Yeonjun Choi of Tomorrow X Together performing “Ghost Girl”. The Xavierite
Tomorrow X Together brought their “Act: Tomorrow” world tour to the U.S. with stops across the country, including two nights at Chicago’s Allstate Arena.
I attended the second Chicago date on Sept. 22, and it was well worth it. Tomorrow X Together delivered many high energy dance breaks and eye-catching solos throughout the night.
The atmosphere even before the show was invigorating. By the time my friends and I arrived, the merchandise tables outside were practically wiped clean. Many waiting for the doors to open chatted and shared free items with one another—it was the friendliest crowd I’ve ever been in.
The tour has a blue and white dress code to match the group’s official colors and the fans—MOAs—did not disappoint. The arena was filled with people donning elaborate blue outfits coupled with ornate accessories; it felt like walking into a fashion show.
Passing the entrance, a merchandise table stood towards the middle of the concourse with a long line of MOAs waiting to purchase the group’s official U.S tour merchandise.
Offerings for the U.S merchandise included bomber jackets, jerseys, picket sleeves, hoodies, shirts, and numerous other items. I personally purchased a jersey for around $85 as it seemed the most alluring of all the items.
The jerseys are black and blue and feature the name of the stop’s city as well as a “25” for the year. The U.S tour merchandise is only available for purchase at the concert venues, so I felt that the purchase was worth it.
Inside the stands, the crowd radiated a vibe like no other. VCRs played on the big screens, and the walkways were filled with fans taking photos and recording dance videos. Many even cheered when clips of the members showed up on the screen.
Nothing could ever top the energy in the room when the members first entered, though. I’ve been to numerous sports games and not once have I been in a crowd as amped up as this one.
The members emerged from a stage lift singing their 2021 hit “LO$ER=LOVER.” Despite the song being mostly Korean, there was not a single silent person in the room.
Personally, “LO$ER=LOVER” is a song I highly adore, so I sang my heart out with no hesitation. It’s a memory forever stuck with me—there’s something so magical about singing in a huge crowd.
The songs following “LO$ER=LOVER” included “Blue Hour,” “Blue Orangeade,” and “Love Language.” I noted the group placed the majority of their high energy songs towards the beginning of the setlist.
This placement made the crowd engaged instantaneously. By “Love Language” I felt my voice already going out from screaming the lyrics to each song.
The group divided their energy effectively in the first half of the concert. The set-list features many dance-heavy songs, but they circumvent this in a subtle way. Every few songs the group focused more on hyping the crowd rather than following each choreography exactly.
The second section of the concert was one of my favorite parts of the entire show. They played some of their darker songs including, “Danger,” “Upside Down Kiss,” and “Growing Pains.”
These songs focused more on overall performance, with an abundance of backup dancers and complex effects. I found myself utterly mesmerized by each aspect of the performance.
Something unique I noticed sonically is how rock influenced much of the group’s discography, especially in this second section. It’s not a sound I hear often in K-Pop and makes the group stand out from their peers.
The songs slowly transitioned into a mellower sound with “Maze In The Mirror” and “0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You).” Both songs featured the members either sitting or standing with stand mics, yet it never felt boring for a second.
“Maze In The Mirror” is my favorite song from the group so the performance felt particularly special to me. I am mildly embarrassed to admit that I nearly cried, but the same could be said for most of the crowd. It was a beautiful moment to witness in person.
Following these calmer tracks, each member took the stage with their own solo performances—Taehyun Kang with “Bird of Night,” Soobin Choi with “Sunday Driver,” Huening Kai with “Dance With You,” Yeonjun Choi with “Ghost Girl,” and Beomgyu Choi with “Panic.”
Each solo had its own charm and portrayed each member’s essence, but the one that stuck out to me the most was Yeonjun’s “Ghost Girl.” He has a presence that completely overwhelms the stage; his performance was a delight to watch from start to finish.
Once the group came back together, they continued their earlier pattern of mixing high energy performances alongside mellow ballads. What really stood out to me in the latter half of the concert was the encore.
I’d argue that it was their best encore to date. They played two songs not often performed in the U.S, including Yeonjun Choi’s solo “GGUM” as well as the Korean version of “Cat and Dog.”
I didn’t think the audience could possibly get any louder until I heard “GGUM” start to play. The room was absolutely electric. I thought my voice would really go out from screaming so much.
This concert was special to me, especially as this was my first concert. I’d say Tomorrow X Together has certainly set the bar incredibly high.
If you’re looking for an artist to see for the first time, I highly recommend checking them out on their next tour. Regardless of whether or not K-Pop is your thing, they’re the type of performers you need to see at least once.