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Photos by Ashley Crichton

On October 20, MONSTA X hit the stage in Los Angeles for their fourth world tour, [THE X: NEXUS]. Performing as a 5-member group, SHOWNU, MINHYUK, KIHYUN, HYUNGWON, and JOOHONEY performed a show-stopping 29 song setlist. While member I.M enlisted in February of this year and is set to be discharged in August of 2027, the group made a point to include him as much as possible. Every VCR and mention garnered enthusiastic cheers from the crowd of dedicated MONBEBE eagerly awaiting I.M’s return. 

MONSTA X debuted in 2015, cementing them as quintessential third generation K-pop idols, and [THE X: NEXUS] was exactly what third gen K-pop is all about. From the outfit changes, solo stages, and (at times campy) visuals, through outstanding performances, MONSTA X proved why they will always be considered legends in the K-pop industry. There is a bittersweet feeling around what is essentially seeing a MONSTA X unit perform, likely to not be (intentionally) recreated again. Like many 3rd gen groups now, seeing your favorite boy groups with every member present is extremely rare. Many groups are currently promoting as smaller units to continue to perform and see fans, instead of halting their activities for years. But even without I.M, MONSTA X delivered high-energy performances for almost 3 hours, a dazzling feat amongst their peers, and even in comparison to their 5th gen juniors.  

The show started off with a strong string of back to back powerful hits: “DRAMARAMA,” “Love Killa,” “Rush Hour,” and “LONE RANGER,” complete with a western-style outfit change and visuals to accompany the theme and lyrics of the song. The members then walked to the mic stands waiting for them on the B-stage to sing “MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,” a classic boyband pop song off of their 2020 English album, “ALL ABOUT LUV.” The crowd was singing along to every word of the all-English track, making it one of the standout moments of the show for both the artists and the fans.

Photos by Ashley Crichton

The setlist then transitioned from “baby blue” into “heal,” showcasing the group’s impressive vocal abilities. Even with their designated positions, it was impossible to tell the rappers and lead vocals apart. After years of idol fame, their expertise and comfortability as performers is crystal clear in their performances. The group then dipped backstage for another outfit change (this time complete with sunglasses) into “MAGIC,” “Do What I Want,” and “Tuscan Leather,” before performing “WHO DO U LOVE?”. There is an essence to MONSTA X’s artistry that can only translate to their live performances, and “this!” is one of those songs that reminds you why they are masters of their craft. The electricity in the room felt irreplicable, and further confirmed that 11 years into their career, they are in a lane of their own. As the setlist went on, you can’t help but respect how much energy and personality each member had until the very end.

After the breakdown, a VCR of I.M djing plays, hyping up the crowd before heading into a string of solo and unit stages from the other members. Starting off with a dance-focused performance of SHOWNU’s solo song “Around & Go” into “NO AIR” from Hyungwon, the duo then performed their song “Breathe” from their unit album, “LOVE ME.” Kihyun wore a baby blue suit for his song “Howling,” appearing very princely while greeting fans around the arena. Next was Minhyuk, who appeared on stage wearing his Clark Kent best (glasses and a tie) and wielding an electric guitar. Singing his solo ballad “Reaching,” his set started off with some technical difficulties. However, in an uber-polished industry like the K-pop industry, small moments like this show the beauty of live music and the imperfection of concerts, humanizing the idols on stage and letting Minhyuk’s sweet personality shine through when apologizing for the minor delay. Pivoting quickly, JOOHONEY followed Minhyuk’s stage with his viral hit “STING (Feat. Muhammad Ali)” and powerful anthem “Touch the sky (Feat. Tiger JK). Each member’s unique flair was present in these solo performances, and if you didn’t have a bias before the show, you definitely were leaving the concert with one (or maybe five). 

If there was any doubt that the microphones were off at any point, following the solo stages, each member also took a minute to sing their solo songs again—but this time a capella. Taking a breather to address the fans, they beamed as they screamed “MONSTA X til we die!” to a sea of passionate MONBEBE cheering and waving their lightsticks in response. During JOOHONEY’s ment, he acknowledged that there are a lot of K-pop bands touring in the United States this fall, and was grateful to the MONBEBEs that showed up to see them perform. As industry seniors, they know how powerful their connection to their fans, especially abroad is, and left the crowd with one last sentiment: “MONSTA X until we die. Period.”

MONSTA X then came back out for their encore song, “Growing Pains,” dressed in their classic customized merch and walked around the stage bidding farewell to the fans. KIHYUN walked down to the b-stage holding a poster of I.M., and the group made their final bow before getting ready to meet their fans after the show. After almost 3 hours of performing, one thing is clear: there is something for everyone at a MONSTA X concert. The setlist felt polished and indicative of the range that the group possesses, making for a truly entertaining concert throughout the entire night. With an impressive mix of classic tracks and new favorites, it felt like we were witnessing a revival of MONSTA X, and we can’t wait until we can see them again. 

Listen to MONSTA X below: