South Korean singer-songwriter ONEW (Lee Jin-ki) brought his world tour PERCENT (%) to the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles on January 11th. ONEW is regarded as one of the best vocalists in K-pop, as he's also the lead vocalist and leader of the K-pop group SHINee. As soon as I arrived at the venue, I was greeted by very kind fans who were passing out banners and light-up glasses to be used during the song “Animals.” It’s always nice to see the creative ways fans support their favorite artists. The show started right on time at 7:30 pm and lasted almost two hours.
ONEW opened with the soulful R&B song “PERCENT (%).” It was the perfect opening song as the tour is in support of his second studio album Percent. Keeping the theme going, throughout the night, he would ask us what percentage we were at, as he hoped to fill our happiness levels to 100 percent.
ONEW’s performance felt intimate and personable as he was on stage with only his microphone for the entire night. The show featured minimal production with no live band, dancers, or elaborate VCRs. Yes, he had some backtracks for some of the songs to create a richer sound, but his vocals were always front and center. His distinct, whispery vocal tone works well with ballads like “Starry Night” and upbeat poppier songs like “MAESTRO.” The most memorable moment of the night was when he performed “Winner” and “Epilogue” a cappella. His strong vocals blew me away. He’s effortlessly able to belt out high notes and harmonies with a lot of control and power that can be heard throughout the entire theater. It definitely helps that he has been a part of various musical and on-stage productions, including Rock of Ages and Midnight Sun.
ONEW kept fans engaged with his charismatic and likable personality throughout the whole show. Between songs, he would stop to chat about the meaning of his songs and banter with the crowd. ONEW does not speak English, so he had an interpreter translate everything he was saying onstage. The language barrier didn’t stop fans from cheering and laughing alongside every word he was saying. Towards the end of the show, ONEW had a special treat for fans and threw signed items into the crowd. Everyone in the venue was waving their hand trying to get ONEW’s attention for the chance at a prize. It was a fun and interactive moment.
Towards the end of the show, ONEW’s confidence grew as he let loose and danced along his upbeat tracks like “Beat and Drum” and “Silky.” The fan-project was a total success as the entire theatre glowed and everyone danced like an animal for the “ANIMALS.” The night ended with “Happy Birthday,” a song about finding happiness in everyday moments. A perfect song to end the night.
For more on ONEW, visit onewtour.com
