Spring is in the air and the California sunshine welcomed Yugyeom- of GOT7 fame- to a pair of sold out shows at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles last weekend. The intimate venue was quite literally packed to the rafters with K-pop fans eager to catch one of the GOT7 crew on his Trusty World Tour as the U.S. leg closed out in style. Atlas jumped in the pit for night one and it was a vibrant experience bathed in the neon green glow of the fans’ lightsticks.
The theatre’s stage was framed with flashing lights and backed by Yugyeom’s DJ as he sauntered out to “I Want U Around” as the fans screamed and sang along. His sleek all-black fit lent itself well to Yugyeom’s fluid dance moves and he was flanked by two talented dancers for added flair throughout the set.
This tour was Yugyeom’s chance to bring 2024’s Trust Me to a global audience and it was apparent from the beginning that diehard fans have been eagerly waiting for the chance to finally hear these tracks live. “SHE” and “Steppin” were obvious favorites as Yugyeom put his clear, stable vocals on display alongside his dance skills- an impressively lethal combination for a group performer on a solo venture. Between songs, he took moments to catch his breath and talk to the audience as he conveyed happiness and gratitude for so many fans coming to the shows after so long.
The fans did their part and showered Yugyeom with love and praise the whole night, singing loudly to “Sweet Like” and “Ponytail”- and he was visibly smiling and proud of the music he’s created and the performance he’s curated for this incredible tour. The intimate nature of the venue made the show even more special, as fans were never far away from the stage and ready to dance all night long. He also gave his DJ the spotlight, playing a mix of hip hop and K-pop hits that got the room pumped up for the final songs of the night.
Emerging in a Lakers jersey and renewed energy, Yugyeom took the Los Angeles crowd home with “1 MINUTE”, “WUH” and the GOT7 hit “Hard Carry”. His fans never let their intensity waver and they had Yugyeom grinning through his choreography till the final notes faded out and the fans dispersed under the neon lights of the iconic theatre’s marquee. With his military service on the horizon, it will be awhile before Yugyeom will be back onstage but these fans are ready to carry his banner until they meet again.
