Beloved boy group SEVENTEEN, made up of S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, The8, Mingyu, DK, Seungkwan, and Dino, has had an incredible year. From becoming the first K-Pop act to headline Lollapalooza Berlin, the first K-Pop act to perform at Glastonbury Festival’s main stage, UNESCO’s first Global Ambassadors for Youth, and winners of “Best Group” at the MTV Video Music Awards, it’s fair to say that SEVENTEEN is at the top of their game. On October 25 and 27, two years after their BE THE SUN World Tour, the group made their highly-anticipated return to New York’s UBS Arena for a sold-out, two-night stop of their [RIGHT HERE] World Tour. Throughout the weekend, SEVENTEEN delivered a memorable experience for fans, known as Carats, through concerts and offsite events in the Big Apple.
FAN EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
On October 26, between their concerts at UBS Arena, SEVENTEEN held a Carat Station pop-up in Soho, organized in partnership with Spotify. Hundreds of Carats lined up before the pop-up opened to experience a SEVENTEEN-inspired subway station. Fans were able to build their own bouquets at the Carat Street Flower Market, reminiscent of the one from the “_WORLD” music video, and try out kimbap and Choco Pies. Other activities included a photo booth and a souvenir station where Carats could receive an exclusive lightstick strap and a keychain with their bias’ name. Eagle-eyed fans excitedly noticed that Joshua, Mingyu, DK, and Seungkwan had visited the space prior to its opening to try out the experience, leaving photos and autographs as traces of their experience.
That same day, 250 lucky fans with Weverse Carat fan club memberships attended an official CARAT World event in the city, where they could meet other fans and learn some of SEVENTEEN’s choreography.
Both days of SEVENTEEN’s New York concerts were full of excitement even before the shows even started. The Park at UBS Arena, a green space directly across from the arena entrance, was open for attendees starting at noon to take advantage of the beer garden, outdoor heaters to fend off the autumn chill, outdoor skating rink, mini golf, food trucks, and more. The Carat Zone, open to fans who held Weverse Carat Membership, saw long lines as fans queued up to claim their complimentary official tour photocards. Arena staff kindly directed fans to The Park for any trading or freebie exchanges. The arena also organized fun activities for fans such as sidewalk chalk drawing, friendship bracelet-making, a 360-degree camera booth, and a Team SVT photo activation.
The most endearing and notable feature of the campus was a station inspired by the design of SEVENTEEN’s Love & Letter Repackage Album and the iconic song, “VERY NICE.” A vintage, serenity blue rotary phone was placed on an ice cream cone-shaped podium. After the beep, fans could pick up the phone and leave a voice message for SEVENTEEN.
THE SHOWS
The anticipation among Carats was palpable as all 19,000 venue seats began filling out when doors opened. Fans were especially hyped up as SEVENTEEN’s music videos played on the big screens within. The show kicked off with the cinematic “MAESTRO” music video before the venue’s lights went dark, and the large LCD backdrop that spanned the entire stage pulsed bright red with visuals of fiery smoke. Dancers dressed head-to-toe in red jumpsuits and silver helmets performed a dramatic opening number. SEVENTEEN members Wonwoo, Hoshi, and Vernon were elevated onto the main stage, and the dancers fell to the ground as Wonwoo began singing the opening lyrics to “FEAR.” The backdrop then opened to reveal S.Coups, Joshua, Woozi, The8, Mingyu, DK, Seungkwan, and Dino atop risers of various heights and dressed in customized black tuxes that were both sleek and elegant. The LCD screens on the risers and the main screen created the effect that the group emerged from the smoke, mesmerizing the audience as they performed the song.
The group disappeared backstage and the backdrop showed a dazzling display of blue and green snakeskin patterns morphing into a red and orange desert landscape. A flash of lightning and fiery stage effects brought SEVENTEEN back on stage for “Fearless.” The group’s powerful choreography and equally powerful vocals were a theatrical introduction to SEVENTEEN’s synchronicity as a group.
Two stage risers – one with a sheet music stand that boosted Hoshi and another with a piano appeared. Woozi began to play the opening chord progression of “MAESTRO” on the piano as Hoshi performed a short dance solo with a conductor’s baton. The song and its placement within the show’s intro seemed to be an intentional choice showing SEVENTEEN at a glance. Woozi, who also serves as the group’s main producer, previously revealed that the song’s instrumental is actually a mix of each of SEVENTEEN’s title tracks since their debut in 2015.
The group finally had a moment to catch their breaths and greet Carats. Notably missing were Jeonghan, who recently began his mandatory military service, and Jun, whose acting schedules in China conflicted with the tour. While each member introduced themselves normally, Hoshi’s stood out as one of the many amusing moments during the show. Known for his love of tigers and his own tiger persona, Hoshi’s introduction came with its own theme song which saw him walking down the catwalk and directing fans to join him in a “tiger paw” hand motion before ending with his catchphrase, “horanghae,” a portmanteau of the Korean words for “I love you” and “tiger.”
After intros, SEVENTEEN and their dancers got into position for the next song. A transitional instrumental, which many Carats may have recognized as being sampled from the song “HOT,” strobe lights, and stage sparklers set against the visual of a solar eclipse got fans excited for “Ash.” The crowd went wild when the group ran down the catwalk during the song’s bridge, allowing them to interact with fans more directly and encourage them to put their hands up. They kept the high energy going as they transitioned into the fan-favorite love song, “Crush,” before heading backstage.
After they left, a VCR began to play, showing SEVENTEEN riding a marigold and light blue train, similar in color to their train station-themed Carat Station pop-up in Seoul and New York. Fans in the audience gasped as they recognized that the train car’s “ads” were graphics featuring lyrics from SEVENTEEN’s songs. The short video saw the members joking around, conversing, and listening to music together before the train ride became turbulent and dark as the members argued. After the train exited the tunnel, the light, carefree atmosphere returned. For longtime Carats, the VCR seemed to signify the highs and lows of SEVENTEEN’s group dynamic over the nine years since their debut.
When the video ended, the backdrop began to display splashing water and the stage lights and lasers flashed in blue. The backdrop’s doors opened to reveal S.Coups, Wonwoo, Mingyu, and Vernon dressed in wintery white and standing on the risers, which had the illusion of a flowing water fountain. The four members, who make up SEVENTEEN’s hip-hop unit, jumped right into a lively performance of “Water” for the first unit stage of the night. Carats jumped and danced along to the song and went wild for the unit’s nonchalant, laid-back attitudes. Even with the autotune effects of their mics, each member’s voices were still loud and clear.
Next up for the hip-hop unit was “Monster.” As the members and their dancers took their positions at the front of the catwalk, the stage lights and lasers shone green and purple before the venue lights went dark except for the LCD backdrop. A monster with glowing green eyes appeared with a well-timed screech before the backdrop changed to a spooky forest. However, what really captivated the crowd was the sight of the members starting the performance with spooky bear masks held to their faces, before casually tossing them away during the song. The song ended with visuals of jack-o-lanterns on the screen, just in time for Halloween.
The next unit to grace the stage was the performance unit, consisting of main dancers Hoshi, The8, and Dino. The trio appeared onstage wearing black muzzles and were complemented by visuals of a post-apocalyptic society. Lasers onstage had the illusion that they were trapped in futuristic cages. It was the perfect setup for “Rain,” a city pop-inspired song with melancholic lyrics that tell the story of a figure roaming through a broken city with an equally broken heart. Despite being down a member, Hoshi, The8, and Dino’s powerful vocals and choreography made up for Jun’s absence.
They transitioned seamlessly into the fan-favorite track “Lilili Yabbay.” The performance unit’s fluid yet energetic choreography left fans mesmerized as they sang of yearning for a mysterious lover in their dreams. The background dancers were a highlight of the performances as well, playing their own roles as they interacted with the members.
The final subunit to perform was the vocal team, made up of Woozi, Joshua, DK, and Seungkwan, outfitted in tailored olive green retro suits. They appeared majestically against a starry background at the center of a solar system to sing “Candy.” The sweet love song and their sweet vocals melted Carats’ hearts.
Next was the uplifting track “Cheers to youth,” which explores the insecurity of growing up. The stage’s confetti burst as the members walked down the catwalk, hyping up the audience. As the four performed, the backdrop displayed polaroid photos of SEVENTEEN at various points in their career, giving fans a glimpse into their memories. Like the performance unit, the vocal team was also missing a member with Jeonghan completing his military service. Despite this, the unique tone of each of their voices and their clear harmony as a unit shined through during their stage.
As the members went backstage to prepare for the next act of the show, another VCR played. The lighthearted video showed the members in various apartments of a building. Fans were treated to videos of each group hanging out and spending time together in their own way, whether it was ordering takeout, listening to vinyls, or playing basketball or ping pong.
The mood continued as SEVENTEEN returned to the stage to perform a silly skit version of “Oh My!”, this time arriving in a silver time machine that looked like it came straight out of The Jetsons. Like the VCR beforehand, the members played badminton and basketball onstage while others lounged in couches. The song’s bridge was interrupted by their dancers in inflatable animal costumes and safari outfits. The members tried to fight them off before they made peace and finished the song together.
SEVENTEEN then turned back time by throwing it back to their debut in 2015. The backdrop displayed the iconic beach photo the group took at the end of their reality show, Seventeen Project: The Big Debut. The group then recreated the photo onstage, leaving space in the middle for where Jeonghan and Jun would usually sit. “A lot has changed, but our feelings for Carats remain the same. We love you Carats!” the group shouted together, before launching into “Snap Shoot.”
To many fans’ delight, the group incorporated the fan-loved “DK Time,” into the “Snap Shoot” bridge. The segment features DK going into aerobics instructor mode to teach the group a silly dance move. It’s a mainstay for SEVENTEEN concerts and typically reserved for performances of “Left & Right.” The weekend’s renditions of “DK Time” saw the members follow DK’s prance down the catwalk as they each took turns creating their own dance moves for the members to mimic.
The group kept the feel-good energy going with “God of Music,” another song that had Carats dancing and singing out the lyrics, “SEVENTEEN to the world!” The stage turned into a party as confetti burst and the animal characters, which Vernon joked was like Jumanji, joined SEVENTEEN to dance and hype up fans from every part of the stage.
During a break afterward on both nights, Seungkwan and Mingyu brought up how New York is Vernon’s hometown. The members teased him for getting shy whenever the fact was brought up.
“Well, I was born in New York and then lived in Hoboken for a short while,” Vernon replied, which was met with cheers from hometown fans. “So actually, all the memories I have of this place are not from my childhood, but with you guys. Carats are our home.”
“‘Home?’ That sounds like our next song!” Hoshi said before singing the chorus of the song in question. They then got into position for the heartwarming song. The audience sang the call-and-response fanchant during the chorus without missing a beat. When it came time for the song’s iconic triple axel spins in the choreography, the crowd erupted in cheers.
The next VCR was well-timed to the already fragile emotions of Carats. The video showed all thirteen members of SEVENTEEN posing for group photos in formal suits. Once the photo was taken, the VCR transitioned into a shot of the members forming a circle, their fists together to reveal matching team rings. The video ended with the group having a toast and enjoying each other’s company over champagne and a table decorated with flowers.
SEVENTEEN then brought the party vibe back with fun, rave-like blue lasers and flashing lights, heading straight into the English version of “LOVE, MONEY, FAME,” their collaboration with DJ Khaled and the title track of their latest mini-album, Spill the Feels. Their energy was more laid-back as they performed in more casual oversized sweats, jeans, and hoodies.
The mood was carefree and unserious when SEVENTEEN took a moment to grab water and speak with Carats. On the first night, DK and Seungkwan remarked that “LOVE, MONEY, FAME” should be renamed, “CARAT, MONEY, FAME.” The exchange led the group to ask, “What is love?” while DK yelled back, “CARAT!” During the Sunday show, Vernon rapped one of his “LOVE, MONEY, FAME” verses on the song acapella, which inspired Seungkwan to try freestyling on his own.
As they took more time to hydrate, the members asked the audience what songs they wanted to hear that weren’t on the setlist. Carats were treated to silly acapella snippets of fan favorites like “Dar+ling,” “CLAP,” “Cheers,” “Fighting,” “LALALI,” “Shining Diamond,” “Mansae,” and “Shadow.”
The jokes continued as SEVENTEEN teased “March,” the next song on the setlist. “January, February…what comes after?” Joshua asked on night one. On the second night, Mingyu shared a pun: “Carats, I love you so march.”
The lights and backdrop changed to a deep red-orange and the flamethrower effects at the front of the stage set the tone for the cowboy Western-inspired track. After the bridge, Hoshi let out a feral scream into the mic as fireworks blasted from the stage, igniting fans’ excitement as they waved their lightsticks and jumped along.
Up next was one of the most hotly-anticipated songs of the night – “Super,” the theatrical title track from SEVENTEEN’s 10th mini-album FML, which was the best-selling global album of 2023 according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Carats went wild, passionately singing along at the top of their lungs, “I love my team, I love my crew, yeogikkaji dallimyeonseo / I love my team, I love my crew, gyesok dallil su isseo deo.” Woozi in particular stood out in the performance, fully in his element. He opened the song with his distinct vocal riff, served as the flyer for the choreography’s demanding pyramid-style lift, and closed the song with an energetic outro.
Fans were at the center of the next segment, dubbed Carat Time, which was essentially a short dance party and sing-along session to some of SEVENTEEN’s greatest hits. The venue’s big-screen cameras scanned the crowd and highlighted clever signs, groups in matching outfits and funny costumes, and Carats who came to party like it was the club. For ten minutes, it was touching to see fans who didn’t even know each other prior to the show lock arms and sing together.
When SEVENTEEN returned for the encore, their energy was much less formal. They performed the lighthearted, upbeat songs, “Adore U” and “‘bout you,” without choreography, allowing the group to interact more directly with fans. The members went around the stage to respond to some signs with a little fanservice and even took some selfies on fans’ phones.
Finally, the members sat back on the stage’s risers to share some final remarks before the last part of the show. Each member prepared a heartfelt message of gratitude for Carats’ support and wished them strength and good health in return. Many of the members shared their initial worries that injuries would keep them from participating in the U.S. tour. Others apologized for leaving U.S. Carats waiting for so long after the BE THE SUN Tour.
When it was Vernon’s turn to speak at the end of night one, he offered his candid thoughts about returning home:
“Our first time performing in the U.S. was actually in New York in 2016. That was actually my first time coming back to the city since I left it. It’s really weird because my parents tell me I’m from New York and other English speakers tell me I have an Eastern American dialect. But most of the things I know about this city are from an outsider’s view. But thankfully, throughout my life, the only reason I’ve been able to come back to my birthplace is all because of you guys. I’m extremely grateful for that, and for all the experiences I’ve been able to have as a member of this group.”
Throughout their speeches, the members expressed their desire to return as a full group. As S.Coups put it, “SEVENTEEN is perfect as thirteen people.” They then ended their soft remarks with an emotional performance of “Campfire.”
They switched up the mood by launching right into the first performance of “VERY NICE” that night, encouraging Carats to jump and dance along. And then they performed it again. And again. And again, for the last 30 minutes of the show. “Endless aju-nice,” or “never-ending aju-nice,” is another signature, joyously unhinged SEVENTEEN experience.
Seungkwan made trips down to the barricade to challenge Carats to sing his high note in “VERY NICE,” and some fans got creative. One Carat brought two kazoos – one for her and one for Seungkwan – to perform the note. Another ripped off her blonde wig and offered it to Seungkwan after her friend sang. At the second show, one person sang the song in perfect opera style, which had the members cracking up and prompted Vernon to write on Weverse after the show, “i’m inspired to make singing 17 songs opera style my new thing now.”
On the second night, SEVENTEEN took a final bow after dancing to “Holiday,” but Hoshi ran back to the catwalk to pull one more aju-nice out of his members and Carats. They took their real last bow, and waved goodbye to fans until the very last centimeter of the stage doors closing, bringing New York’s 17-carat weekend to an end.
Overall, SEVENTEEN’s ‘RIGHT HERE’ stops in New York were the ultimate celebration not just of the group’s nearly decade-long career, but also of their fans. With the group beginning their enlistment era, the weekend felt particularly meaningful as a tribute to the fans. From the crafting of a setlist that was undeniably “SEVENTEEN,” the throwback skits reminiscing about their rookie era, their usual brand of onstage silliness, and fan events rooted in community, the weekend was a love letter to each and every Carat that supported SEVENTEEN from their debut up until now. Although there is uncertainty over this next chapter, New York Carats will eagerly cheer for SEVENTEEN and wait for their return.