Hot off the release of their new project “L,” The Volunteers kicked off their 26-city North American Tour in 2024 with explosive energy in Seattle, Portland, and Berkeley during the Fourth of July weekend. Our team joined them and their fans at The Cornerstone, an intimate concert hall in Berkeley, CA.
For the uninitiated, The Volunteers is a three-person rock band consisting of close friends Yerin Baek (vocals and guitar), Jonny (guitar), and Chiheon Kim (drums). Their namesake ties back to the members helping Baek Yerin through tough times before their formation without expecting anything in return. Their initial self-titled debut album, The Volunteers, released via Blue Vinyl (Baek Yerin’s previous music label), was an immediate hit among alternative rock fans in the K-Pop community.
At 8:30PM sharp, the band kicked off the show with “Violet,” a rebellious and unapologetic introduction to their first album, with overflowing energy that forecasted the powerful show to come. Baek Yerin’s soft, electric vocals instantly captivated the crowd, prompting loud but polite cheers upon recognizing the addicting intro guitar riff.
Without missing a beat, the band smoothly transitioned into “Crap,” a calm interlude that set the stage for their most popular and anticipated hit, “Summer.” Baek Yerin then took a moment to address the fans, sharing that this was their first North American tour. She expressed her gratitude to everyone for coming and playfully mentioned that she had a few sips of alcohol backstage, hoping everyone would have a great time and an even better summer.
The stage lights dimmed briefly as the members faded into the large “TVT” backdrop hanging behind the stage before lighting back up in deep shades of blue and purple for “S.A.D,” an upbeat, high-energy rant that had the audience jumping and bouncing to the heavy kick drum and cymbal crashes. The switch-up in key halfway through the performance allowed Jonny to show off his guitar technique as he effortlessly strummed through the chorus.
As the band segued into “Radio,” a slow and melancholy song that delves into religious themes with lyrics like “She believes in God, but I’m livin’ in hell,” the lighting transitioned to flashing red, white, and orange tones. This illumination highlighted the band for the first time in the show, showcasing their rock-inspired outfits: Jonny sporting a Led Zeppelin tee, Baek Yerin in a short-sleeved top revealing her arm tattoo, and Chiheon Kim in his classic white hoodie.
The next songs showcased their sophomore project, “New Plant,” while also revisiting “PINKTOP,” a fun and catchy pop-rock track that heavily utilized multiple pedal board effects for the guitarists. Taking a quick break, Baek Yerin introduced the band members and noted seeing familiar faces from their last tour in Berkeley, prompting loud cheers from their dedicated fans who had returned. Baek Yerin then shared, “We would like to play the new songs too,” and the band launched into a non-stop performance of “Velvet Glove,” “Psycho,” “Starfish on Your Head,” and “L” from their latest EP “L.” It has quickly gathered millions of streams across multiple platforms despite being released on such short notice – with the title track “L” being released as a grungy, grainy music video that shows off the band performing in a fiery saloon. Despite being released just days before the start of the tour, the new songs quickly became fan favorites, as evidenced by the enthusiastic cheers as fans recognized each song.
Taking another short break, Baek Yerin spoke to the audience in Korean. She mentioned her hope to continue positively impacting college students, referencing the attention her words from the last show in Berkeley had received on social media. The band then dived into “Tell ‘em Boys,” an upbeat track with an intense rhythmic drum solo for Chiheon Kim, and “Medicine,” an angsty rock showcase that gives each drummer an excuse to headbang before setting aside their instruments and quickly shuffling off the stage.
As the lights dimmed, the cheers, screams, and applause for an encore grew louder, reaching a deafening volume. The band returned to the stage for their final two performances: “Hypocreep,” a grunge song featuring a call-and-response fan chant, followed by “Let Me Go!“—a psychedelic and euphoric finale to a whirlwind night. This North American Tour was a highly anticipated follow-up to their previous North American showcase and a celebration of the band’s reunion after their 2023 hiatus. The eclectic energy of the performances made it clear that their return, complete with a new EP, was well worth the wait. As the band works its way throughout North America and Asia, fans worldwide are in for a treat.
Credits:
Written by Kairui Z.
Extra thank you to LE AARONFIM