Photographed by Bella Lee ; Written by Bella Lee
It is a Wednesday night in Los Angeles. The Orpheum Theatre is packed with eager anticipation. The lights dim, the music swells, and A.C.E. steps onto the stage. They awaken the audience with a powerful dance intro and start the setlist with “Goblin (Favorite Boys).” The crowd rises to their presence and greets A.C.E. with loud cheers.
A.C.E. is a boy group originally from South Korea. The group gained attention for their powerful performances, unique vocal tones, and strong dance skills. They are known for their versatility in music styles, often incorporating elements of EDM, pop, and rock into their songs. They greeted their fans (named “Choice”) with open arms. It has been four years since A.C.E. has been in Los Angeles, and they were so happy to be back. Every soul in the theater has been waiting for the group to come back.
The whole setlist created an energy that could be felt by all levels of fans. The new fans were energized from the incredible performances, and the long-time fans could sing along to their favorite songs both new and old. A.C.E.’s live vocals were the most impressive, each member showcasing that their mic was on and live. Each line was sung clear and true, bringing goosebumps to the audience. A.C.E. performed a cover of “GODS” (originally performed by New Jeans for League of Legends), which blew the audience away. Their vocals really shone through this song, and the fans loved it. My personal favorite from the setlist was A.C.E. ‘s performance of “Supernatural.” The group’s energy was at an all time peak, bringing my attention to their performance and vocal ability.
The choreography was equally as impressive as the vocals. It looked so simple when they performed that it seemed attainable. As easy as it seemed, every line and picture of the choreography was clean and practiced. During “Take Me Higher,” several members improvised small sections of the song. They smiled so brightly, the stage lights seemed dim. A.C.E. were able to deliver amazing performances and have fun at the same time. It was the perfect combination that fueled the audience’s excitement.
What set this concert apart from other traditional K-Pop concerts were a couple of distinct things. One of them was that the setting of the concert kept a casual tone. All the members wore the same outfit the whole night. The only change between the different acts was the outerwear the members wore. They donned white robes for the intro section, kept the same black top/jackets and blue jeans for the majority of the concert, and added black blazers for a small section of the concert. Another difference that was noted is the member’s closing statements were given through a recorded audio message. Each member stood in the same spots for their inter-concert talks, and at the end, a spotlight shone in their empty space as the member’s message played over the speakers. Most K-Pop concerts keep the members on stage to deliver their final words.
During their final words on stage, A.C.E. spoke some very heartfelt words to Choice. Jun said, “We survived the very hard industry called ‘K-Pop.’ We survived because of Choice.” Through encouraging cheers from the fans, Byeongkwan said, “Before coming to the USA, we had a hectic schedule. MV, setlist…we wanted to hurry up and come meet Choice. This tour has exceeded our expectations.” As the concert came to its close, Byeongkwan continued, “We can’t laugh every day, but that makes today more precious. We will all go back to reality tomorrow. But it’s for these precious moments that make the work worth it.”
Every moment of A.C.E.’s Rewind concert in L.A. was memorable. If there were any non-fans in the audience, they were made instant Choices. Every song was executed to perfection and the love A.C.E. had for their Choices was overflowing. The members have worked hard to dazzle their fans, and they have performed another successful concert.
