RIIZE at The Anthem

By Sonya Lee

[RIIZE: RIIZING LOUD] Opening Ment; Hera Khan

While my assistant was helping herself to the venue’s empanadas, I noticed the LED display screen was glitching, and 30% of the left side of the screen went completely black. At first, this did not seem to alarm the crowd, as there were still thirty minutes before the show would commence. However, the visuals of the tech crew frantically running around couldn’t be missed. Thirty minutes passed quickly, and soon it was down to five minutes as workers spoke to each other in a frustrated yet puzzled manner. Unfortunately, even with all of the tech crew coming together, the technical delay did cause the show to run late. The audience fascinated me, perhaps it is because the delay had not hit the hour mark, but everyone was patiently waiting for RIIZE to appear without any fuss. The staff were quick on their feet as they decided to remove three of the screen panels and reorder them. By this time, twenty minutes had swiftly passed. During those twenty minutes, there were flickers of hope as the screen switched between fixed and broken. What made the scene amusing were the sounds of “yay!” and “aww” from the fans as the issue was being mended.

Thankfully, by the final twentieth minute and a final flicker, the screen was fully fixed! The cheers of the audience reverberated off the walls. One of the staff members thanked the fans for their patience, as the lights dimmed not a minute after their final remark. Sounds of anticipation and relief (that the show was not cancelled because of the slight hiccup) filled the room as the first VCR (pre-recorded video) played. Following the theme of concepts in the K-pop industry, RIIZE’s theme lies within their genre of music, which is emotional pop. Within this genre, the group’s goal is to make their fans feel a range of feelings when they hear their music. Whether the music makes someone shed a tear or jump for joy, if it moved their heart, then the music reached its goal. Going back to the first VCR, it seemed longer than most VCRs I’ve encountered, which usually do not pass the five-minute mark. Within this frame of time, the video depicted an underground setting before transitioning to an animated land of fire in a broken city. 

As the first VCR closed, the instrumental music blasted as RIIZE took the stage. The cheers were immense as everything that transpired before the show led to that moment. Starting with a bang of energy, and playing off the previous fire motif in the VCR, was “Ember to Solar” (Odyssey, 1st Album). The delay seemed not to have affected the group, or better yet, they used it to their advantage to put 200% into their performance. Ending with Wonbin’s high note (that could bless anyone’s ears when heard live), the group kept up their momentum with their next song, “Siren” (RIIZING, 1st Mini-Album). The upbeat tempo full of hardcore choreography got the audience up on their feet. Then another shift in tone as the projection showcased a transition sequence of what seemed to be a broken spaceship. The moment played as a buffer as the next two songs, “Odyssey” (Odyssey, 1st Album) and “Combo” (RIIZING: Epilogue, Repackaged Album), were more heartfelt and soulful. There was no quick change or choreography, merely heart-to-heart singing between RIIZE and BRIIZE. 

Once the applause died down, in response to Sohee’s amazing high note, the group went off stage as the second video played. By this point, my assistant/friend and I grew slightly concerned. Due to the delay, the staff must’ve told the group they were on a tight schedule because they just did a run-through of four songs without stopping to then present the second VCR. Usually, VCRs are played after a certain number of songs have passed to allow the audience and artists to catch their breath. The most interaction the group had done up until that point was to say “What’s up, D.C.!” between the songs. Getting back to the second VCR, this one also felt quite long in length, but shared a cohesive story. The group appeared to be playing in a field where spring was eternal. Members were seen in floral valleys or connecting with creatures in the forest. The final scene showed a butterfly flying off as the group returned to the stage with an outfit change.

[RIIZE: RIIZING LOUD] Left: Anton, Right: Wonbin, bass + guitar intro (Get A Guitar); Hera Khan

Finally, my (and my friend/assistant’s) worries were put to rest after an eight-song run-through as the group finally paused to interact with BRIIZE. Shotaro started off with a charged introduction of the group before each member went into self-introductions. As each of them gave their anecdotes about Washington D.C., Sohee went in-depth about the tour name. The meaning behind RIIZING LOUD is to hear the voices of BRIIZE at a high capacity along with RIIZE. During the first moment, I admired the group for speaking English (especially because it is not their native language) to connect with the fans on a deeper level. Though this is not to say they did not speak Korean at all, but when they were speaking English, I could really see them trying to express their thoughts. Keeping the youthful setting, the members asked the fans to sing along to the next couple of songs, even teaching the cues for when to do so. 

Even though outside the venue it was a breezy autumn, inside, the fans were transported back to the beginning of spring and early summer with the group doing a run through of “Be My Next” (Japanese Single, 1st), “Show Me Love” (Odyssey, 1st Album), “Memories” (1st Pre-release Single) and “Fly Up” (Odyssey, 1st Album). All of these songs brought the springtime setting in the venue, as the instrumentals took the audience back to the setting of running through the hills of a breezy summer day. Ending off with a sing-along in “Show Me Love,” Sungchan’s amazing rap section in “Memories” and a dance break showcasing each member’s technique, the third VCR was played. Pulled through a vortex, the members were transported to a dark forest, then locked away in glass boxes. The scenes felt like something straight out of a horror movie. Luckily, there was no horror here as once the final gasp closed out the VCR, RIIZE immediately went into “Honestly” (RIIZING, 1st Mini-Album). Now, with an outfit change, the group was dressed with a black and white color palette, but most importantly, the selling point, the harnesses. 

Outfit change on top of the sensuous theme sent the fans into a powerful frenzy. Then, keeping the theme going with “Talk Saxy” (RIIZING, 1st Mini-Album). This song added some funny jazz and R&B flair that still fit the overall sensuous theme of this part of the show. As mentioned before, the choreography was on point, but I Wonbin truly stood out to me with his articulation during these two songs, specifically, which left my jaw agape multiple times. However, my heart was truly unprepared for what was to come next, as RIIZE left it at a “D.C. are you ready?!” before high kicking into “Impossible” (RIIZING, 1st Mini-Album). The screams that echoed through the venue cannot be captured in a couple of words. If I spoke of choreography earlier, this song encapsulated the technique of their amazing footwork. 

Feeling that BRIIZE seemed satisfied, the group thanked everyone for singing and dancing along. A quick energy check, ranking of the best performance, Shotaro and Eunseok displaying their B-boying skills, and Shotaro showcasing a back flip, the group asked for one small favor from the fans. As if BRIIZE cast a spell, the final chant of “We RIIZE!” shifted to the group’s cover of “Monster” (original by EXO). Even though it was a few days into November, the group truly took the fans back to the Halloween spirit during this performance. The members did a great job at capturing the essence of the original while also adding their own little flares, whether that be dance breaks or ethereal vocals. Keeping up with the previous grunge theme, “Bag Bad Back” (Odyssey, 1st Album) was next. The best way to visually describe this song is if someone is lost in a field with their eyes closed, but doing it confidently. To cool down the audience from the previous two songs, a rainfall transition played on the display screen, yet no matter how much imaginary water was shown, no one was prepared for what came next. 

Anton came back with his bass and Wonbin with his guitar. There is nothing that gets me going than instrumental surprise solos. From the mix of surprised gasps and screams, it seemed like the fans agreed. A rocking session makes for a perfect intro to “Get A Guitar” (First Single). The members were not turning down the heat any time soon with this jazz/funk-inspired track. After a final pose from the song, it was time to interact with the fans once more. Eunseok revealed that out of the stops so far, Washington, D.C. was his favorite. Even when the other members doubled down and asked if he was sure, he remained confident. The group became so touched when they asked the fans if they were all locals of the area, which not all of them were, meaning there were many fans who came from overseas or traveled across states just to see them. This prompted Sohee to confess that he did not expect so many fans to appear for the show. Speaking of Sohee, he truly was full of energy and quite playful anytime there was a break between songs. 

Keeping the lighthearted atmosphere alive, Eunseok proposed a game to summarize the night in one word, English edition. He started by saying D.C. was excellent. Soon the other members played along, Sohee saying the crowd was dope (this received a bunch of laughs) and Shotaro kept the train going with “you guys ate!” (the venue went crazy hearing this). Having such a fun time, Anton thought the members’ English had gotten better with how naturally charming they were being. Feeling the pressure from his groupmates, the word that left Wonbin was ‘damn.’ This was the complete opposite of Sungchan, who confidently said, “Washington is sexy!” (the response was full of cheers). Since Anton was dubbed the group’s English teacher, the members asked him to choose a winner. Though he thought all of them did well, he could not deny Sungchan was the one who stood out from the rest. 

Naturally, it would not be a K-pop concert if the group did not tease about their final song. Eunseok tried to trick fans into believing that the next song would be their last, but before they moved on, Sohee wanted to get the crowd extra hyped up. After being satisfied with the fan chants, the group went “out” with a bang with their track “Boom Boom Base” (RIIZING, 1st Mini-Album). The footwork was clean, matching the disco/funk pop beat of the song. Finishing off with different model poses from each member, the group seemingly disappeared. However, BRIIZE were not easily convinced as they stayed put when the lights stayed dim. As the chant of “encore!” increased, the LED display screen showed shots of fans in the crowd. Soon, the fans’ wishes were granted as the group came back on stage, now each of them rocking pieces of their merch. Starting with a soulful track, the members were vocally charged with “Another Life” (Odyssey, 1st Album). 

Pausing their encore, the members each went around giving their final remarks. Sungchan started by revealing he was not feeling quite well before the show (his throat, specifically), which made him worried about his performance. But thanks to the energy he received throughout the show, he was able to persevere and be satisfied with the rendition of the show. Adding on to the energy, Shotaro remarked about how he should be the one giving the energy to the fans, but instead, he was the one getting energized from them. Feeling quite sentimental throughout the night, I felt as though Eunseok connected a lot with the D.C. crowd. He confirmed my suspicions when he spoke about how grateful he was for all the BRIIZE that came, but more so, he hoped to return in the future for another show and asked the fans if they would come out again, which they agreed to. If there were a hype man for a city, I would definitely give the crown to Eunseok. Once all the barking died down, Wonbin seemed to share the same sentiment as Eunseok. He still could not believe the group had so much support on the other side of the globe. 

Sohee’s closing remarks stole the hearts of many fans because he started off his words in a different way. He told BRIIZE to call for staff or take a break if they feel winded or tired. Feeling his kindness, the fans completely melted toward his thoughtful gesture. He closed his speech with flying kisses, in hopes of performing in a larger venue the next time the group returns. Anton finished off the group’s final remarks by saying how fulfilled he was at fixing some aspects he felt he did not get quite right at the previous stop (New York) and thanked everyone for their patience before the show when there were technical difficulties. The show ended with the last two songs of the night, “One Kiss” (RIIZING, 1st Mini-Album) and “Inside My Love” (Odyssey, 1st Album). With the final two songs dedicated to BRIIZE, the group spent their time singing from the heart as they interacted with fans one last time. Their final gratitude came through as they did three final deep bows to each section of the crowd, bidding farewell.

[RIIZE: RIIZING LOUD] RIIZE Final Bow; Sonya Lee