On June 22, South Korean singer-songwriter BIBI transformed YouTube Theater in Los Angeles into her stage for a dramatic theatrical and concert experience—showcasing her self-written EVE world tour to entranced fans for a 2.5-hour journey that vividly brought attendees into the tumultuous life of a 1980s pop star named “EVE.” Despite nursing a cold, she steamrolled through the entire night with her strong vocal prowess, virtually unlimited stamina, and charismatic crowd work, delivering a performance that left fans breathless.
The L.A. show began with a surprise, unannounced opening set by James An. Softspoken and humble, the South Korean rapper admitted that he was hired as BIBI’s tour translator, but had barely been needed given her strong grasp of English. He delivered a thoughtful opening set with “Sasha,” a tender track named after his 8-year-old labrador that broadly sings of the bond between a dog and its owner. He followed with “Mia Wallace,” a song inspired by the Pulp Fiction character that tapped into themes of wealth and loneliness. His songs were personal, introspective, and captivated an audience that hadn’t expected such a moving performance.
Before moving onto his last track, An reflected on how touring with BIBI showed him the powerful impact of her music, as well as the beauty of her diverse fanbase, who proudly embrace their identities and respect each person’s background. He closed with “AIN’T NOBODY FREE TILL EVERBODY IS,” a powerful anthemic rap inspired by the famous quote from civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer. An commented, “Justice could not be obtained without the freedom of all individuals…regardless of what identity or what minority group or any group or community you belong to… [The song] is also an examination of my own privileges because I also have a lot of work to do.” An’s unexpected opening set left a lasting impression on the crowd, many of whom ended the night as newfound fans.
With the crowd properly warmed up and buzzing from An’s performance, the main show began with BIBI introducing her artfully crafted imaginary pop star through a VCR segment showcasing EVE. As the stage lights illuminated her body, she stepped out dressed in a dark navy blouse with white flower details and a cream pleated skirt. BIBI opened with “Midnight Cruise,” a city-pop piece with bright LED cityscapes soaring across the back, as her voice blessed the crowd. Despite the venue’s size, the well-engineered acoustics made her feel closer than she actually was, giving the performance an intimate feel. Titled “Romance,” the first section set the tone for the evening, with the next song continuing as a slower ballad, “Hangang Gongwon.” Dimmed lighting and a sunset backdrop created a nostalgic atmosphere as she serenaded about the iconic river that strikes through the center of Seoul.
BIBI’s connection with her audience was immediate and genuine, as she took a quick break to declare LA her favorite U.S. city to roaring approval. She then playfully warned fans about her cold, jokingly asking, “Who wants to catch a cold?” to another round of cheers. Her light-hearted humor continued to shine through as she urged the crowd to watch and enjoy each VCR, exclaiming “you guys have to, I spent so much on that shit.”
The show then suddenly picked up the pace with “Scott and Zelda,” where BIBI performed a flirtatious office romance with a male accomplice—filled with playful choreography like a game of hide-and-seek with a security guard. Her superhuman costume change in the space of just 10 seconds drew gasps and cheers from the audience. In a quick pivot, the concert took a sensual turn with “Burn It,” as a large bed was rolled onto the stage that was bathed in sultry red lights. BIBI’s smooth R&B voice and body-rolling choreography hypnotized the audience, and without giving them a chance to breathe, she continued the momentum with “Pygma Girl“—a jazzy piece that emphasized her breathless vocals.
The show’s commitment to storytelling was moved along with yet another dramatic VCR, revealing the darker side of EVE’s mental wellbeing, showing the character unimpressed by her numerous awards and trophies, tossing and trashing them like meaningless objects, before virtual news reports announced her death. This narrative pivot then led to “Sugar Rush,” where BIBI emerged in a crop top and shorts to an EDM remix with harsh synths and extended dance breaks.
BIBI paused briefly to introduce the concept of “Hongdae,” a vibrant district in Seoul popular among youth and aspiring musicians, reminiscing about how she once idolized that lifestyle. The show then jumped into a vivid 3D recreation of Seoul’s famous district on the LED screens. As background dancers portrayed drunk punks looking to instigate, BIBI fought through the chaos during “Hongdae R&B.” Her angst continued with “Real Man,” a pink and purple-lit ballad, and “Meat,” a deceptively sensual song that hides deeper themes about “buying” a person not with money, but with love.
The second half of her VCRs introduced EVE-1, a clone of the original EVE, which marks the rebirth of the original character. Through her dramatic acting, BIBI portrayed a confused and rebellious EVE-1, rejecting expectations and exploring themes of identity and autonomy. Her slow but beautiful ballad “Winter” provided a moment of respite with falling snow effects, while “Bluebird” featured a new outfit addition of angelic white wings.
BIBI then addressed the audience directly about how she scripted and wrote her album about self-love, explaining how the EVE narrative represents people’s struggle against external expectations—that despite societal pressures to be the perfect student, partner, or parent, it’s important to maintain and respect oneself. She assured that even if people are struggling to love themselves, she will love and continue to write music for everyone, creating a genuine moment of connection with the audience.
Marking the end of her persona EVE, she transitioned to showcasing BIBI, with hip-hop and R&B-fueled aggressive songs like “BIBI Vengeance” and “BAD SAD AND MAD.” The energy in the venue peaked during “City Love,” where she ran the length of the venue before selecting a fan named “Nest” for the evening’s most memorable interaction. The nervous Nest struggled to maintain composure as BIBI performed her flirtatious “Best Lover,” filled with dancing around the seated fan, before “breaking up” with him and giving him a signed album.
BIBI continued to work the crowd with her signature “extraordinary jobs” segment, where she asked audience members to share their occupations, which ranged from Disney employees to cafe workers. Her response to everyone was to share her own job—that of a singer who has been “delivered to America”—and identifying as a “Fedexx Girl” led into one of the evening’s most playful songs, backed by postal imagery on the LED screens.
The final stretch of the night featured BIBI’s biggest hits, including the infamous and explicit “She Got It,” the glamorous “The Weekend,” and “KAZINO” with casino-themed visuals. She concluded the set with “BINU,” her debut single, while running around the stage waving goodbye to each and every fan.
Not to be outdone, she jumped out with an encore and maintained the energy with “PADO,” featuring crashing waves in the back and surf-themed lyrics, before bringing back her dancers for “Bumpa.” BIBI took the time to introduce and thank each dancer, giving each member an opportunity to introduce themselves and showcase their personality. The evening then finally concluded with “Eat My Love,” a sweet farewell that left the audience thoroughly fulfilled and charmed.
BIBI’s EVE tour was certainly a unique experience, brought on by BIBI’s impressive ability to maintain the energy and connection with her fans for 2.5 hours, smoothly shifting between intense storytelling and fun, lighthearted performances. The audience was pushed to embrace a vivid narrative journey that offers a uniquely immersive experience, which lingers long after her final wave.