As the K-pop group steadily marches on toward their 10th anniversary, Seventeen embarked on their fourth world tour, Right Here. It’s been about two years since the group last toured in Oakland, and they’ve returned with new music they have yet to perform live in the city. This time around, members Jeonghan and Jun did not join the group on tour due to South Korean mandatory military enlistment and entertainment activities in China respectively. On the first of two nights in Oakland, Seventeen performed a dynamic three-hour show to a packed arena of eager fans, known as Carats.
Bathed in red lighting, Seventeen made a grand entrance as the set split apart to reveal the members in varied black suits, adorned with lace and sequins, and glossy dress shoes. Opening with “Fear,” the group executed emotive choreography that demonstrated their ability to seamlessly go between subtle and smooth moves to powerful and sharp ones. In immediate contrast, the stage lighting and screen displayed blue and green tones before they began performing “Fearless.” Against the heavy beat, the members sang about how they’re ready to take on the unknown and continue trying new things.
All this crackling energy built up into “Maestro,” as Hoshi conducted the group with the wave of a baton and Woozi played the track’s introductory notes on the piano. The stage’s unique design really shone here, as the triangular cutout in the mid stage LED screen added dimension to the iconic metronome building from the music video. Matching the frantically flashing lights to the fast beat made the performance feel all the more intense. Wrapping up the first section of the show on the thrust stage, Seventeen got closer to the crowd to profess their love for their fans with “Crush.”
With a discography filled with 10 years worth of music, there are only so many songs they can perform in a three-hour concert. This meant some of their most popular songs like “Hot” or “Rock With You” didn’t make it into the formal setlist. Instead, tracks like these got their mentions through Carat Time, when fans sang and danced to Seventeen tracks.
10 years into anything can make passion for it fade. But that is certainly not the case for Seventeen. If anything, Right Here feels like a reaffirmation that the group is as present and locked in as ever. That night Seventeen proved that they are seasoned performers who continue to hold onto that rookie spirit and determination to put everything they’ve got on the stage. They sang and moved in coordination with practiced ease, and their strong teamwork amplified the oomph in their performances tenfold.
One of the most invigorating parts of a Seventeen show is their playfulness on stage. In something like a musical, the group suddenly started performing a brief skit and playing with random props before launching into “Oh My!” Riding on the cheerful, laidback vibes, they continued with “Snap Shoot” and “God of Music.” With a bounce in their step, the members delivered bright melodies, while beaming into the crowd and lifting their spirits. Taking a moment to chat with who was in attendance, the group was thrilled to learn the crowd was filled with friends, couples, and families. Humbled to know that their fans take comfort in their music, Seventeen closed out the section with “Home.”
In classic Seventeen fashion, no show is over without a neverending encore of the energetic earworm, “Very Nice.” Fans came prepared with requests written on signs to perform different versions of the song, including sexy and metal renditions. To formally close the show, each member shared their wishes for fans to stay healthy and happy. Also, Mingyu shared one of his own wishes: “My dream is for us to come back and perform at a stadium.” To that, the crowd cheered in anticipation, excited for the next time the group will return and possibly on a bigger stage.
