K-pop quartet Aespa held their first concert in Oakland on their second world tour, SYNK: PARALLEL LINE, on January 30. The group performed various songs from their expansive discography, with a strong focus on their first full length album, Armageddon, and latest EP, Whiplash. While the tour kicked off in Seoul, Aespa switched up the setlist for the North American leg.
Appearing onstage in delicate outfits, white corsets and sparkly tulle skirts, to perform hard-hitting songs like “Drama” and “Supernova” was an unexpected way to kick off the show. In a way, the contrast signaled the range of music and styles that Aespa would put on display throughout the night.
Diving into their upbeat pop songs, the group brightened up the venue in colorful dresses and playful expressions with “Better Things.” The choreography perfectly matched the summer-reminiscent melody and rhythmic percussion, and it easily had the audience smiling and singing along. Changing into oversized pink hoodies and baggy jeans, the members charmed the crowd with free roaming interactions during the breezy pop rock song, “Live My Life.”
Titled after their latest digital single, the tour showcased each of the members’ solo songs off the release and their individual styles from sensual to sassy. One performance to note was Winter’s “Spark,” which was a thoughtfully designed performance that made great use of the stage, live cameras, and audience. While performing the EDM track, Winter and an entourage of dancers traveled extensively across the main and extended stage. The dynamic performance featured various engaging elements from props in the form of iridescent scarves to a stage camera capturing her dancing silhouette through a white sheet that dropped to reveal Winter and a full venue of cheering fans behind her in a true superstar moment.
Aside from sparing a few brief moments to speak to the crowd about what songs are coming up next, Aespa opted to focus more on performing songs back-to-back. Given the fast show pacing and choreography demands, it’s not surprising the group likely relied on some help from pre-recorded vocals. However considering they recently took home numerous accolades like Best Artist of the Year and Best Performance (2024) from various awards shows, it would have felt more authentic and special to hear more live vocals at their first show in Oakland.
Some setlist choices resulted in the exclusion of popular B-sides like “Illusion,” “Thirsty,” and even the iconic “Savage,” which some fans may even say the group has effectively claimed as their representative word. There also was a mid-concert performance by Aespa’s AI virtual idol counterpart, Naevis. While it was a technologically interesting use of the venue’s large screens, it ended up falling flat. As Naevis failed to engage the audience, that time could have better spent on hearing another song from the headliner of the night.
Ultimately, the moments when Aespa really captivated the crowd was during their attitude-filled numbers with heavy beats. Throughout the show, there was a sense of restrained energy as if to conserve and expend it for hit tracks like “Next Level” and “Whiplash.” The group even brought the crowd back to their debut song “Black Mamba,” reminding fans how far the group has come in their four years together. Taking in dramatic hair flips and drops to the floor, the crowd roared each time Aespa hit the chorus and the key points of the choreography.
Wrapping the concert with “Life’s Too Short,” Aespa delivered a message about how they’ll keep doing their own thing regardless of what people say. It’s this commitment to self-identity that has solidified their recognizable style and earned them adoring fans around the world, as evidenced by the packed Oakland Arena that night.
