The neighborhood of East Williamsburg, Brooklyn felt tranquil on a Wednesday night, or so it seemed until you stepped foot in Avant Gardner. Right inside the complex lies a warehouse venue known as The Great Hall as fans congregated on the massive dance floor. With their rose lightsticks in hand, they waited for Woosung to take the stage.
Woosung is an all-round artist known for his work as a soloist and the frontman of the South Korean band The Rose. The B4 WE DIE Tour follows the release of his second full-length album 4444. While promoting the album, Woosung created a project known as the 4444 Archives, where fans who purchased the wristband could receive early access to two songs off the album before the release and other exclusive behind-the-scenes content. Through this EDM-inspired album, listeners could anticipate hearing his new songs live on tour.
Starting the show off was IÖN, a South Korean producer and DJ. He is a member of the hip-hop duo GroovyRoom and recently made his solo debut this year. His set featured remixes of heavy bass beats including some from his new EP CÖURAGE. The mix was a great way to get the crowd warmed up and dancing along.
What came as a treat for many of The Rose fans (or Black Roses as they’re called) was Woosung’s bandmate Dojoon (a.k.a by his DJ moniker Parclassic) joining in on tour as DJ. Feeding off the New York spirit, he welcomed everyone with Alicia Key’s “Empire State of Mind” and Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York.” With curated remixes featuring a blend of pop hits and EDM tracks, Parclassic transformed the venue into a stomping rave party. The excitement elevated as a countdown timer popped up on the LED display, counting to the number ‘4444’ – signaling Woosung’s appearance.
The bright blue lights flashed on as Woosung stepped out, creating an effervescent atmosphere. He opened up with “Paper Cuts,” the first track off of his new album. Following up with “Before We Die,” he goaded the crowd to sing along throughout the performance. Woosung’s alluring vocals paired with Parclassic’s mixing brought the audience into euphoria.
Some of his older releases that made it on the setlist included “FACE,” where Woosung showed off his signature kick towards the last verse. During “Lazy,” he asked everyone, “Are you lazy?” but the energy there was far from it. The next four consecutive songs were from his MOTH EP but with a few surprises thrown in. “Side Effects” featured a snazzy guitar solo from Parclassic and a special guest appearance from Satica as she showcased her soulful vocals. “Phase Me” was another stunning performance with the moth animation on the LED display and an EDM remix that enhanced the lively club experience.
Midway through the set, Woosung commented on how he was happy to be back in New York and called it his second home. While on the topic of his album 4444, he went on to explain how the number ‘4’ is considered the death number in Asian cultures. Despite the negative connotation of that number, Woosung spoke about how death could be conceived as a continuation of the circle of life. “For this next song, I want to show you a little bit of beauty inside of death,” he continued, transitioning to the sentimental ballad “Day That I Died.”
“Who’s ready for some karaoke time?” Woosung asked the audience as he joined Parclassic at the DJ booth. With two band members on stage, it was time for a The Rose medley as the fans sang along to the lyrics on the screen. Parclassic craftily remixed their song “Back To Me” with Thirty Seconds to Mars’ “Do or Die” and took over the mic while he sang his verse. The medley concluded with the hit “Sour,” featuring a display of greenly lit lightsticks.
Nearing the end, Woosung shared some of his heartfelt thoughts, “I’m so happy that we found each other, I’m so happy that you found me, I’m so happy that I found you,” during his performance of “Found You.” A display of clouds (similar to those from the album cover) projected on the LED display for the final song, “44 (Forget Forever),” and in those last moments, Woosung appeared to be completely immersed in the atmosphere.
It truly was a blissful evening filled with lots of singing and dancing. Woosung mentioned that he will be back with The Rose next time, hinting at another tour in the works. With that good news, fans left the venue yearning to hear his voice again.
