Last week K-pop superstars ATEEZ brought their In Your Fantasy Tour to Wrigley Field in Chicago. The eight-member group has been making waves since before their official debut in 2018, and they’ve become one of the most notable names in the genre at the moment. Fans of the group, known as ATINY, shared the nearby streets and sidewalks with some very confused bar patrons taking part in the city’s annual Mustache Crawl. The iconic neighborhood surrounding the Cubs’ stadium transformed from Wrigleyville to Atinyville for the day, with a sea of attendees outside the venue dressed to the nines and giving out handmade freebies to fellow concert-goers and bar crawlers alike.
Live performance abilities are refined and polished for an artist’s entire career, but the natural charm and drama that the members of ATEEZ bring to the table make them truly stand out. They’ve become known for their intensity and theatrics; their animated facial expressions and the way they convey the emotion of each track with their body movement makes it difficult to look away for even a second. Every member had the chance to shine on their own and bring their own signature vibe to the stage, as well.
Earlier this month the group unveiled their album Golden Hour: Part.3 ‘In Your Fantasy Edition’, an extended version of their wildly successful EP Golden Hour: Part.3 (which peaked at no. 2 on the US Billboard 200 chart and no. 1 on the US World Albums Billboard chart). Along with the addition of a new title track to set the tone for this tour, the project also featured eight solo songs that were incorporated into the setlist. Yunho’s funky performance of “Slide to me” put his dancing skills on full display, meanwhile Seonghwa shed the layers between himself and the subject of his song “Skin” like a snake. Rock anthem “Legacy” by Yeosang brought the house down, and Wooyoung finally got to showcase the highly-anticipated “Sagittarius” that was posted to YouTube months before the official release.
Jongho’s ballad “To be your light” was a beautiful and heartfelt display of the extraordinary vocals he’s become known for. Later on San’s smooth performance of his sultry hit “Creep” had everyone’s full attention, and Mingi made the whole stadium bark for his rowdy solo “ROAR”. One of the more unique highlights of the evening was Hongjoong’s “NO1”. Each city gets a different version of the experience, depending on what styles and genres of music originated in the area. Chicago was blessed with a house remix, and nearly every person in the stadium was on their feet and dancing to it. It’s clear that a lot of time, care, and intention went into planning this tour.
Other notable setlist picks included some of their more energetic title tracks such as “Fireworks (I’m The One)” and ”BOUNCY (K‐HOT CHILLI PEPPERS)”, beloved b-sides like “Outlaw”, “Shaboom”, and “Now this house ain’t a home”. One particular song seems to have solidified its place in their live shows; the iconic “break the wall” fanchant that accompanies their boisterous classic “Guerrilla” is a must-see moment for every ATINY, and fans in Chicago made sure everyone in Wrigleyville could hear them.
It’s nearly impossible to witness a performance like that and not be impressed by it. Despite the lengthy runtime and the extreme heat, ATEEZ gave it their all and then some. Even in a venue as large as a baseball stadium, they managed to put on a concert that felt like a very personal reflection of their artistry while still connecting emotionally with every single fan in attendance. The bond appears to go both ways, though. Members expressed their gratitude verbally all throughout the evening, and their final goodbye to their ATINY seemed to be a touching moment for several members.
A stadium tour is no small feat, especially for a K-pop group promoting in the US. This is the result of these eight idols working tirelessly for years and giving 110% of their effort no matter the setting or circumstances. When presented with the opportunity to elevate their show to a higher level, they seized it and proved that they’re more than capable of handling a project of this magnitude. Instrumentals from their live band created a more electric atmosphere, skilled background dancers made a powerful impact on the storytelling, and the different props and stage elements utilized brought it all together. Even if you took away the catwalk, fireworks, and other extras a venue of that size can offer, one fact still remains true: ATEEZ is a one-of-a-kind group that’s captivating and leaves a lasting impact on anyone lucky enough to witness them.
This was beautiful! Thank you!
Wow! Loved the article on Ateez.