Nearly 2,000 eager fans streamed into the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles to catch K-pop band A.C.E‘s first U.S. tour since their discharge from mandatory military service. The opulent venue is replete with sparkling chandeliers, ornate ceilings, and plush seats, and the assigned seating eliminates the stress of needing to line up hours beforehand to snag the front row.
Named Rewind US, the U.S. tour is a chance for A.C.E to prove to fans that they’re still going strong and invite Choices, their fandom, to reignite their love for the group, a love that lay dormant during the 1.5-year period when all the members were serving mandatory military service. With nearly 20 songs spanning their discography from 2019 to today, the concert was a heartwarming reunion for A.C.E and Choice.
Blue lights washed over the stage, revealing the band clad in flowy, white hanboks (traditional Korean robes), and a dramatic, operatic introduction featuring several lines of Mozart’s “Lacrimosa” segued into a bombastic performance of “Favorite Boys.”
A.C.E has always been known for their clean, high-energy performances, and over time, their energy and precision have matured into a relaxed confidence. No longer desperately trying to prove themselves, the members can tap into their individual expressiveness while working seamlessly as a team. When performing, “Supernatural,” their latest title track featuring funky guitar lines and a crisp rhythm, they accentuated the grooviness in their movement textures and enjoyed embodying a casually seductive persona.
Throughout the evening, they interspersed choreography-heavy tracks like “Changer” and “Higher” with vocal-only tracks like “Facetime” and “Down,” which allowed the members to interact more with the audience. They also incorporated a few covers, hearkening back to their days busking and performing covers in the streets of Seoul.
Their more recent releases, which are mostly pure pop with a sprinkling of funk and R&B, are catchy and fun, though not particularly ambitious musically. The members’ stage presence made these songs engaging when performed live, perhaps with the exception of “Effortless,” which was performed as if it were a ballad, despite not being vocally interesting enough to be a ballad. I have nothing against A.C.E vibing in suits, but we all know they’re capable of more. A.C.E shines the most when the choreography and song showcase their dance capabilities and solid live vocals in a powerful and dramatic way, like in “Favorite Boys” or “Under Cover.”
One of the highlights of the setlist was their cover of “GODS,” originally performed by NewJeans as a League of Legends soundtrack. Even though there is no choreography, the dramatic and cinematic song allowed them to show off goosebump-inducing harmonies and stratospheric high notes. The cover is worthy of being released as a studio version.
Between songs, their gentle teasing and relaxed banter made the concert feel like a meetup with your group of goofy friends. They rambled about their favorite meals in the U.S. so far, got food recommendations from the audience (tacos!), and broke down laughing while attempting to reveal spoilers for their next album, which, according to Byeongkwan, “will be insane.” Beneath the lightheartedness is a deep sincerity, which they expressed in the voice messages that were played when the members went offstage before the encore. They shared heartfelt sentiments in English thanking their fans, known as Choice, for their support: “It’s been a long time since we have been reunited as a full group, but seeing [Choice] cheer for us made it easy to get back into the groove.” As each member’s message came on, a different stage light lit up, and by the end of the segment, there were five bright white beams of light. Choice sang along with the snippet of “If You Heard” that was played, and while it would have been so perfect for the members to show up at this moment, the song and lights faded out, leaving the audience a little confused but still eager to bring A.C.E back onstage.
The group returned for the last couple of vocal-only songs in black tour t-shirts. They brought back “Take Me Higher,” the only track from their debut album in the setlist, even busting out a little bit of choreography at the end. The final song of the evening was the propulsive ballad “Story,” which felt like a friendly re-invitation for fans to metaphorically take A.C.E’s hand and to follow them to wherever the path leads. And A.C.E proved on this tour that they’re committed to forging ahead on their path post-enlistment, a path lit up and decorated by Choices’ continued affection and support.
