On July 19, Korean indie rock quartet, The Rose, transformed the Cobb Energy Center in Atlanta into a cozy apartment and invited all their fans over for a house party. The night began with all four members – Woosung, Dojoon, Taegyeom, and Hajoon – perched on stools. Woosung, Dojoon and Taegyeom manned acoustic guitars and basses while Hajoon, the band’s drummer, played a cajón, a box-shaped percussive instrument that doubles as both a seat and a drum. This stripped-down setup looked like a modern update of MTV’s “Unplugged.”
The highlight of this initial unplugged set was during the song “Childhood,” when drummer Hajoon, set aside his percussion duties, picked up the guitar and revealed another layer of The Rose’s collective musical talents. This display of versatility would replay throughout the night. Woosung danced to a number of songs with the ease of an idol. Bassist Taegyeom showcased his singing chops, taking on verses during the 80s inspired song, “Nauseous,” and the anthemic track, “Yes,” much to the crowd’s surprise and support. And Dojoon proved himself not only on the guitar and piano, but also as an amazing whistler. At one point, he even had a whistling solo!
After the initial acoustic stage, the kabuki curtain dropped to reveal the aforementioned apartment stage, curated with boho chic aesthetics: a furnished bedroom complete with a bed, lava lamp, soft fabrics, a study area lined with books and a leather club chair and throughout the place, instruments strewn about. Watching The Rose play in this environment made it feel less like a traditional concert and more like watching close friends jam in their loft.
Crowd participation was high on this night. During songs like “Lifeline” the audience relieved the bandmates of their backing vocals and took over the “You know” pre-chorus. The unity in that moment – hundreds of voices joining as one and the band relinquishing their duties – exemplified the special bond The Rose has cultivated with their fanbase.
After motoring through an album’s worth of songs, the band took a much-needed break to converse with their Atlanta audience. Woosung, who spent his childhood in California, took on much of the speaking duties. He shared with the crowd a complicated confession: the band had agreed to a small, intimate concert but were grateful to have “too many fans” to unfortunately make that possible.
The band emerged from this brief rest with renewed energy. The pinnacle of the evening was during the song “Back to Me” when confetti cannons erupted, transforming the chill house party into a pure rager. The timing was impeccable – “Back to Me” is a fan-favorite and the addition of the festive rain of confetti made the moment euphoric, almost magical.
The Rose’s performance at Cobb Energy Center showcased that the organic sounds of guitars and drums are alive and well in these electronic times. And that authenticity trumps production every time. The Rose’s strength lies in their musical talents and their ability to forge a real connection with their fans. They made a large, cavernous venue into something that felt personal and intimate.
During The Rose’s performance, Woosung gently reminded the audience on multiple occasions that the band does not do encores. He mentioned that the last song would simply be the last song and would soon be followed by the harsh reality of the bright houselights. Perhaps it was their way of preparing us for the eventual end of the party. Perhaps it was their soft-spoken way of kicking us out of their house. Or maybe, just maybe, it was their tender way of saying farewell.
