On October 6th, Korean indie rock/alt-pop band The Rose performed in Portland, Oregon for the second night of their DAWN TO DUSK North American tour. What more fitting place for the band to perform than at the Rose Quarter’s Moda Center at the City of Roses? While the Moda Center can seat up to 20,000, this evening’s show was held in a special configuration designed for more intimate shows and welcomed nearly 3,000 fans, known as Black Roses, that night. It was a fantastic venue that felt like a mini arena, and the oval stage setup and dynamic lighting added to the whole experience.
The band emerged amidst a sea of fog and rapidly strobing lights to a buzz of excitement from Black Roses, who waved their lightsticks excitedly in the air. Arranged from left to right on the spacious stage were Hajoon (drums), Jaehyeong (bass, backup vocals), Woosung (guitar, lead vocals), and Dojoon (guitar, keyboard, vocals). A large screen projected accompanying visuals to further add to the cinematic effect of the show.
The setlist mixed in songs from their two latest albums, DUAL and HEAL, with older classics. These tried-and-true favorites like “sorry” and “She’s in the Rain” elicited more fervor from the crowd, perhaps because of the nostalgia factor, but also because these songs perfectly represent what The Rose does best — catchy, momentous hooks, emotional verses, and soaring rock layers. In “She’s in the Rain,” the moment when the layers in the chorus dissipate at the end to reveal Woosung’s emotive voice was goosebump-inducing and felt like clouds parting for the sun. Despite the overall preference for the older songs, the fans were particularly excited about “Back to Me,” a track from their latest album that captures the angst from heartbreak. It’s the type of song that makes you want to sing along at the top of your lungs, and that’s exactly what the audience did. “I could make you hate me for everything / But I can’t make you come back to me!” they belted.
As the tour is titled DAWN TO DUSK, the setlist was roughly arranged from lighter, brighter songs like “Eclipse” and “You’re Beautiful” to darker, sadder ones like “Alive” and “sorry.” Sprinkled all throughout were anthemic songs to wave your lightsticks side-to-side to like “The Cure” and “Wonder.” “Lifeline” embraced a pop aesthetic, and “Cosmo” went full EDM, relying on future bass instead of bass guitar to create momentum. The band’s flirtation with pop and EDM is not as compelling as when they draw upon punk and indie rock influences.
Black Roses were also treated to acoustic versions of “Say Yes” and “I.L.Y,” the latter of which featured “guest singers” Jaehyeong and Hajoon. Jaehyeong’s voice is the type that would be perfect for K-drama ballads, and Hajoon’s muted timbre perfectly matched the acoustic nature of this arrangement. In several of the songs, but especially in “Definition of ugly is,” Dojoon showcased his vocals over a poignant string accompaniment. His higher range leans towards the nasal side, but his low range is full and absolutely gorgeous–it’s a shame he doesn’t get to sing in that range more often. While all the members are solid vocalists, Woosung’s heartwrenching timbre and vibrato style give The Rose its distinctive color.
There were a few technical mishaps during the show–at one point, one of Dojoon’s guitars wasn’t connected to the amp, but the band handled the issues professionally and without skipping a beat. Since it was only the second night of their tour, the band seemed to be conserving their energy, but that didn’t stop them from doing silly dance moves and hopping around the stage. They also made sure to interact with the fans, joking about naked bike rides in Portland, asking if they liked the Dawn or Dusk album version better, and even throwing roses at the end of the show.
The Rose’s successful concert speaks not only to their growth as artists despite the enlistment hiatus, but also to the appetite of Portlanders for artists from the K-pop and K-pop-adjacent ecosystem. Perhaps this will encourage Korean pop and rock bands to take a closer look at Pacific Northwest venues when touring, but in the meantime, the City of Roses will be content with basking in the afterglow of The Rose’s performance.
Click on the photo below to view our photos from the show:
Note: This article has been updated to correct a typo for Jaehyeong’s name.
