Blackpink pumps up the SoFi crowd with first U.S. present in two years
Blackpink is again within the space.
The Ok-pop lady group, made up of Rosé, Lisa, Jennie and Jisoo, triumphantly kicked off the North American leg of the Deadline world tour Saturday night time at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. After taking a two-year break to give attention to solo initiatives, the group reunited for its first U.S. live performance for the reason that Born Pink tour concluded in 2023.
Regardless of dropping just one group quantity since then — hardstyle, Diplo-produced “Bounce,” launched Friday — Blackpink bought out two nights at one of many Los Angeles space’s largest venues.
“That is unbelievable. It’s such an honor to carry out on the SoFi Stadium for you guys,” Rosé mentioned. “We’re actually actually excited to be right here.”
Sarah Hoang has been a Blackpink fan since 2019, following their Coachella debut that very same 12 months. To have fun her first time seeing the lady group, the San Diego resident handed out commemorative tickets to different followers.
“I’ve been ready for them for a very long time,” Hoang mentioned. “I used to be actually excited to be lastly seeing them in L.A., particularly on the first tour of the U.S. leg.”
The stadium was awash in pink as followers went all-out for his or her idols. Whereas many dressed in keeping with the band’s namesake, others took inspiration from the women’ solo initiatives. Concertgoer Evelyn Rios, who lives in Los Angeles, nailed Jennie’s look from the “Ruby” album cowl in her all-black outfit and cherry-red wig. A fan since 2020, she attended the 2023 present at Dodger Stadium and famous she was most excited to listen to “like Jennie.”
The present consisted of 5 acts and an encore, alternating between group and solo sections. Blackpink began off sturdy, firing via “Kill This Love,” “Pink Venom” and “How You Like That.”
The Saturday night time set record was an identical to the one in Goyang, South Korea, final weekend, save for Lisa’s solo part. Whereas the maknae — or youngest member of the group — carried out “New Lady” and “Rockstar” for the tour’s opening dates, she opted for the edgier “Thunder” and “Fxck Up the World” Saturday night time.
Lisa’s two-piece Louis Vuitton set evoked Marvel Lady as she conquered the stage, lightning crackling behind her. Channeling the identical spellbinding vitality from her Coachella set earlier this 12 months, the place she additionally carried out tracks from “Alter Ego,” Lisa proved why she’s amongst Ok-pop’s most magnetic performers.
All 4 solo initiatives are sonically distinct, and seeing them back-to-back highlighted simply how artistically various the Blackpink members are. Jennie, who additionally carried out solo at Coachella this 12 months, leaned into her hip-hop influences as she delivered a mashup of “Mantra,” “with the IE (manner up)” and “like Jennie.” In the meantime, Jisoo happy with the bubbling, digital pop of “earthquake” and “Your Love.”
Rosé prompted laughs from the viewers as footage of her filming a TikTok and consuming French fries backstage performed main as much as her solo part. When she lastly appeared in entrance of the viewers, she took a extra intimate strategy, sitting on the fringe of the stage with guitarist Johnny “Pure” Najera.
Beginning with heartbreak anthems “3am” and “poisonous until the top,” Rosé concluded with the upbeat, world chart-topping single “Apt.,” throughout which she introduced a fan on stage. Launched with Bruno Mars in October, the track nonetheless sits comfortably on the Billboard Scorching 100.
Blackpink debuted “Bounce” earlier than its official launch final weekend in South Korea, so Los Angeles followers have been ready for the long-awaited comeback single. They jumped and danced right through the addictive monitor when Blackpink carried out it not as soon as, however twice.
“I need to say the track is admittedly addictive the increasingly I hear it,” Rosé mentioned after the primary run. “I personally assume it’s essentially the most thrilling one to carry out throughout our set.
With a mixture of outdated and new hits, Saturday night time introduced collectively each longtime followers and Ok-pop newcomers.
Sydney Grube and Thet Aung drove up collectively from San Diego only for the live performance. Whereas Aung has been a fan for the reason that group started, Grube began listening after seeing Lisa in HBO’s “White Lotus” in February.
“I began listening to all of the solo acts, after which began listening really to the Blackpink music,” Grube mentioned, including that she was most excited to see the person sections.
The live performance additionally united followers of all ages, with loads of households arriving in coordinating outfits. At one level, Blackpink even shouted out all of the “child blinks” within the viewers — a lot of whom weren’t even born when the group debuted in 2016.
“I did need them to bounce extra, however they did actually good,” mentioned 9-year-old Tara Castro, who was carrying a Blackpink hat and glasses. “They’re my favourite Ok-pop.”
With tour dates charted via January, followers expect new music — maybe even a full album — someday quickly. Hopefully this isn’t the final we see of Blackpink in our space.