There was an insanely lengthy line that snaked its approach across the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on Sunday night. It was stuffed with Xikers followers (identified Road𝓨s) ready patiently for the primary present on their European leg of the Tough Home First Encounter world tour. The group, who solely debuted again in March 2023, have had a meteoric rise, having already fashioned an enormous worldwide following, a lot in order that they gained the coveted title of being “monster rookies”- a Ok-pop time period for a gaggle that achieves success and recognition extremely quick. The 9 members, who’re normally a group of ten (lead vocalist Junghoon has not joined the tour as he’s recovering from an harm) continued to journey the wave of their profitable US leg of the tour late final 12 months. Their sound is a fusion of loads of musical influences, mixing pop-rock with dance, EDM and hip-hop that, like all good earworms, work their approach into your mind.
Dwelling as much as their popularity for high-energy performances, Xikers introduced it proper off the bat, performing their thumping, electrically charged opening monitor ‘TRICKY HOUSE‘ with explosive choreography and vocals and stored their ranges up by way of ‘Doorbell Ringing,’ ‘Oh My Gosh.’ Tracks like ‘XIKEY’ are made for large crowds, with a whooshing ‘ooh la la’ refrain, and guttural barks and explosive melodies that enable them to convey angle and character, when mixed with their dancing.
Hailing from KQ Leisure and juniors to the astronomically profitable ATEEZ, it’s evident that Xikers have stored the excessive efficiency requirements that run within the music household. Bringing an immense quantity of character and swagger to the stage together with fusing intense music genres can descend into chaos rapidly, however Xikers exerted management to each their vocals and dancing all through, making for a meticulously slick present. Their energetic routines had an explosive power, consistently rotating the main focus letting every member have a second to indicate their talent earlier than they melted seamlessly again into the group.
Having solely fashioned in 2023, the group understandably don’t have an enormous discography to drag from to carry out at live shows but, however they cleverly utilised this time to work together and join with their followers, anchored expertly by chief Minjae, who inspired the opposite members to talk to the gang and stored issues transferring alongside. In addition to chatting away fortunately with their viewers, in addition they launched into a dance medley part, splitting into randomly chosen groups of three and dancing to Ok-Pop favourites comparable to ‘Dynamite’ by BTS and ‘Tremendous’ by Seventeen earlier than becoming a member of forces to all carry out label-mates ATEEZ’ hit monitor ‘BOUNCY (Ok-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS.’ As they carried out the viral dance routine, it produced an enormous roar and singalong from the gang. The Woman Group medley that adopted together with performing to BlackPink’s ‘Kill this Love’ and Tik Tok’s favorite ‘Queencard’ by (G)I-DLE. Minjae and Yujun significantly embodied the babygirlism sass required of the routine. Primary dancers and Hunter Junmin completed off the dance portion of the present with a sultry, body-winding, hip thrusting duet to The Weeknd’s ‘Die for You’ that ATEEZ hyungs Mingi and San would have been happy with.
As enjoyable because the dance interlude was for attending to know the members, it’s their authentic materials the place the group actually excel. When performing their very own tracks, they have been absolutely in with the gang for the celebration, full with flooring shaking moments within the venue as they ramped up the power with the extra angsty emo-rock-EDM hybrid tracks together with ‘ROCKSTAR’ and ‘Do or Die’ that melded rocky guitar riffs with dance beats and crashes of loads of percussion. Immediately switching gear was no downside for the group both. The extra industrial sounding booming songs such because the frantically paced ‘Doorbell Ringing’ noticed Hyunwoo excel with each his vocals and his dancing, have been punctuated by lighter, extra joyful tracks like ‘Skater,’ ‘Sunny Aspect’ and ‘HOMEBOY’ that noticed Seeun and Jinsik to shine.
Sumin rode the large wave of cheers at any time when he rapped (there was additionally a number of love for his mini-ponytail too) silkily gliding to the centre stage with a fast movement.
It’s additionally clear how a lot the band have fashioned a powerful unit and are in a position to placed on an extremely robust present in such a short while. Once more, like their labelmates ATEEZ, they’re allrounders and have versatility as a gaggle. Every member was nice at switching up their designated function within the group which additional added to their impressiveness. Whether or not it was Yechan relishing and excelling at rapping, or Jinsik and Yujun bringing some severe stage presence with their dancing and singing. Hunter couldn’t cease flashing a successful smile as he carried out with charismatic confidence, which once more ran like a thread by way of the group.
They may depend on Hyunwoo, Seeun, Yujun and Jinsik to hit these excessive notes, Junmin, Yechan and Hunter to convey the angle with their dancing, and Minjae and Sumin to take the lead with the rap parts, which gave them freedom to change round and present their all-round means.
Regardless of being new to the sport, Xikers lived as much as their hype with a slick, mature and well-executed present that was, importantly stuffed with magnetic pleasure. At moments you may see of their faces as they regarded out at their crowd, chanting and screaming for them, an endearing, appreciative glimmer of awe of their eyes, that had been totally generated by their power and talent.
