Contact: greg.cortez@42west.com
Web: ive-official.com
Players: Gaeul, An Yu-jin, Rei, Jang Won-young, Liz, Leeseo
Shedding their youthful image, the South Korean girl group IVE are ready to showcase their mature and confident growth with their latest tour Show What I Am. Since their debut in 2021, the six members have built their identity around the concept of “I,” delivering a message rooted in self-confidence and individuality. “GOTCHA (Baddest Eros)” was a great song to start the show as it perfectly encapsulates the group’s fierce energy. The group barely paused between the first eight songs, focusing all their energy into their dynamic choreographed dances. The group’s catalog is filled with catchy dance-pop hooks and plenty of English lyrics that are fun to sing along to. Unfortunately, it was hard to hear all the members sing at times as the playback music was often louder than some of their voices. However, together the group sounded strong. The best moments were always when they would harmonize together as their voices really complimented each other. It also uplifted the delivery of difficult high-pitched songs like “I AM” and “Holy Moly.”
The show also featured solo performances that showcased each member’s individual talents. The group sang their solo songs from their latest album Revive+, which each member helped compose. Won-young, arguably the best-known member of the group, got the segment started with her solo track called “8.”The performance highlighted Won-young’s flirty confidence and the clever wordplay had everyone singing along. Rei followed with a youthful and cute concept for her track “In Your Heart,” which showcased her bright and distinct melodic vocal tone. Liz was the only member to come out on stage without any backup dancers for her solo performance of “Unreal.” This made her performance feel more intimate, as all eyes were on her as she belted those stable high notes. Gaeul brought a romantic vibe with her hypnotic whispery performance of “Odd.” Leeseo’s fierce anthem “Super Icy” was a great song to hear live, as the fast-paced, in-your-face lyrics are a show-stealer. Yu-jin, the group’s leader, was the last member to perform with her 2000s-inspired hip-hop track “Force.” Yu-jin has an amazing stage presence; she has great rhythm and isn’t afraid to belt out to show off her powerful vocals.
The two-hour-long show was filled with a good balance of fan service and performances. The group took several small breaks to chat and get the crowd hyped. For their performance of “WOW” and “Off the Record,” the group just vibed along to the songs, waving and smiling to fans. IVE have great stage presence and are very likable. The group set ended on a fun note with “After LIKE,” the disco pop had everyone singing, “What’s after like?”
