[#WEi Review for Blender Book Magazine]
NOVEMBER 5, 2022
REVIEW CONCERT: WEi CHARM ATLANTA UNTIL THE END OF THE NIGHT
Shortly before the summer, the band announced their First Love tour, first for the United States, before taking over Latin America. On September 23, the group finally set foot in Atlanta, to meet the RUIs who were waiting for them, inhabited by an ostensibly palpable energy. Blue and red strobes to welcome them flood the room as soon as the artists arrive at the Loft. And the BLENDER MAGAZINE team was there.
The band debuted with the song Twilight, one of the tracks that propelled them to prominence. In the eyes of many people, WEi could only succeed. In addition to the versatility of their songs, all the members had already been part of a collective before integrating this new composition. There are thus these old groups: JBJ, 1The9, Rainz or even X1. It is however neither the first nor the last group to be formed on the contribution of members of former groups having more or less known success. WEi is thus, from the beginning, expected to have a bright future and has little room for error. The challenge is great for the children of OUI Entertainment as the expectations are considerable.
The group quickly decided to rely on Pentagon's Hui for the production of the song Twilight. Hui is mainly known, in addition to his constant involvement in the musical projects of his own group, for having participated in the conception of Shine, Sha La La or Energetic by Wanna One. But suffering from a backlog of work in both Korea and Japan, the Pentagon member was more discreet as a producer for a while.
At The Loft, WEi introduces themselves to the crowd right after the first song. Visitors are welcomed by Korean aficionados as well as other minorities. The group seems to be able to unite absolutely all of America. The ultimate mark of their impact on a global level. Follows the piece Timeless which occurs on a background of green light. The group takes a break from their choreographies in order to take the time to come together for an intimate moment with their audience. The room fills with generic hearts. The hands make the “ola”.
Everyone was waiting for him. All or Nothing, probably one of the best songs of the group, imposes its frenetic rhythm. The Loft is invaded by its synth texture and its oriental inspirations nourished by powerful transitions. Ironically, it's also one of the songs with the most mixed reception when it was released. Produced by Jang Dae Hyeon, the group's rapper, it is often said not to have what it takes for the grandiloquent impact that one might have expected. Considering the hundreds of jingles that can be heard across the music industry, this is an interesting, but highly questionable point of view.
After Super Bumpy, the group pauses again to interact with the crowd. Junseo speaks, evoking the birthday of Yo han who blew out his candles a few days before the concert. A birthday is necessarily celebrated in full tour. “It was in Houston. We thought there was a problem with the soundtrack playing. Then, everyone started to sing, and we finally understood what was happening. I found that so cool!" recalls Yo Han, himself. If touring plays a major role in an artist's life, Dae Hyeon and Junseo agree that this tour comes at just the right time. Shortly after the epitome of the health crisis which forced, for many months, artists to express their art digitally only, the First Love tour is like a second wind for the band as well as for their supporters. “When do you feel best?" Unsurprisingly, the audience rises in unison to respond "Right now!" to Dae Hyeon's question. "Us too, when we play in front of you guys," added Junseo.
The members then continue with a cover of Love Killa by Monsta X. The lights are flickering, the atmosphere is about to change completely. White halos take over the room to welcome Blossom, then Bad Night. The world becomes even more intimate and delicate. The RUIs raise their lightsticks one after the other, which also change color on the performance, this time of White Light. White Light marks the balance point of the concert, perfumed with a vocal-melodic ratio neither too tearful nor too immoderate for a title of this tenor. The band, however, were not going to leave Atlanta without delivering their catchy Too Bad, as well as Bye Bye Bye.
The concert ends on a superb encore with ABCDEF and RUi. They will have clearly made the Loft vibrate until the end of the night.
Special thanks to Max Experience, OUi Entertainment and WEi for the promotional collaboration
Photo & Video Credit: K Fuse Team
ORIGINAL WRITTEN BY:
Demona Lauren
Freelance Writer for Blender Magazine
Comments