View Part 1 HERE !
With new friends in accompaniment, I joined the lineup once again. Staff members shifted us up and down the corridor several times before finally deciding to split us up into three lines.
Red Carpet was, hands down, the most excruciating event of the day. As if the previous two waiting sessions hadn’t been enough, Red Carpet was a prolonged two hours. Mid-shift, I had sensed the attendee behind me try to cut the line. I managed to block his attack, but ultimately suffered major carpet burn from the exposed section on my jeans.
There was no warning as to when we would be permitted inside, so we – my new acquaintances and I –took turns keeping our place in the line while we swapped for restroom runs.
Red Carpet was, hands down, the most excruciating event of the day. As if the previous two waiting sessions hadn’t been enough, Red Carpet was a prolonged two hours. Mid-shift, I had sensed the attendee behind me try to cut the line. I managed to block his attack, but ultimately suffered major carpet burn from the exposed section on my jeans.
There was no warning as to when we would be permitted inside, so we – my new acquaintances and I –took turns keeping our place in the line while we swapped for restroom runs.
The interior of Concourse Hall was quite well-ventilated – chilly even. However, this changed promptly when sandwiched between a multitude of bodies. Packed as tightly as a can of sardines, I didn’t think the crowd could compact itself any further until Wanna One was announced as the first group to appear. A sudden wave from behind pushed us forward, smothering tiny beings such as myself against other similar parties. Strands of hair were entangled, backpacks were squished, and Tap cards were knocked off. Mayhem had arisen, and the only thing I could do was protect my delicate fanboards from sustaining damage while being buried in the chaos.
Needless to say, I couldn’t even spot the tops of Wanna One’s heads. Phones and fans blocked my view, as did the presence of media crews and loftier entities. A select few opted to vacate the premises with the rookie group’s departure, though had minimal luck.
View the full album HERE !
While I tried to stand my ground without inconveniencing those before me, I was ultimately shoved further and further away from my original standing position over the course of artist introductions. Fansites, and their strategically concealed DSLRs, remained until the conclusion of the event before roughly elbowing their way out, almost smashing my fanboards in the process.
Of all the events of the day, Red Carpet is the one I would willingly sit out of if given a second chance. In addition to possessing the longest wait time, it proved to be the stuffiest and most uncomfortable crowd to participate in.
We rushed to the Day 2 Concert lineup after catching our breaths. I feared that the disorganization from the previous day would re-surface, resulting in incredulous wait times on top of meticulous bag inspections. To my utter disbelief, neither my backpack nor substantial LED fanboards caused me much delay. The staff for the second night were efficient and much friendlier than the first. I was even able to find an outlet for last-minute charging before the Pre-Show.
Dinner was a greasy, heavily-salted pretzel from one of the Staples Centre food vendors. (Cheers to a new friend for obtaining this for me as I kept watch over my dying electronics. Haha.)
The Day 2 Concert assumed a similar format to Day 1; the exception was that my P1 seats in Section 119 were tremendously closer than PR17. Little had I known that there was a cutout in the section five seats to my left. This happened to be precisely the corridor through which the artists entered and departed the stadium. A fortunate coincidence, if I do say so myself.
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The rundown was as follows, exempt from special MC and games segments:
Seat selection aside, the Day 2 Concert was undeniably the better night of the two. While performances from the first night weren’t exactly lacking, I personally found more enjoyment in participating in the second night. The set consisted of popular tracks I had either heard once before or tunes that repeatedly made it into my driving playlist.
KARD was a stellar opening act. Their confident aura and smooth delivery caused me to wonder why I hadn’t given them a chance prior to KCON. While they were indeed rookies in the K-Pop scene, their stages were powerful and engaging.
Oh My Girl and Kim Tae Woo had been added to the KCON Artist Lineup after announcement of ticket sales, though it hadn’t been confirmed which night of the concert they would be performing, if at all. As it turned out, both secured spots for two songs each on Day 2. Oh My Girl’s “Closer” was a somewhat recognizable sound to my ears, but nothing noteworthy in my opinion. On a general note, I am relatively incompetent in distinguishing between girl groups, especially if they favour cute concepts.
I’m probably not the only one to declare Heize as a total sweetheart. My knowledge regarding the singer did not extend past the fact that she had once collaborated with Dean. Listening to her perform live had me awestruck at her singsong vocals and effortless verbalization. In contrast to her strong image, her songs were mellow and easy to pick up. I also couldn’t help but share a soft spot in my heart for her at the sight of her emotion overload towards the boundless ocean of smartphone lights.
Kim Tae Woo’s collaboration stage with ASTRO was a wonderful way to ease the seasoned vocalist into the array of youngsters. The combined styles of the two was successful in creating a sound that was pleasant to all age groups. It also paved the way for two of Kim Tae Woo’s well-loved classics. I hadn’t heard of the man before KCON, but was thoroughly impressed by the way he easily communicated with the audience in attendance.
Kim Tae Woo’s collaboration stage with ASTRO was a wonderful way to ease the seasoned vocalist into the array of youngsters. The combined styles of the two was successful in creating a sound that was pleasant to all age groups. It also paved the way for two of Kim Tae Woo’s well-loved classics. I hadn’t heard of the man before KCON, but was thoroughly impressed by the way he easily communicated with the audience in attendance.
Wanna One’s appearance caught me by complete surprise, as I hadn’t expected them to appear immediately after Markson’s hilarious MC segment. The Energetic choreography was difficult to see from my seat, though Burn It Up on the back stage ensured that I had a crystal clear view of Kang Daniel’s defined abdominal muscles (both times!).
When the eleven members disappeared down the stage after performing their two title candidates, I couldn’t help but wonder why they had been limited to just two songs. These thoughts were soon dismissed though, since a beat that was all too familiar to me filled the stadium.
When the eleven members disappeared down the stage after performing their two title candidates, I couldn’t help but wonder why they had been limited to just two songs. These thoughts were soon dismissed though, since a beat that was all too familiar to me filled the stadium.
My eyes welled with tears.
A touched gasp escaped my lips.
The song I had hoped to hear ever so dearly was playing before me.
It was Tomorrow, Today.
The scene was indescribable. Since JJ Project’s long-awaited comeback, I had been chanting the entire EP for the entire four weeks leading up to KCON LA. The fanchant was engrained in my head, and I wanted nothing more than to hear the song and witness the mirror choreography with my very own eyes. Their performance was extra significant to me in that it was JJP’s very first time performing the song outside of domestic promotions.
A touched gasp escaped my lips.
The song I had hoped to hear ever so dearly was playing before me.
It was Tomorrow, Today.
The scene was indescribable. Since JJ Project’s long-awaited comeback, I had been chanting the entire EP for the entire four weeks leading up to KCON LA. The fanchant was engrained in my head, and I wanted nothing more than to hear the song and witness the mirror choreography with my very own eyes. Their performance was extra significant to me in that it was JJP’s very first time performing the song outside of domestic promotions.
View the full album HERE !
They had chosen KCON LA to be the location of Tomorrow, Today’s first overseas performance, and I could not have been more moved. Dying whale sounds were heard all around, for I could not have wished for a more blessed evening.
I screamed my lungs out – obviously – and bolted for the cutout in our seat section as JB and Jinyoung swiftly departed the stage. JB passed by our waving hands without so much as a glance and quick nod. Meanwhile, I carried out screaming for Jinyoung while clutching my LED headband in a death grip.
It was at that moment that the unthinkable happened.
I screamed my lungs out – obviously – and bolted for the cutout in our seat section as JB and Jinyoung swiftly departed the stage. JB passed by our waving hands without so much as a glance and quick nod. Meanwhile, I carried out screaming for Jinyoung while clutching my LED headband in a death grip.
It was at that moment that the unthinkable happened.
Jinyoung, while not looking up, reached upwards to grab my hand, squeezing it briefly before continuing into the changing area.
HE RAISED HIS ARM UP. HE FOUND MY HAND. HE SQUEEZED MY HAND.
IT WAS INTENTIONAL.
Through yelps of excitement, I wondered if he had recalled my presence from the Hi-Touch session, and wanted to reassure me that he would stay healthy. Unlikely that this was the case, but hey, a girl can dream right? AHHHHHHHHHHHH
HE RAISED HIS ARM UP. HE FOUND MY HAND. HE SQUEEZED MY HAND.
IT WAS INTENTIONAL.
Through yelps of excitement, I wondered if he had recalled my presence from the Hi-Touch session, and wanted to reassure me that he would stay healthy. Unlikely that this was the case, but hey, a girl can dream right? AHHHHHHHHHHHH
Wanna One re-entered the stage in school uniforms to continue with Never and Pick Me. I decided to try my luck again, receiving a touch from Bae Jinyoung and a partial touch from Sungwoon. Neither Ong Seungwoo nor Guanlin made contact with me, but it didn’t matter. Daniel, my Wanna One bias, gave me a soft hi-five on his way in. The same boy that some fangirls had paid hundreds and thousands to earn a Hi-Touch raffle ticket for had matched palms with me. How did I get so lucky?!?!
At this point I was told off by a girl sitting in the aisle spot and refrained from running over when ASTRO made their exit in fear of causing unnecessary conflict.
ASTRO, now no longer a newcomer to the KCON stage, was a group with stable vocals and perfect synchronization. Each song displayed their growth and increased professionalism. Rookies no more, they astounded me with their flawless stages, despite the chipmunk-tuned mics.
At this point I was told off by a girl sitting in the aisle spot and refrained from running over when ASTRO made their exit in fear of causing unnecessary conflict.
ASTRO, now no longer a newcomer to the KCON stage, was a group with stable vocals and perfect synchronization. Each song displayed their growth and increased professionalism. Rookies no more, they astounded me with their flawless stages, despite the chipmunk-tuned mics.
Admittedly, I was surprised when they performed Breathless as opposed to Confession, a more recent release. Nonetheless, Baby being performed on the back stage meant that I would be able to witness my favourite title track in the flesh. (Moonbin was so cute in person!)
The happy vibes continued with NCT 127’s appearance. First was Fire Truck, a track I knew and loved all too well, followed by two songs that were less known to me. Their choreography was surprisingly elaborate for hypnotic, typically SM-style creations. I couldn’t find myself approving of their outfit selection, but I did catch myself following one member throughout the dance arrangements: Johnny. Almost unrecognizable with jet black hair, the Lipstick Prince Season 2 cast member had me tracing his every move and facial expression on stage. Doyoung was the member I had been accustomed to seeing on screen (being an Inkigayo MC with Jinyoung and Gong Myung’s brother on We Got Married), yet his cute appearance wasn’t adequate in drawing my attention from Johnny. I’ve since learned to appreciate another group and their distinctive style.
The happy vibes continued with NCT 127’s appearance. First was Fire Truck, a track I knew and loved all too well, followed by two songs that were less known to me. Their choreography was surprisingly elaborate for hypnotic, typically SM-style creations. I couldn’t find myself approving of their outfit selection, but I did catch myself following one member throughout the dance arrangements: Johnny. Almost unrecognizable with jet black hair, the Lipstick Prince Season 2 cast member had me tracing his every move and facial expression on stage. Doyoung was the member I had been accustomed to seeing on screen (being an Inkigayo MC with Jinyoung and Gong Myung’s brother on We Got Married), yet his cute appearance wasn’t adequate in drawing my attention from Johnny. I’ve since learned to appreciate another group and their distinctive style.
GOT7 – or “GOD7” as I like to call them – closed off the Day 2 Concert as well as KCON LA as a whole. My favourites performed three songs that I hadn’t yet had the opportunity to hear live, stealing my heart all over again. It’s amazing that no matter the number of times I’ve watched them in 1080p, they still continue to astound me with each and every live performance. Adorable dorks behind the camera, each member transforms into a star-studded idol upon stepping foot on stage, charisma oozing with each breath. The boys deserved the ahgabong ocean, and so much more.
To say that I love them would be an understatement, as there are always new reasons to fall head over heels for them.
To say that I love them would be an understatement, as there are always new reasons to fall head over heels for them.
The Artist Closing was a blur for me. I recall Jinyoung not touching my hands when GOT7 left the stage after their song set, neither again when they re-entered for the farewell stage, nor when all artists departed the stadium. (Perhaps he thought I was being excessive and could recognize me?) Youngjae touched my hand once, and Jackson twice. JB made a few attempts to touch outstretched hands on his way out, though did not meet mine.
Wanna One’s Bae Jinyoung succeeded in touching most of the fans in the aisle, while Daehwi was only able to sweep my fingertips due to lack of height. Guanlin paid absolutely no attention to any of the attendees. Ong and Minhyun also did their best to satisfy the bottom rows of the section, though failed to meet outstretched limbs at my height. KARD’s J.seph ensured that not a single hand was left un-swatted by jumping up and acknowledging each and every one of us. B.M had fewer issues as his loftiness enabled him to include us in his direct line of sight.
Wanna One’s Bae Jinyoung succeeded in touching most of the fans in the aisle, while Daehwi was only able to sweep my fingertips due to lack of height. Guanlin paid absolutely no attention to any of the attendees. Ong and Minhyun also did their best to satisfy the bottom rows of the section, though failed to meet outstretched limbs at my height. KARD’s J.seph ensured that not a single hand was left un-swatted by jumping up and acknowledging each and every one of us. B.M had fewer issues as his loftiness enabled him to include us in his direct line of sight.
KCON Day 2 was an unforgettable night filled with surprises upon extremely lucky happenings upon more surprises. I wanted to marinate in those moments for a tad longer that evening, however, the excitement and sleep deprivation from the previous day sent me directly into deep, undisturbed slumber. The glory of being noticed by my UB hazily washed over me as I drifted into dreamland.
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