wari),” while Taehyun’s vocal prowess was front and center on the more recent “Opening Sequence.” There was a portion towards the middle of the concert that might as well be dubbed Beomgyu’s Variety Show, in which he took turns instructing each member to take a stab a capella at one of the portions of the song “Lonely Boy.” Hueningkai led the crowd in multiple waves of MOA lightsticks. “I’m Huening Coach,” he quipped.
Over the course of the two dates in Los Angeles, the members of TXT welcomed some special guests: Salem Ilese, who joined forces with Taehyun and Yeonjun for the bouncy, TikTok-ready “PS5,” and iann dior (of viral “Mood” fame), who recently linked up with the group for “Valley of Lies.”
Having concluded the lengthy American leg of the tour, they’re not quite ready to relax yet; there’s still another big adventure waiting for them before they leave the US, after which they’ll be continuing “ACT: LOVESICK” in Asia in September. They’ll also be appearing at Lollapalooza on Saturday, July 30th. The appearance will mark their American festival debut. “We will have a live band,” Hueningkai reveals of the upcoming set. He glances around the room. “I wish I could tell you more.” When reached later by email, Beomgyu adds, “We included a lot of fan favorites, so you can definitely look forward to it.”
Now that they’ve successfully made it through an American tour and will soon have a stateside festival appearance under their belt, what’s their next big dream? “Perform on a bigger stage,” answers Hueningkai. (The Los Angeles venue was the largest of the tour at 7,100 seats, and the entirety of the run sold out in minutes.) “We have lots of places left to go, and we want to show you guys everything,” he promises. As they prepared to leave the stage in Los Angeles, they assured the crowd multiple times that they would be back soon, urging them not to be too sad.
“Throughout the tour, we got better as artists and learned to perfect our stage manners,” Yeonjun observes. “I can’t have asked for better bandmates anywhere. I’m so thankful for them,” says Beomgyu.
With such packed schedules — dance rehearsals, vocal work, preparing for whatever’s coming next — how do they recharge? When asked the question, they make eye contact with each other. “Our fan cheers — and these guys,” says Taehyun without hesitation. “That’s so sweet,” replies Hueningkai happily.
With the “ACT: LOVESICK” Tour, TOMORROW X TOGETHER Are Ready to Level Up
Mary Siroky
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