K-pop boy group ENHYPEN returned to the U.S. for their Fate+ tour, a refreshed version of the tour they brought stateside last year. This time around, the seven-member band visited Oakland for the first time to hold a concert at the Oakland Arena. Filled to the brim, the venue was rumbling with excitement, and fans began singing along to ENHYPEN music blasting from the speakers as if the members were already performing onstage. Putting on a roughly three-hour concert, the group flew through a setlist of nearly 30 songs, and Asia Blooming honed in on some highlights from the night.
To start off, ENHYPEN took every chance they could to show off their eclectic style through a wide array of outfits from blue and white prince-like attire to monochromatic streetwear and preppy fits. Kicking off the show in the regal outfits was a striking choice as the bright white outfits made them stand out more onstage. Additionally, they opened the concert with a slew of hard-hitting songs and choreography while in fitted velvet blue jackets and lace-up boots, which made performing even more challenging. However, they powered through it for the look. Each outfit change introduced a new segment of the show, and it broke up the show in a way that made it feel like it was moving at a brisk pace.
Also, no expenses were spared on the production. The venue was decorated with enormous screens that enabled attendees from any seat to enjoy the show. Different performances were paired with a variety of effects: confetti, streamers, smoke, pyrotechnics and more. One of the most interesting setups was the three-tiered platform that emerged from the main stage. During performances like “Shout Out,” the members were raised by each of these different platforms, and it added an extra visually engaging dimension to the concert.
While ENHYPEN may be more well known for their more intense title tracks, their personalities were able to shine more when they let loose during their cheerful songs. For “10 Months,” they added more personal flair into their choreography, while charming the crowd with cute gestures. With every foot tap and bell kick, the group seemed to release the tension from their tougher performances and enjoy the lighthearted song with wide smiles.
Another cute performance of the night came in the form of a surprise collaboration with not just one Pikachu, but six. Previously, ENHYPEN collaborated with Pokemon to release “One and Only,” and for the concert, a group of Pikachu eagerly ran onto the stage to perform a little dance with the members. No matter which member (or Pikachu) you looked at, the group was singing brightly while doing something silly whether it was chasing each other or posing together for the crowd.
As for solo spotlights, Heeseung stole the audience’s hearts with a brief yet fitting tribute. In between group performances, he impressively sang a snippet of Keyshia Cole’s “Love,” which was all the more meaningful considering the original singer is from Oakland. Niki and Jungwon had front row seats to the performance, throwing both arms up in the air and swaying them to his soulful delivery. Concertgoers cheered so fervently that Heeseung gave an encore to fans’ delight. A video of the performance even reached Keyshia Cole herself, who said she would have joined them onstage if they called her.
The highlight performance of the night was “Bite Me,” as evidenced by the audience’s instantaneous roaring response to Sunoo’s melodic opening line: It’s you and me in this world.” Dressed in black and red suits, ENHYPEN performed the sultry song with confidence and charisma. In response to the fans’ passionate singing, the members put extra oomph into the performance from emphasizing the different textures of their movement to intensely gazing into the audience and camera at all the right points throughout the song, earning screams from the crowd. With this, ENHYPEN delivered a thrilling performance that brought the venue’s energy to an all-time high.
