Photos by Bella Lee ; Written by Bella Lee
In the world of K-Pop, longevity is rare. However, Monsta X has remained strong and present. After four years, they returned to Los Angeles to perform at the Kia Forum. Monbebe (the fan name of Monsta X’s fans), welcomed them back with open hearts and loud applause.
Monsta X is one of the most popular boy groups from the 3rd generation of K-Pop. They debuted in 2015 in Starship Entertainment, who formed the group through a reality TV survival show called No.Mercy. The current group includes Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Joohoney, and I.M. (who is currently serving in the South Korean military). Their first release featured “Trespass,” which solidified their distinct intense hip-hop identity. Monsta X is also one of the first K-Pop groups to release a whole album in English, which brought more unity to their international audience. Their most recent album, Unfold, is their third English album. The group continually finds ways to connect with their audiences, and their tour is no different.
From the first moment the audience lays eyes on Monsta X’s silhouettes, their star quality is undeniable. The five touring members have an unbelievable stage presence, bringing all eyes to the stage. The first notes of “DRAMARAMA” start the night off. The song has remained iconic since its release, and the fans in the Kia Forum immediately cheered. The members continued the opening of the night with “Love Killa,” “Rush Hour,” “LONE RANGER,” and “Catch Me Now.” The first set of the night set the mood of the evening. Monsta X made a statement about their status. They are here, and they are not going anywhere soon. The first set was a reminder of their history in the music industry, and their power as a group.
Their stage design was simple, but not bare. Although there were no sets or props to decorate the stage, Monsta X still filled the stadium with only their presence. The group proves that an artist can keep an audience interested with just themselves. Using the extended stage in the Kia Forum, the group constantly moved from one end to the other, making use of the space to see all of their fans. It was incredible how large the members felt on the stage, they truly commanded the space as their own.
Another point of visual interest was their outfit design. For this tour, Monsta X had a variety of outfits for different points in their concert. In the first set, the group wore red leather jackets and black leather pants. In the second set, they all switched to an all-white look akin to the Backstreet Boys’ iconic style. The third and final set featured black and leather, bringing a sexier appeal to the members. The outfit decisions are a visual representation of their identity. Monsta X was able to mix the hardcore 3rd generation style with the newer simplistic style of concert outfits.
Following the release of Unfold, Monsta X performed many songs from the album in their setlist. Songs like “baby blue,” “heal,” “this!,” and “growing pains.” The album follows a more RnB/ballad style of music, but they were fan favorites nonetheless. The song “baby blue” was heralded as the crowd favorite of the night. The disco-influenced piece pulled on the heartstrings of the audience as well as moved them to dance along with the members. When performed live, the songs from this album were elevated to a new level. The same can be said about any Monsta X song from their discography, showing the world how much of a powerhouse they are.
“Thank you for welcoming us back to LA,” the members addressed the crowd. All five of the members had embarked on this tour after completing their mandatory military service. Shownu smiled at the audience, “After military service, we’re getting bigger than before.” Indeed, their loyal and new fanbase had grown as well as the members themselves. “We’re counting on you to make this night unforgettable,” Minhyuk said. The audience responded in applause. The loyalty of this audience was undeniable. LA fans had been waiting four years for the group to return, and they were rewarded. From solo stages, to duo performances, Monsta X had a fantastic show to perform for their waiting audience.
The group showed their range and experience through their setlist. From their beginnings (“Shoot Out”), to ballads (“Reaching”), to EDM (“Oh My”), to rock (“Howling”), and everything in between. The whole night felt like a story documenting the group, the individual members, and their fans. The end of the night brought a party-like atmosphere. Monsta X ended the night with “Oh My” and “Rodeo,” and challenged the whole stadium to jump with them. And everyone obliged happily.
In their final farewells, each member addressed the audience. “Our first overseas stage was in LA in 2015.” Kihyun remarked. “After 11 years have passed, we are still here. I can’t describe this emotion in a word. I love you so much.” Shownu agreed with, “Thank you for always making us complete.”
The final song, “growing pains,” gave the crowd bittersweet tears. But Monsta X did not leave their fans without a promise to return (next time with their sixth member, I.M.). “ It felt like I performed with angels today,” said Minhyuk. “Keep cheering for us,” Joohoney cheered. “Monsta X until we die!” The night ended, but not without the memory of Monsta X bringing fun back into the concert space.
