K-pop soloist Onew kicked off the final leg of the Onew the Live: Percent (%) tour in North America with a show at the San Jose Civic. Performing to fans who lit up the venue with pearl aqua light sticks, the singer delighted listeners with his gentle and expressive performance at his first show in San Jose.
The show began without preamble, as Onew’s lone silhouette appeared onstage with a mic stand. Aptly starting with “Percent,” he then performed “No Parachute,” “Yeowoobi,” and “Far Away” without pause. Delivering “Percent” and “No Parachute” with sleek, polished textures, the singer set the tone with a cool, self-assuredness. The wistful melody and hypnotic post-chorus of “Yeowoobi” had the crowd naturally singing along: “Your love takes me higher than I’ve ever been.” There’s been a relatively calm energy in the air thus far, but that changed when Onew moved into the alternative rock track, “Far Away.” Although the melody sounds light and carefree, the song’s meaning contrasts that with lyrics about escaping pain. This track in particular resonated with the audience, as fans got lost in the song and jumped to the beat.
Onew briefly greeted the crowd, pleased to be back in the States. “I created this tour to showcase my talents,” he began. “I’m trying my hardest to show you my live singing,” to which fans screamed in appreciation. While there were moments he didn’t seem sure about what he wanted to say, he admitted that he was feeling a little nervous, and attendees reassured him with encouraging cheers. With that, he segued into his next song, “I think we need more conversation.”
Beaming at the crowd with a bright smile, he performed the smooth R&B pop track, “Conversation.” He grooved along to the fun, cheerful melody, and fans screamed during the rap portion. Then, the laidback and funky “Maestro” and its rhythmic bassline got the audience moving, and Onew’s light choreography to the emphatic beats of the song elevated the theatrical feel of the performance.
Amid the fun, Onew performed two notable songs: the uplifting and warm “Winner” and “Epilogue” about the wonderful memories that come after experiencing the good and the bad times. These performances enveloped the audience in a sense of comfort and support. “You are all living in this world, and surviving as you are makes you a winner,” Onew shared following these performances. “I’m not sure why I’m saying this, but I wanted to tell you,” he added with a wry smile, warming the hearts of listeners.
Onew completed the main setlist of the show with “Animals,” preceded by an atmospheric instrumental sequence and flashing red lights that built up the intensity of the performance. Everything came to a head during the encore, when he performed celebratory songs like “Oreo Cake” that injected a burst of energy in the venue. Treating a few lucky fans to signed memorabilia, the singer walked in the aisles during “Yay,” and even danced with some attendees. To wrap it all up, he concluded the show with the joyous “Happy Birthday” and deep bows to the audience.
“Even though this is the first stop of my U.S. tour, for now I plan to have a lot of fun with all my U.S. fans. I’m so happy and grateful to finish this concert with you all, and now it’s really time for our last goodbyes,” Onew said. “Thanks for making such happy moments, and I hope we can sing together until the very end. I’ll wait really patiently for the time we meet again.”
