This summer Korean singer-songwriter IU embarked on her long-awaited concert tour in the U.S. While the award-winning vocalist has been releasing top-charting music for over 15 years, the HEREH tour is her first time touring the States. HEREH is an abbreviation of the various themes IU plans to showcase during the concert: Hypnotic, Energetic, Romantic, Ecstatic, and Heroic. Before her final stop in Los Angeles, the artist performed in Oakland to a packed arena of adoring fans, known as Uaena.
Opening the show with a few vocal runs that reverberated through the venue, IU’s voice reached listeners before she even set foot on stage. She soon made her grand entrance as she was raised onto a platform, while greeting the audience with a warm smile and singing “Holssi.” Dressed like a princess from a fairytale, she performed in an ornate high low dress with a sparkling headpiece. The white outfit made her look all the more dazzling with the stage lights shining on her. Accompanied by a large troupe of dancers, IU smoothly transitioned to the disco-inspired synth pop track, “Jam Jam.” Against the bumping beat, the singer delivered wispy vocals and light footwork. To wrap the opening ‘Hypnotic’ section, she fittingly performed the jazzy song “Obliviate” with breathy and sultry vocals. Flexing her command of the crowd, the vocalist could merely look in any direction, and attendees in her line of sight would immediately begin cheering. Going from playful to coy within a few songs, IU demonstrated the versatility of her musical delivery, effectively captivating concertgoers.
Unexpectedly taking a cute spin on the sporty look, the singer returned to the stage in an oversized light blue jersey and pleated skirt. While many consider IU as their idol, she made this portion of the show a tribute to her fans. Opening the ‘Energetic’ section with “Celebrity,” she peered into the crowd to make eye contact with attendees from all corners of the venue, offering heaps of fan service. For performances with props like “Blueming” and “Coin,” IU selected passionate fans to receive a rose stem and a coin she kissed for good measure. Throughout the show, the artist continually praised fans for their loud cheers and vitalizing energy, as if she wasn’t also singing her heart out on stage. To give back to the audience, she performed the ultimate fan song, “I stan U,” which is chock full of endearing and uplifting lyrics. On the arena screens, her singing figure was overlaid on panning shots of concertgoers fervently singing along, bringing together both artist and fan. Cheering on her fans, IU waved her own fanlight and ended the performance with a picture perfect moment: the artist posing with her fanlight high in the air, as intersecting lasers beamed through it to make it glow.
Getting ‘Romantic,’ IU made an outfit change into a dainty floral dress. Following a graceful performance of the upbeat Latin-jazz track, “Havana,” the singer slowed it down for some sentimental ballads. Collaborating with the audience in what essentially became a duet, IU performed “Meaning of You” with fans diligently singing each time she turned the mic to the crowd. “The next song is one of my personal favorites from my own songs. I’m so happy to share it with you,” the artist began. “I’m wishing you a peaceful night. I light fireflies by your window. The meaning of those fireflies is ‘I love you.’” With that, she sat atop the platform to sing “Through the Night,” as fireflies floated in the night sky on the screen. IU’s gentle and soothing vocals filled up the venue and compelled listeners to sway along to the lilting lullaby-like melody.
Switching things up for the ‘Ecstatic’ section, IU energized the crowd once more by putting her powerful voice on display in “Shopper.” The soaring chorus was punctuated each time with a burst of confetti which elevated the atmospheric performance, making it a perfect song for an arena and a major highlight of the night. This was all the more emphasized by her strikingly elegant purple tulle dress, which she revealed she saved to specifically wear for the Oakland show. She carried this momentum into “You & I,” a hit song she released well over a decade ago, and its sequel, “Above the Time.” Together with a stage full of dancers, IU executed these delightful performances in all their whimsical glory, both in music and dance. This all led to IU’s latest song, “Love Wins All.” Honing in on IU’s passionate delivery, this performance featured the singer standing underneath a single spotlight. The emotional swells of the song, heightened by the live band, had listeners silently focused on the stage.
The calls of the crowd beckoned IU back to the stage for her ‘Heroic’ encore, which came back full circle with a reprise of “Holssi.” The real treat of the show was the second encore in which IU took song requests from the audience. Dressed down in a hoodie, baggy jeans and backwards cap, the singer proved her star power shone through her casual attire. Fans were ready with placards of song requests, and the vocalist happily obliged, singing a wide range of tracks like “Wallpaper Pattern,” a song she hasn’t sang in about 10 years, “Gloomy Clock,” and “Someday.” Fans were lucky enough to hear one of IU’s biggest hits from earlier in her career, the timeless classic “Good Day.” With a discography of over 15 years worth of music, IU and her band impressively performed seven songs off the cuff, showing that the star can enthrall listeners even without the elaborate stage production.
IU’s first ever show in the Bay Area was well worth the wait, as evidenced by the packed venue of cheering attendees. Sparing no expenses, IU, along with her live band and team of dancers, put on an arena-worthy show of three hours that had everything from complex stage setups, beaming lasers, and confetti galore. There’s a magical feel to an IU concert, as she flows through her wide array of music with the self-assuredness of a seasoned performer who knows how to move listeners with her sweet vocals and lively musical storytelling. While IU described the crowd at Oakland “legendary,” the singer herself left an indelible mark in the memory of concertgoers.
