On Friday, September 20, the air buzzed with anticipation as The KingDom graced the Palace Theatre in Los Angeles for their grand performance. The show was the seventh stop on the U.S. leg of their Unveil world tour, which kicked off earlier in September with standout performances in cities like Boston, New York, and Washington D.C.
Since their debut in 2021, The KingDom has charmed fans, called Kingmakers, with their elaborate fantasy concepts heavily inspired by historical and royal themes. Each of the seven members adopted a stage name inspired by legendary rulers from various cultures and is tasked with protecting their own “kingdom” from evil: Dann (Kingdom of Change), Arthur (Kingdom of Rain), Mujin (Kingdom of Cherry Blossoms), Louis (Kingdom of Aesthetic), Ivan (Kingdom of Snow), Hwon (Kingdom of Storm), and Jahan (Kingdom of Sun). Through The Kingdom CHAPTER 1 series, which spans across the group’s first seven albums, the septet introduced their individual storylines to the public, drawing fans into their lore with every cinematic comeback.
The historic Palace Theatre, a fitting venue for a group named after royalty, serves as a testament to the city’s once thriving theatre district and stands as the oldest remaining Orpheum theatre in the United States. It retains its vintage charm through stunning architecture and murals. However, it struggles with modern amenities like adequate lighting for the steep aisles and proper air conditioning, leaving attendees feeling the heat before the show even began. Despite the venue’s shortcomings, The KingDom’s electrifying performance and fun stages overshadowed any discomfort once the show started, captivating Kingmakers from start to finish.
Dressed in motocross-inspired leather jackets, The KingDom made their grand entrance and kicked off the night with two high-energy tracks from their latest contemporary EP, REALIZE. “Flip The Coin” pulled everyone out of their seat with its addictive heavy baseline while “ENERGY” kept the momentum going with its equally energetic chorus. The members’ quick footwork and intricate group formations stood out, and fans hyped them up throughout the song, chanting “You’re my energy!” Moving into the next song, “X-GAME,” the members sauntered to the edge of the stage to vibe with the crowd before regrouping for a heart-pumping, finishing dance break, choreographed by Arthur himself.
The KingDom members formally greeted their L.A. Kingmakers and expressed how amazing they felt to be back in L.A. Among the enthusiastic cheers from the crowd, one particularly loud voice rose above the rest and caught Dann’s attention. He teasingly asked if the fan had a microphone and said they must be an angel to have that power.
After a fun performance of “GUNDAM,” most of the members took their leave to make way for the special unit stages. First up was Mujin and Dann for their rap unit stage. The duo performed Mujin’s original Soundcloud song, “Attitude,” which he debuted on the tour. The addictive hip-hop/trap beat had everyone bobbing their heads as the two delivered each verse with confidence and swagger befitting for a Show Me The Money stage. Mujin then took his leave as Ivan and Hwon joined Dann for their live vocal cover of “Believer” by Imagine Dragons. Despite encountering technical issues, the trio shined onstage, making the song their own with their added ad-libs and smooth harmonies.
An in-depth video recapped The KingDom’s elaborate lore, setting the tone for the next performances, which centered on their History of Kingdom series. Now sporting whitewash denim vests and jeans, The KingDom returned onstage with renewed energy as they immediately launched into their debut track “Excalibur,” followed by “Love Live The King,” “Ascension,” “Dystopia,” and “Coup D’état.” Although the intricate props, royal garments, and backup dancers were absent on this tour, the group’s stage presence, theatrical choreography, and solid vocals still brought the series’ lore to life on stage.
The KingDom switched gears and segued into another round of special unit stages, starting with Arthur and Louis who delivered an impressive vocal and dance cover of “Baby Don’t Stop” by NCT U that sent NCTzens in the crowd into a frenzy. The CARATs in the audience then followed suit, hyping up Arthur, Jahan, and Dann during their funky performance of “Just do it” by the SEVENTEEN subunit, BSS. The rest of the members rejoined the trio on stage to finish the song before transitioning into a full-group cover of the beloved “What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction. While the previous set had Kingmakers chanting battle cry-esque fanchants, this stage was upbeat and vibrant, allowing Kingmakers to enjoy the fun stages.
Throughout the night, the members and Kingmakers exchanged playful banter during their ments, using the breaks to interact with them and recharge. During one exchange, a fan named Jonathan called out that they were already perfect, prompting Dann to enthusiastically respond, “I love you, bro!” Mujin then warned fans not to strain their voices from too much screaming, only for another fan to humorously respond that they had brought cough drops just in case.
Later, Dann shared how he almost burst into laughter during their “Believer” stage due to the noticeable height difference between his mic stand and the others’. His story earned him the affectionate nickname of “short king,” which had the other members laughing throughout the night as Dann playfully pretended to be offended.
As the concert drew to a close, the members took turns expressing their gratitude to everyone who came to their show. Arthur directly thanked Kingmakers for the energy they gave them, especially since the group wasn’t feeling their best that day. Mujin then touched everyone’s hearts by signing “I Love You” in Korean Sign Language, a thoughtful gesture to connect with the deaf and hard-of-hearing Kingmakers at the show. Dann and the L.A. Kingmakers then taught him the international sign for “I Love You” (🤟), which the members and the fans signed back to each other.
Before the night officially ended, they had one “final” song to perform and urged everyone to pay attention to its lyrics. As the lights illuminated the stage, the uplifting track “Best Thing” began to play. The song serves as a sweet, sonic love letter to Kingmakers, reflecting how deeply they value them and how they have changed the members’ lives for the better. Together, the members professed their gratitude through the heartfelt chorus, “The best thing about me is you.”
For their grand finale, The KingDom energized the crowd with their closing song, “Blinder.” The song’s upbeat tempo and bumpy bassline had everyone singing and jumping along to the music. As the song came to its end, the members had one more surprise for the fans. The music started up again, but this time the members leapt offstage and ventured into the audience. They ran up and down the aisles, made heart signs, posed for photos, and turned up with their fans up close. The closing number was the perfect way to end the night and created a memorable, festive atmosphere that left fans wanting more.
All in all, the two-hour concert offered a personal, intimate experience for L.A. Kingmakers. With a promise of a new album on the horizon, both The KingDom and Kingmakers are eagerly awaiting the group’s triumphant return to the City of Angels.