On October 16, a crowd of fans, donned in bright pink, leopard print, and teddy bear headbands, milled about the lobby of the MGM National Harbor Hotel and Casino, just outside Washington, D.C. Excited murmurs weaved through the swarm as they made their way into the hotel’s theater for the night’s long-awaited show. After two years, the six-member girl group STAYC was back in the United States for their STAY TUNED world tour, and for the first time, they were making a stop in the DMV.
In the moments leading up to the show, fans, known as SWITH, took the time to pose for outfit photos with the hotel’s elaborate art installations and sculptures, catch up with friends sitting in different parts of the venue, and grab sweet treats at the theater’s concession stand. The energy in the building was joyous, and attendees, both casual and dedicated, shared in the anticipation of seeing the bubbly girl group make their DMV debut.
Originally slated to begin at 8PM, an announcer behind the scenes took the mic to relay that the show would be delayed to accommodate an unexpected sickness within the group.
With a late start, the lights of the theater dimmed, and finally, the moment SWITH had been waiting for had arrived. Before the members took the stage, a colorful video clip played, introducing them amid a futuristic cityscape. Bathed in glowing red light, the members, Sumin, Sieun, Isa, Yoon, and J appeared, each getting a chance to shine before fans under their own individual spotlight. Member Seeun was noticeably absent from the show, with members leaving a space for her as they took their places.
“DMV, you ready?” Sieun called before the group got into formation for their first song.
To a chorus of wild screams, the girls kicked off the show with “BEBE,” the deep house title track from their latest mini-album, S. Despite missing a member, the group seamlessly adjusted to the last-minute change, dancing with synchronicity and power.
As strobe lights illuminated the stage and a powerful rock breakdown played, the members then transitioned into the next song, “1 Thing.” Their matching white outfits stood out against the dark VCR playing behind them as they performed the step-dance-inspired choreography with attitude and sass. The members waved to SWITH and hyped up the crowd before moving onto the more cutesy track, the Korean version of their beloved song “Poppy.”
Fans screamed along each time the group recited their iconic catchphrase, “STAYC girls, it’s going down!” Despite the original Japanese version of “Poppy” being more popular, SWITH still sang along to all the lyrics of the bubbly track and could even be seen dancing along to its charming choreography. During the song’s peak, Yoon belted out the bridge’s impressive high note, which led to a high-energy dance break against a jazzy breakdown in the song.
The girls finally got a chance to catch their breath as they introduced themselves to the audience.
“It feels amazing to be here. Let’s make every second count!” Yoon declared.
The more emotional track “Beautiful Monster” came next, displaying the group’s clear vocals. “Cheeky Icy Thang” followed and included a stripped-down moment where STAYC sang a capella and clapped along with fans to the beat of the song. Throughout each performance, the group alternated between singing Seeun’s parts in her absence and letting a backtrack of her recorded vocals play.
Taking a quick break to change their outfits, another VCR played on the theater’s giant LED screen, showing the members walking through multicolored doors. Each door led the members into various rooms, each with a theme that hinted at their solo and unit song titles.
Sieun and J returned to the stage for their unit song, “Find.” The liquid drum and bass track, which usually includes Seeun, gave the duo a chance to show off their unique strengths. J, known for her lower register and rapping, was able to display her versatile vocal range through the performance. Sieun exhibited her crisp and clear vocals with dreamy ad-libs and runs throughout the song. The duo came together with their distinctive vocal tones and created perfectly blended harmonies.
Isa showed off her sweet but sexy side with a solo performance of “Roses.” The sensual R&B song had Isa flirting with the crowd using fluid dance moves and coy facial expressions to lure fans in. “Fakin’,” the pop-rock track by Sumin and Yoon, flaunted the duo’s compatible energy as they performed the spirited choreography with perfect synergy.
Once more, STAYC returned to the stage as a group, this time with standing mics, for the performance of “YOUNG LUV.” Despite having no choreography, the members kept SWITH energized with their powerful vocals and ability to hype up the crowd even when standing still. Sieun’s ending high notes stole the show as they concluded the nostalgic track.
The members took time to interact with the crowd, sharing the new foods they tried while exploring the Washington, D.C. area and asking DMV SWITH for recommendations on what to try. They continued interacting with the audience for “Beauty Bomb” and “Meant To Be,” taking turns going to each side of the crowd. Members threw hand hearts and waved to SWITH all the way in the back and balcony of the theater. Fans raised their phone flashlights high as they sang along with the girls.
“Do you know what this song means?” Yoon asked fans, referring to the lyrics of “Meant To Be.” “It means, ‘I’m so happy to have met you in this vast universe.’” After translating the lyrics, Yoon told fans that they looked like stars when they sang along.
To prepare for their upcoming stage, STAYC prompted the crowd to sing along a capella to “I WANT IT,” which had SWITH jumping in excitement. When the intro of the high-spirited track began, fans instantly danced along and recited the fan chants. The girls kept the energy up as they moved to the next stage, “Bubble,” another vibrant performance set against a colorful background that displayed the group’s youthful vibe. Throughout the performance, members wielded bubble guns, shooting actual bubbles into the crowd, much to the excitement of SWITH.
The group continued with “Trouble Maker,” maintaining a lively atmosphere throughout the venue. In another fun twist, member J held a GoPro camera while performing, filming herself and the other members dancing and jumping around on stage excitedly. In the middle of the song, J chose a lucky fan in the front row of the theater to receive the camera as a gift from the group.
Another VCR began as the girls left the stage, giving SWITH a glimpse into a deeper side of the members as they described their childhood habits, lifelong dreams, and the moments where they matured the most.
“After debuting as STAYC, I feel like I got to know myself better,” J shared in the video. “We were all so young when we first met, right? During our years together, we’ve grown up by taking positive energy from one another.”
On their transition into more mature concepts and sounds, Sumin confessed, “I’m curious to find out what we will make out of our potential.”
The video then transitioned into a more fantastical setting, showing animated versions of the members sitting at a dinner table with teddy bear counterparts. As the room began filling with water, the members broke through the wall to become their real selves. Finding themselves in a real-life garden, the girls grew glowing wings, signaling their “metamorphosis” into more mature women.
The members then took the stage once more, now fashioned in delicate, pink dresses that fit each of their unique personalities for a performance of “Twenty,” a free-spirited song about showing the world what you are capable of. “GPT,” came next as the members danced and jumped around on stage while an amusing 8-bit game-style video played in the background.
“STEREOTYPE,” followed – their second most-streamed track to date and a TikTok hit when it dropped in 2021. Known for its catchy chorus and bridge, the song featured Isa seamlessly delivering her famous line with saccharine vocals as SWITH in the crowd sang fluently to the Korean lyrics.
After a quick breather, STAYC kept the momentum with “RUN2U,” an energetic retro-synth track that highlighted the group’s stable vocals with its signature ending high notes. “ASAP,” their most-streamed song to date, was followed by a cacophony of cheers. Showing off their youthful and bright personas, STAYC charmed the crowd with a whimsical performance of “Teddy Bear.”
In preparation for their final stage, the group challenged SWITH to sing their debut track, “SO BAD.” The group listened on in awe as fans in the crowd crooned out the Korean lyrics with ease, impressing the group, who deemed SWITH worthy of hearing the full performance.
In anticipation of the group’s encore, SWITH recited fan chants and sang along to the background music. Suddenly, the lights of the MGM Theater shone once again, but to fans’ surprise and delight, STAYC wasn’t on stage, but rather, walking through the aisles of the venue. For “Gummy Bear,” the members took the time to interact with SWITH throughout the venue, taking selfies with fans, completing hand hearts, and dancing along to the sweet track before making their way back onto the stage.
Before their actual final song, STAYC took the time to express their gratitude to the DMV fans and their desire to come back to the area for their next tour.
“Because it’s our first time meeting [DMV SWITH] tonight, this is a brand new feeling,” Sumin shared. “Thank you so much for waiting for us, and thanks to you, we made so many amazing memories tonight.”
Yoon made a promise to SWITH to make sure Seeun would have a chance to perform for the DMV fans the next time they came. “As STAYC, we’re going to come back with all six of our members, so don’t be too sad!”
After a quick group photo with all the fans in the audience, the group concluded the lively night with a performance of “Stay WITH Me,” the heartfelt but jovial track dedicated to their beloved SWITH that had fans bouncing in their seats.
STAYC’s passion for performing, love for SWITH, and close bond as a group were clear throughout their performance in Washington, D.C. An unforgettable moment for both the group and the fans, STAYC is sure to keep SWITH by their side for years to come.