Photos by Nathan Hong ; Written by Bella Lee
On the streets of downtown Los Angeles, within the walls of the Dolby Theatre, the crowd anxiously waits for WOODZ to appear. The Dolby Theater, best known for hosting the Oscars, is a fitting venue. One of the tracks on WOODZ’s latest album, “Archive. 1,” is named “Cinema.” This full circle moment brings even more excitement to the stage.
WOODZ walks onto the stage with confidence as he starts the night with “Bloodline” and “Dirt on my Leather.” The crowd is instantly at their feet, cheering him on as he delivers a powerful rock performance. The venue is instantly transformed into WOODZ’s world, a delicate blend of rock, rnb, and heavy metal. After greeting the audience, he continues to play “NA NA NA” and “Dayfly.” The beginning of the night contains classic rock and roll, bringing the audience closer and closer as WOODZ sings and plays his lead guitar. “I came here three years ago,” WOODZ reminisces, “and now I’m finally back in L.A.” He surprised the audience by singing “Love Me Harder,” giving an incredible performance that made the crowd swell. His powerful vocals reached every corner of the room, penetrating every heart.
WOODZ’s unique vocal tone makes him stand out from other artists. He has a raspy texture that makes his songs sound like a yearning lover sings them. There’s a guttural reaction to hearing him sing. So when WOODZ began to sing his most famous song, “Drowning,” his vocal range was on full display. He had everyone on their feet, from the floor to the mezzanine, singing along with him to the chorus. One song to unite the whole theater.
What made the night more special was the full band that WOODZ brought with him. Along with WOODZ on the lead guitar was his drummer, keyboardist, bassist, and electric guitarist. The whole band played in harmony, perfectly accompanying WOODZ as he led the night. The band was especially noticed during “Kiss of Fire,” “Human Extinction,” and “Dayfly.” The visuals behind the band were also a wonderful touch to the identity of the tour. “2026 WOODZ World Tour: Archive. 1” had a psychedelic visual aesthetic. Instead of being a backdrop of a scene for each section of the concert, the projected visuals created an energy around the music.
“Thank you for welcoming me with so much love and energy,” WOODZ said. He made sure to give attention to everyone, from the front row to the top of the theater. Towards the end of the night, he sang “To My January,” and invited the audience to sing along. With the words projected on the screen, he led the people in song. “I really love singing January together with all of you,” WOODZ remarked. “It fills me with happiness.”
Bringing the “Cinema” to Los Angeles was an iconic move. WOODZ brought everything to the stage and left the audience with memories they will never forget. His voice impacted every person in the theater and will continue his legacy in the K-Rock space.
