“This is just the beginning. We will repay you steadily, so just follow us.”
The group RISE has proudly made its name as a representative group of the music industry, including SM Entertainment, by entering the gymnastics arena just two years after their debut.
On the 6th, RISE held their first solo concert ‘Rising Loud’ at the Olympic Park Gymnastics Arena located in Bangi-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul. The performance took place over three days from the 4th to the 6th, attracting over 31,000 spectators.
The Seoul concert had already sold out all seats, including those with limited visibility, and as it was their first solo concert, RISE had prepared meticulously, leaving an impactful spoiler with the phrase “We are crazy for our fans,” which heightened fans' expectations. The actual concert venue was bustling with domestic and international fans two hours before the show, showcasing their popularity.
The concert was divided into five sections. RISE opened with the first section ‘The Beginning of the Journey’ and greeted fans with ‘Ingle.’ They then showcased a powerful performance with songs like ‘Siren,’ ‘Odyssey,’ and ‘Combo,’ leading to enthusiastic cheers from the audience. Fans were able to enjoy the diverse movements of RISE as they actively utilized both the main stage and the extended stage.
Backstage, Shotaro said, “I feel nervous since it’s the last day. I was so excited to hear so many cheers from the opening. Let’s run together until the end.” Wonbin expressed, “I was very nervous since it’s the last Seoul performance. I think I was too tense because I wanted to do better, but I will try to do it sensibly. I will be sexier, cuter, and cooler. Please look forward to it.” Sohee stated, “I will perform until I faint from exhaustion, so please play with me. I will make it a perfect stage, a stage without regrets,” while Anton said, “After performing twice earlier, I feel like I’ve got the hang of it. I think I’m the most nervous today, but I will pour all my energy into it and do my best until the end.”
Sohee added, “I hope today’s concert becomes a sing-along concert. Please sing along hard,” encouraging fan participation. She also conveyed the meaning of their world tour, saying, “I will make noise all around the world, so please support us until the end.”
Starting with this Seoul performance, RISE will continue their tour to 14 locations worldwide, including Hong Kong, Saitama, Hiroshima, Kuala Lumpur, Fukuoka, Taipei, Tokyo, Bangkok, Jakarta, and Manila.
“We will play songs filled with our memories,” RISE presented ‘Memories’ as the first stage of the second section ‘The Joy of the Journey.’ They then utilized the extended stage for the Japanese single ‘Be My Next’ (Korean version) to communicate more closely with fans. They continued to perform the Japanese single ‘Lucky’ (Korean version), drawing attention from overseas fans, including those from Japan.
During the stages of ‘Passage’ and ‘Midnight Mirage,’ the members sat on a raised stair structure, creating a more dreamy atmosphere that enhanced the song's emotions. In ‘Hug’ and ‘Love 119,’ the background that captured the essence of the songs, along with the members' youthful concepts, amplified the excitement among fans. During the talk time, Sohee expressed satisfaction, saying, “Did you hear that? There was an amazing sing-along.” The members, as in previous performances, emphasized their connection with fans by requesting a wave. Here, Eunsuk, who claimed to love the wave the most, ran alone on the extended stage, receiving cheers from fans.
The third section ‘Resistance and Escape’ began with ‘Odyssey’ and ‘Talk Sexy,’ presenting a series of dark concept stages. The fans focused on waving their light sticks, captivated by the more restrained and refined choreography. This didn’t last long. In the following ‘Impossible,’ the excitement was raised again, and the members showcased a performance that slightly revealed their abs, bringing the cheers to a peak.
During the mid-talk time, the members spread out across the concert hall, competing to elicit the loudest cheers and responses from each section. In this process, the members naturally displayed a cheeky side, saying things like “You’re doing so well” and “We are number one,” which was not typical for a first solo concert.
RISE presented ‘Monster’ as the fourth performance in the third section ‘Resistance and Escape.’ As the only cover performance of the concert, it drew unprecedented cheers from fans. ‘Monster’ is the title track from EXO’s third album ‘Ex’Act’ and is regarded as a hit song for the team. Although RISE has fewer members, they captured attention by delivering a performance of high quality comparable to EXO.
The fourth section ‘Liberation and Expansion’ began with an instrumental performance, and RISE presented the stage for ‘Get a Guitar.’ The songs in this section were arranged in a much brighter atmosphere compared to the third section, enhancing the joy. From ‘Boom Boom Base’ to ‘Fly Up,’ it was a moment to gain RISE’s active and bright energy.
Eunsuk described this concert as ‘eternal,’ while Seongchan called it ‘the beginning,’ instilling anticipation for RISE’s journey. They chose ‘Another Life’ as the final stage song. Fans chanted for an encore, and RISE returned to the stage to conclude the approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes long concert with ‘The End of Every Day,’ ‘One Kiss,’ and ‘Inside My Love.’
During the closing remarks, Seongchan said, “I was so happy. I can’t believe this wide concert hall is filled without a single empty seat. I really waited for this day. I was glad to meet you for three days.” He added, “This is just the beginning of our journey. We will be traveling around the world and performing many stages, and I hope RISE can be a group that can give you strength and grow together with you.” He then said, “Let’s see each other for a long time. I will live looking only at the fans,” with tears in his eyes. Shotaro also expressed, “I still can’t believe I’m here with the fans. You all look so beautiful. I want to say thank you to everyone who came for us,” and promised, “We will grow and show you a wonderful side of us.”
Eunsuk remarked, “I think I enjoyed the time with the fans so much. Time flew by. I believe this concert will be a moment I will remember forever. I will have a good tour.” Wonbin stated, “I learned a lot from this concert. I learned while performing on stage and became closer with the members. I feel like I got closer to the fans too, which is great. Looking back from the beginning to now, I am so happy,” and added, “We will repay the fans, so just follow us. We will show you.” Sohee said, “It was such a precious time. I will grow through the tour and come back,” while Anton expressed, “The concert seemed to pass by so quickly. I feel regretful about some parts I missed, but I will remember it forever. It will remain a precious experience and memory,” and concluded, “I want to rise higher, grow more, and perform in bigger venues. The members worked hard, and it was fun. The fans are our goal. We will continue to grow, so let’s go together,” bidding farewell to the fans.
The concert was also broadcast live through domestic and international cinemas. It could be enjoyed in 13 regions worldwide, including the UK, Germany, Mexico, Australia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Taiwan, Macau, and the Philippines, along with a special screening at 28 theaters across 8 regions in South Korea through Megabox.
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
