On November 1, vocal powerhouse Wendy returned to the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, six years after taking the same stage for Red Velvet’s REDMARE U.S. tour. This time, she stood onstage as a full-fledged solo artist for her 2025 WENDY 1st WORLD TOUR ‘W:EALIVE’ IN USA. The tour title is a combination of “Wendy” and “We Alive,” expressing her desire to exist and breathe through music. She even prepared a pre-show playlist of her favorite songs for fans as they waited for the show to start. “Since this concert is just filled with things I love, I wanted to share that excitement and anticipation before it even began.”
Wendy’s high-energy opening set perfectly captured the tour’s concept. Dressed in a stunning red gown, she launched into an a capella intro of “Fireproof.” Her silhouette glowed against the red lights as her voice filled the auditorium, before the live band surged for the powerful reprise. Afterward, she admitted, “I always get nervous on that part…But I think – I ate that.”
She then followed with “Hate²” from her latest album, Cerulean Verge, before rounding out the opening set with “Queen Of The Party.” For the latter, she explained it was a song of self-celebration, urging everyone to live each day as if they were royalty. “You guys are queens and kings, and I’m the queen!” she professed, earning cheers from the crowd. Returning to the same venue she performed at for Red Velvet’s Redmare concert, she welcomed both longtime ReVeluvs and greeted newcomers. Being back filled her with so many new emotions that she made a promise to them – “When you guys leave tonight, you’ll carry the most precious memories. I promise you.”
After warming up the crowd with her opening set, Wendy gifted the audience with songs that she personally loves. The jazzy numbers “Why Can’t You Love Me?” and “Best Ever” warmed everyone’s hearts while her soaring vocals in the all-English track “Chapter You” left them in awe. The lyrics of “Chapter You” were especially meaningful to her, framing each moment in a relationship as a new chapter in their own story. “Every time I sing this song, I feel like I’m writing a new chapter with you guys,” she commented. “These lyrics of this song mean a lot for me…I hope it’s the same for you guys, too.”
Wendy’s concert felt like part performance, part reunion with an old friend. Between sets, she was excited to share her personal experiences since she arrived in L.A. With Halloween the day before, Wendy was charmed by everyone dressed up to go trick-or-treating around town. Since Halloween isn’t celebrated in Korea the way it is in the U.S., she said she would’ve absolutely gone door-to-door for candy if she had a costume.
In another instance, Wendy recalled a hilarious fan encounter she had while out with friends. They stopped by to grab boba when the employee behind the counter looked at her and commented, “Oh you look like Wendy [of Red Velvet].” Wendy, shocked and amused, thanked her politely, only for the worker to ask her directly if she was Wendy because she looked like her. After finishing the story, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, now I am Wendy,” she told the audience, gesturing to her stage outfit. “But yesterday, I was half a Wendy.” Without the stage outfits and makeup, she was just a regular person hanging out with friends. “My Korean name is Seungwan,” she added. “So I guess yesterday I was half Wendy and half Seungwan!” In the moment, she even joked that if anyone ran into her around Pasadena, she would buy them boba — a playful joke sparked an even bigger reaction from the crowd when they burst into cheers.
Once the laughter settled, Wendy told the crowd that she needed to “get in the zone” for the next, more emotional portion of the night. For each song, she sat perched on a chair in a different part of the stage, serenading that specific side of the crowd. She performed “His Car Isn’t Yours,” stage right, “Better Judgment” stage left, and then returned to center stage for a powerful performance of “Vermilion.”
Wendy quietly slipped backstage while her live band took over, filling the typical VCR break between stages with an impressive instrumental set. After their performance, she returned in an elegant light blue dress for “Like Water,” followed by “When This Rain Stops” and “Believe.”
As she reflected on her songs thus far, Wendy showed particular affection for “Vermilion,” noting how the lyrics compare love to the colors of a sunset. She described “Like Water” as a message of gratitude dedicated to ReVeLuvs, while “When This Rain Stops” held a special place in the fans’ hearts, judging by the cheers that erupted during the opening notes. She announced that the composers of “Believe” were also in attendance and recalled how she insisted to her label that she just had to sing the song the moment she first heard it. Wendy repeatedly thanked her live band for adding their own flair to each arrangement, smiling as fans showered them with praises while the band responded with shy gestures.
Wendy followed with a medley of OST songs she performed over the years, including “Because I Love You” from the drama, Mimi. Wendy covered this song – originally sung by Lee Hyun Woo — during her pre-debut era under SM Rookies over a decade ago. Adding it to the setlist, she explained, was a way to reflect on how far she’s come and to share that growth with her fans.
Following the OSTs, Wendy sprinkled a couple of special songs into the setlist. She was excited to sing her song “Airport Goodbyes,” a track produced by indie-rock band The Black Skirts. With the lyrics, “Back in L.A. for a day,” the song was a perfect inclusion for the Pasadena concert. The fan-favorite of the night, however, came during her solo rendition of Red Velvet’s “Light Me Up.” Long-time ReVeLuvs went wild the moment they heard the opening notes – and the cheers grew each time she playfully changed the lyrics from “Oh boy” to “Oh girl.”
After energizing the crowd with “Wish You Hell” and the uplifting “Sunkiss,” Wendy left the stage in preparation for her final encore performance. In place of her absence, a recording of her disembodied voice poured through the speakers. In the heartfelt message, she shared how the moment felt like a dream, speaking honestly about the mix of excitement and doubt she felt while preparing for her first solo tour – “Can I really do well?” she thought. She credited her fans – “the most precious gift in my life” – for giving her the courage to persevere, framing the concert as both a thank-you and a vow to stay by their sides the way they have done for her. She hoped the show would become a fond memory and a source of comfort long after the night ended.
As the night drew to a close, Wendy returned onstage wearing her tour T-shirt and casual jean shorts for a comfortable final look. She saved “Best Friend” for the encore, calling it the perfect song to sing to those who have shown up for her time and time again. When a fan shouted that Wendy was their best friend, she laughed and agreed – that was exactly why she picked it. She reminded everyone that best friends are those who stay by your side through thick and thin. The mood deepened as she moved into “The Road.” Reflecting on the performance, Wendy cited the song as one of her most challenging and emotional to sing. The lyrics capture the emotional rush of forgotten memories suddenly resurfacing as you step onto an unfamiliar path. It was an emotion she felt resonated even more after spending this night with her fans, some of whom have remained by her side since debut.
Before the final stretch, Wendy thanked the audience for bringing the show to life. “The title is W:EALIVE,” she said, “but my concert really comes alive because of you.” As she prepared the audience for a call-and-response moment for the closing song, “Existential Crisis,” a baby’s tiny but mighty voice rang through the venue. Wendy and the crowd collectively melted, turning it into one of the most endearing moments of the night. She then rallied the audience and led them through the chant – setting the stage for a finale filled with pure, fun, energetic vibes.
From the curated pre-show playlist to the candid conversational tangents between songs, every part of the W:EALIVE concert reflected Wendy’s desire to bridge the gap and create a safe space for her and ReVeLuvs to reconnect. The setlist showcased not only her latest album, but also treasured OSTs and throwbacks that traced her journey that shaped who she is today.
The U.S. leg of W:EALIVE wraps up on November 11 at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C., and will continue onto Asia for the next leg of her first world tour.