The five members of fromis_9 performed at Paramount Theater for the group’s first ever show in Oakland. The concert was short and sweet, but there was still enough time for the girls to invigorate the enthusiastic crowd with a setlist full of cheerful and energetic tracks.
To kick off the night, fromis_9 dove right into the summer vibes and invited listeners on a getaway with the catchy “We Go.” The girls then moved into a pop rock sound with the anthemic “Rebelutional” and bold “Love=Disaster,” both tracks about confidently pursuing love despite the challenges. Using standing mics, the group’s performance of “Twisted Love” showcased their vocals, earning explosive cheers after each adlib and harmonization.
Dressed in ornate white outfits embellished with sparkling gems, the group expertly danced in formation and whipped their long flowing hair around with practiced ease. Of note, they moved with a kind of grace that makes for elegant pictures each time they paused in a pose. This was further accentuated by their purposeful control of their hands, making delicate shapes. They also clearly knew how to work a crowd with strong gazes into the audience and perfectly timed winks and gestures.
Each member got their solo time on stage performing short covers. Half the members went for English vocal covers, including Taylor Swift’s “Love Story,” Selena Gomez’s “Says Who,” and Ariana Grande’s “Greedy.” Meanwhile, Hayoung showcased some hip hop choreography to Evan Giia’s “Anxiety Kills.” A standout performance was Nagyung’s vocal cover of Taeyeon’s “All About You.” Looking like a princess, she was dressed in a beautiful gown, crooning the sentimental lyrics. Despite the emotional delivery of the song, fans couldn’t keep themselves from cheering throughout the gentle performance. Regardless, it didn’t phase Nagyung as she continued to sing in earnest.
Bringing the full group together again, the girls switched up the vibe with the groovy “Rewind.” There’s a bit of an edge to it, contrasting the group’s typical feminine style, that showcased another side to fromis_9 with alluring vocals, sensual choreography, and a side of attitude. It’s also the only performance of the night with a dedicated dance break which made it stand out all the more. This was followed by crowd-favorite “Supersonic,” further amping up the audience’s energy. It certainly was the song everyone was waiting for, as fans loudly sang all the lyrics, particularly raising their voices for the addictive chorus.
Climbing up to peak energy of the evening, fromis_9 performed the ultimate summer pop songs, “Like You Better” and “DM.” Against crashing waves and dazzling fireworks, the infectious feel-good tracks coupled with the group’s cheerful delivery turned the venue into a summer celebration. While there were some pitchy moments, these performances were such a delight to experience because of the members’ radiant energy and how much they were enjoying themselves on stage. Live performances may not be perfect, but it’s always a treat to see a group giving it their all and having fun while doing it.
To give the audience something special to take home from the show, fromis_9 prepared some small keepsakes: strawberries during “Strawberry Mimosa” and signed balls during “Love Bomb.” Delivering fan service galore, they tossed these gifts out into the crowd. Even after a three-song encore, the girls weren’t ready to leave the stage. Letting fans decide the final song of the night, it came down to “Cheese” or “Eye Contact.” Even though “Cheese” was the clear winner, the group surprised fans by performing both songs, all the while posing for photos and taking selfies on fans’ phones, and ended the night on a high note.
