On April 8, the five-piece K-Pop group, VANNER, performed at the Vermont Hollywood in Los Angeles for the final stop on their VANNER 2022 U.S. TOUR: BOOST UP [PART 1], presented by CODE1 ENTERTAINMENT. Consisting of members Taehwan, Gon, Hyesung, Ahxian, and Youngkwang, the group was no stranger to the City of Angels. The quintet embarked on their first U.S. tour VANNER Rising in the U.S. in 2019 and returned for their Form & Fan First U.S. Fanmeeting at the tail-end of 2021. Now with a few new performances up their sleeves, the members were eager to return onstage and close off their third U.S. tour with a night that their fans, called VVS, would never forget.
Cr. Ericka P. Cr. Ericka P.
Gon’s roaring “가자!!” (Let’s go!!) ignited the crowd as they opened up with their edgy, rock-centric song, “Form,” followed by rhythmic and lighthearted “LACHATA.” Both hailing from the group’s second single album, Life, the exciting opening numbers showcased the members’ charismatic stage presence and pristine dance synchronization, setting the tone for an exhilarating night.
Cr. Yuna J. Cr. Yuna J. Cr. Yuna J.
VANNER proved their strong bond with VVS through their opening ments. After their group and individual introductions, the members exchanged brief casual conversations with the audience in Korean and English, asking if they’d eaten and stayed cool during the sudden heatwave. The group promised the audience that they would give everything they got for this last show, but also stressed the importance of safety. From the beginning of the show until the end, the members kindly asked that everyone keep their masks to ensure their health and well-being throughout the night’s festivities.
Cr. Ericka P. Cr. Ericka P.
The crowd went wild as soon as they heard the opening siren, signaling the beginning of the “Purge Day.” They chanted along to the lyrics, “today is the purge!” as the song’s explosive energy pumped up the crowd. The following trap/hip-hop track, “Nasty,” perfectly captured the group’s confidence and passion for the stage, wowing the crowd with their impressive rap flow.
Turning down the heat just a bit, VANNER swapped their aggressive tracks for sweet love songs such as “Without You” and “Like A Star.” Together, VANNER and VVS became one as everyone swayed their hands high in the air and sang along to the heartfelt lyrics.
VANNER interjected the performances with fun, impromptu Q&A segments to further connect with VVS. When asked where they want to go in LA, Gon immediately chose Santa Monica and Venice Beach, while Youngkwang said that he wanted to see the LA Lakers play an NBA basketball game. Ahxian stated that he fell in love with Malibu and wished to visit it again. Since they’ve already been to LA a few times, Hyesung directly asked the audience to share their recommended LA destinations with them on social media.
Amid their live performances and chatter, VANNER also made space for solo and unit stages specially for VVS. VANNER’s leader, Taehwan, started off the special set with a phenomenal solo performance of TOMORROW x TOGETHER’s “0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You).” The pop-rock track perfectly complemented the lead singer’s beautiful vocals as he captivated the audience with his charisma and stage presence. Following suit was Hyesung and Ahxian with their playful rendition of BTS’ “Permission To Dance” that had everyone singing and dancing along. Lastly, Ahxian, Gon, and Youngkwang closed off the set with an energetic rap performance of Song Mino, ONE, Andup, and JaMezz‘s “Turtle Ship” that had everyone turning up on the GA floor. The trio’s smooth flow befitted that of a hip-hop set as they set the stage on fire with their strong stage presence and charisma. Before the segment came to a close, Taehwan even teased a few lines of his solo digital single, “FROZEN” that had the audience cheering out of glee.
Jumping back into their group performances, VANNER went on to perform “Crying” and “Crazy Love.” While the former had everyone swaying their hands calmly in the air, the latter pumped up the crowd and even led to a few fans forming a small dance circle during the energetic number. Keeping up the momentum, VANNER briefly taught the choreography for their latest release, “Rollin’.” Cute and easy-to-follow, the song had everyone shimmying in their spots while a group of fans (possibly a cover dance group based on their coordinated outfits) mirrored the group’s entire dance routine from start to finish. They wrapped up the set with the future pop, tropical house track, “Better Do Better” that had the fans enthusiastically shouting back, “Bet better, do bet-bet-better!”
After swapping their outfits for black tour tees, VANNER returned for their encore stage with “Trampoline.” With their yellow tour light sticks in hand, the members embodied the song’s free-spirited charm as they jumped around stage, waved their light sticks in unison with the crowd, and ended the night’s festivities in a true, party fashion. After the show, the members lined up, thanked the fans for coming, and wished them well as they walked past them and exited the venue. Those who purchased 1-on-1 photos were able to take polaroid photos with the members and capture the night’s memories in a timeless keepsake. Although their tour has come to an end, VVS will eagerly await their return and anticipate their future endeavors.
Stay tuned for their upcoming content with the Kpopconcerts team coming soon!
Excellent article! Loved seeing Vanner in Atlanta.