Just under a year after his first solo tour, BANG YONGGUK returned stateside for the ‘III’ U.S. tour, largely showcasing his most recent album by the same name. Kicking off on the East Coast at the beginning of April, the tour wrapped up in Los Angeles on April 28 at the Vermont Hollywood. The show, which was just under an hour and a half in duration, was a beautiful mixture of slow, meaningful songs and upbeat party tracks.
The show began promptly at 7pm, when the opening DJ stepped onto the stage and played remixes of popular hip hop tracks to get the crowd’s energy up. Fans in the crowd wielding Matoki lightsticks danced and swayed with the upbeat club-style music, and before anyone even noticed the time, the DJ was turning the music down to introduce the main act of the evening. Yongguk walked out with his natural swagger and moved to the beat of his first song, “Off.” This was followed by high-energy track “Xie Xie,” which showed off the rapper’s explosive stage energy and presence. Even with low lighting and some technical issues that made his voice sound slightly muted, the rapper commanded the stage with his strong charisma and powerful rapping.
After a brief and unnecessary self introduction as the crowd was already screaming and chanting his name, the soloist moved into his next set of songs. YONGGUK continued the previous energetic momentum, performing songs such as “Ride or Die,” “IXLU,” “RACE,” and “NUMB,” before settling down and speaking with his fans once more. Acknowledging the short time between his first and current tour, he admitted that he wondered what he could prepare to make sure fans who attended the previous tour could still enjoy something new. Continuing to express his gratitude to the crowd, the artist said he wanted to create something special to leave a lasting impression. Having shown some of his more recent releases thus far, he decided to take everyone down memory lane next, covering his debut to present time.
After a brief and unnecessary self introduction as the crowd was already screaming and chanting his name, the soloist moved into his next set of songs. YONGGUK continued the previous energetic momentum, performing songs such as “Ride or Die,” “IXLU,” “RACE,” and “NUMB,” before settling down and speaking with his fans once more. Acknowledging the short time between his first and current tour, he admitted that he wondered what he could prepare to make sure fans who attended the previous tour could still enjoy something new. Continuing to express his gratitude to the crowd, the artist said he wanted to create something special to leave a lasting impression. Having shown some of his more recent releases thus far, he decided to take everyone down memory lane next, covering his debut to present time.
For long-time fans, this segment was the most memorable of the evening. YONGGUK kicked off this portion of the show with “I Remember,” which features fellow B.A.P member Jung Daehyun’s vocals and symbolic green lighting. His debut song led into “Journey,” a song with melancholic lyrics telling a story of sadness and longing. Continuing with his own story, the next two songs shared a theme of openness and vulnerability, taking concertgoers through his hardships and troubles that were part of his path. “Hikikomori,” based on his own personal journal entries, was the first song he released after leaving his former company, TS Entertainment, and this departure marked a new beginning for his career. Aside from being the start of his new endeavors, this song is also one that provides him with comfort, and it describes his social anxiety, stress, and emotions in a way he wasn’t able to previously as an idol.
Leading into the next chapter of his journey, the artist performed “AM 4:44.” Released in 2015, right around the time YONGGUK’s group filed their lawsuit, the song shares the group leader’s frustrations, anxieties, and worries, before ultimately wrapping up with acceptance as he continues to urge others to just “go away.” This track wrapped up the segment that laid bare the challenges the singer faced during his career and how he overcame these rough periods.
Considering how personal and emotional these songs are for both himself and his fans, YONGGUK took a moment to share his thoughts with attendees, lightly offering some advice and taking time to gaze into the crowd in appreciation. “I am not your teacher, but I hope you can take on new challenges and not dwell on things you don’t like. You only live once,” he stated, as he discussed his latest album. Lightening the mood, Yongguk quickly led into his next segment of the show, which highlighted some of his louder, more energetic songs such as “Up,” “YAMAZAKI,” and recent songs, ” BUSS IT DOWN” and “MOVIMIENTO.”
Once again, the artist thanked everyone constantly throughout the evening. “You’re the reason I love what I do,” he shared with his fans between songs. Even during his performances, he continued to express his thankful heart, leaning in and shaking as many hands as he could. During “Green,” the soloist ended the show with a deep bow and a heartfelt “thank you for being here.” Wanting to keep the night going, YONGGUK gave it his all even during the encore, performing “Rain On Me,” “MOVIMIENTO,” “BUSS IT DOWN,” and “Orange Drive” before officially ending the show.
While last year’s tour was focused more on showcasing the artist’s range and artistic color, this year’s felt more personal, as if he was sharing his personal journey, thoughts and emotions. Displaying who BANG YONGGUK is as a person and his evolution through his song choices, the show allowed fans a deeper look into their favorite artist, further strengthening their bond.
Click on the photo below to view our photos from the concert:
