Inviting fans, known as KINGMAKERS, into their palace, The KingDom held the second to last show of the UNVEIL U.S. Tour on September 20. Befitting the group’s name, the show took place in Los Angeles’ Palace Theatre, a historic venue built in 1911 full of classic art and faded gold decor. However, only the venue’s name itself was appropriate for The KingDom, and the venue instead dimmed the group’s “unveiling” of their concert of in more ways than one.
The show started off just a few minutes late, but even before then, fans were already struggling with the venue. When KINGMAKERS entered the theater, many were surprised by the steep slope right behind the entrance door with no warning. The slanted floor only posed the first problem for attendees with disabilities, as the restrooms were down another steep set of stairs, and these fans were moved around the venue several times before being given an official seat. The lights were dim throughout the theater even prior to the show’s start, making it challenging for people to clearly see while moving around the venue. Moreover, the venue’s heat and lack of air circulation was only forgivable due to the bucket of free iced water by the merchandise booth.
Despite the less-than-savory conditions in the venue, The KingDom gave their best efforts on stage. The show began with “Flip that Coin,” “ENERGY,” which featured an intro dance choreographed by Arthur, and “X-GAME,” before the members took a second to introduce themselves to the crowd. Taking the initiative, English-speaking member Dann led every talk segment, and even served as the translator for his other members. The concert continued on with unit stages and cover stages that included a rap unit performance of “LIKE THAT,” a vocal cover of Imagine Dragons’ “Believer,” a dance-focused cover of NCT U’s “Baby Don’t Stop,” a unit performance of SEVENTEEN’s BSS’s “Just do it” that began with only three members but ended with the full group, and a cover of One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful” by the entirety of The KingDom.
Longer breaks for the seven group members to change outfits and catch their breaths were paired with videos playing on the small theater screen for fans. These clips highlighted The KingDom’s journey from debut until now, showing off the group’s unique hanbok performances and theatrical stage sets. Unfortunately, fans attending the UNVEIL Tour would only be able to see these extravagant stages, stage props, and beautiful outfits within these VCRs, as the group performed on a simple stage in streetwear style modern outfits instead.
Songs such as “Excalibur,” “Ascension,” “KARMA,” and “COUP D’ETAT” were performed with maximum energy, and the group could be heard panting as they sang each word live and danced their hardest to the heavy beats. Even this was dampened by the venue, as the combination of the music’s low volume paired and the too-small screen failed to elevate the performances, and oftentimes, the group’s breathing overshadowed the low instrumentals playing in the background. These drawbacks took away from showcasing the group’s performance at its best.
Regardless of the issues, The KingDom’s performances of “Long Live The King” and “BEST THING” were undoubtedly the highlight stages of the evening. Both of these tracks were elevated with brighter stage lights, and it almost seemed as if the group’s own energy amplified along with the lights. “Long Live The King” featured synchronized choreography, strong vocals, a hard-hitting dance break, and loud ad lib shouts from the members. Feeding off the group’s energy, KINGMAKERS also gained more momentum, loudly screaming the fanchants. As if paralleling The Kingdom’s performance at the venue, “Long Live The King” proved that true kings can live long and prosper even in the face of adversity. Serving as the final song of the evening, “BEST THING” was a meaningful track dedicated to KINGMAKERS. “I hope you focus on the lyrics we will sing with all our hearts,” Dann began. “The best thing about me is you.” Truly wrapping up the concert with an encore performance of “Blinder” that featured the members running through the aisles to greet fans, the show came to a close a little under two hours.
With promises to return to greet their KINGMAKERS once more, The KingDom said their final goodbyes full of gratitude. The concert highlighted the members’ talents, as they persevered through the night with their live vocals and sharp dance moves. It was only unfortunate that the group was met with a Palace unable to truly showcase their potential. Hopefully on their next tour, The KingDom will be able to greet KINGMAKERS at a Palace more suited to help them shine.
