On July 8, thousands of people lined up outside the Chicago Theater, beaming with excitement. From exchanging freebies to singing along to songs as a group in perfect harmony, fans of The Rose were more than ready to experience the band’s expansive discography live. POP TOKKI was pleased to be a part of the enthusiastic crowd. Let’s recap some highlights from The Rose’s time in Chicago for their Once Upon a WRLD tour.
The Rose, a four-member Korean band, has been to Chicago before. In 2023, the group made an appearance at Lollapalooza’s Bacardi stage. Just from the short set the group performed, anyone could tell how passionate they are about their music. Their fanbase was also passionate- a large crowd of their fans, Black Rose, came to cheer the group on. Fans in the audience expressed their excitement about being able to spend The Rose’s sixth anniversary with them at Lollapalooza.
Compared to their Lollapalooza appearance, Once Upon a WRLD allowed fans to take a trip through their discography from start to finish, showcasing their truly untouchable discography, relatable storyline, and their love for music.
Opening with a narration that leaves the impression for the whole show: “The world was vast, he was small, and the sky? It felt endless,” it is clear that The Rose tends to present this tour with impactful lyrics, engaging visuals, and an almost unbelievably perfect 23 song setlist starting with “Ticket to The Sky” and closing with “O.”
Although lead singer WOOSUNG was sick, their live vocals were strong and stable, emotion-packed in every note they played. Most notably, their performance of “She’s In The Rain” is one that perfectly sums up the group. This song’s live performance makes the most out of the members’ abilities instrumentally and vocally. This song also garnered some of the loudest fan interactions of the night, WOOSUNG encouraging fans to sing along with him. The explosive reaction from the crowd was a memorable moment, setting the tone for the rest of the night.
What stood out the most was in between the songs in this powerful setlist, The Rose members still found opportunities to be playful. Throughout the show, the members can be seen interacting with the crowd lightheartedly, telling them to “shake their booties” and to be more excited because “Chicago has the best singers, but the quietest crowd.” Although the teasing was all done lovingly, these moments allowed the members to present themselves to Black Rose in a more personable way, creating a very warm and inviting setting.
Although the group’s demeanor is very “rockstar,” this whole tour depicted The Rose as a relatable and down-to-earth group. A huge topic brought up throughout the night was mental health, especially when the group discussed their inspiration and drive for staying together.
“Making music together healed us. Music helps with whatever you are going through in life. I know we talk a lot of bullshit, but we believe sharing this experience we have can give you energy of healing warmth, a little hug with our music. Thats all we ask for,” WOOSUNG said.
The Rose exudes emotional depth that other Korean artists don’t usually get the opportunity to voice, which is much appreciated during the time we’re currently living in. With these powerful ments and solid setlist, Once Upon A WRLD felt cinematic with a cohesive start and finish. The Rose brings you through their journey in a way that feels like you are with them for every step of the journey, allowing attendees to leave the venue feeling complete, understood, and appreciated.
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Featured Image Credit: Courtesy of Transparent Arts
