This 12 months’s KCON will reside in infamy for a lot of causes: outrunning the remnants of a uncommon hurricane on my approach dwelling, testing optimistic for covid a day after, and so on and so on.
Nevertheless, this craziness doesn’t imply I don’t have highlights and commentary to share! For the primary time, KCON LA’s concert events prolonged to a few nights. On account of scheduling and curiosity stage (we’d already seen a lot of evening three’s acts a number of instances), we opted to attend Friday and Saturday solely, which finally proved fortuitous given Hurricane Hilary’s arrival. I’m a bit irked I didn’t get to see The Boyz’ Lip Gloss and Riize’s stage debut in individual, however this was my seventh KCON so I really feel like I’ve already skilled loads by the years!
Under, I’ll share my highlights and issues from the 2 days we attended — together with some brief clips from the expertise.
And should you’re eager about earlier recaps, click on right here: 2016 // 2017 // 2018 // 2019 // 2022 Pt.1 // 2022 Pt.2
1. The conference’s “KCON Stage”
General, the administration of the conference was horrendous this 12 months (extra on that under), however their finest choice was to raise the KCON Stage to a stage the viewers might really see — no matter the place you had been standing. I can’t overstate the significance of this. So usually at KCON, you’re struggling for a view — preventing towards everybody’s telephones held as much as seize their favourite idol.
We had been fairly shut for a lot of the acts on the KCON stage, however even additional again you would see the performances effectively. This stage was a mixture of interviews/video games and showcase performances. I liked with the ability to see previous favorites (VERIVERY, WayV, Cravity) and teams I didn’t know as effectively (NMIXX, 8TURN). Truthfully, this space must be expanded even additional sooner or later. After years of going to KCON, I’m not eager about a lot of the commercial cubicles however I am eager about seeing the idols carry out and work together.
2. The Pre-shows
I used to be very joyful to see the showcase artists (Limelight, 8TURN, VERIVERY, Craxy) get an opportunity to carry out on the principle KCON stage prior to every evening’s live performance. This was a good way to offer lesser-known acts a highlight. I imply, they flew midway around the globe for this!
3. Taemin
I don’t imply this as a putdown to every other acts as a result of everybody at KCON was very gifted, however Taemin is simply on one other stage. I imply, I knew this already. I’ve been fortunate sufficient to see SHINee in 2017 and SuperM in 2020, however watching him on his personal there’s no denying his sheer magnetism. Even from the nosebleed part, this was clearly evident. I’m without end grateful he carried out Felony and Transfer. He had the viewers within the palm of his hand all the time.
4. IVE
IVE was the group I used to be most likely most excited to see as a result of I’ve liked their music a lot. I’m unhappy we didn’t get After Like (that should sound unbelievable in a stadium), however their I Am “dream stage” was predictably electrifying. There’s nothing like listening to that form of music within the setting it’s designed for.
5. ZEROBASEONE
I’ve grown to actually respect ZB1’s debut album and the members are very charming. Their reputation within the enviornment was unreal. MNET’s survival-show-to-idol-group pipeline remains to be churning at full energy.
6. Rain
I suppose this is perhaps controversial to some individuals? Studies of a “black ocean” are making their approach across the web, however the response I noticed was no completely different from any of the opposite acts with materials less-known to the followers within the enviornment. Individuals in our part gave the impression to be having fun with his set, and I used to be undoubtedly a kind of individuals. I’ll at all times leap on the likelihood to see a Ok-pop legend in motion, no matter his talents (or lack thereof) as a CEO. I imply… I noticed Rainism carried out in individual! That’s fairly darn cool.
7. Kep1er’s “Again to the Metropolis”
I’m not an enormous fan of most of Kep1er’s music, however I do love Again to the Metropolis and I used to be delighted that they carried out it!
Different Highlights
Xikers’ Do Or Die is such a banger.
So is INI’s Fanfare.
And so is Limelight’s Madeleine.
ATEEZ’s Wonderland was downright operatic.
1. Conference administration/structure
After a number of years of enchancment, KCON’s 2023 administration was godawful. There’s no different approach to say it, actually. Regardless of this being their largest 12 months but, they opted to ebook the smaller half of the conference middle, that means much less entrances for extra individuals. I’ve at all times given KCON the nickname “linecon,” as a result of the vast majority of your time is spent ready in traces or ready in crowds. Nevertheless, the payoff is normally value it.
Strains to enter the venue took almost two hours, with no actual administration or order. We had been standing beneath freeway overpasses, across the block and all over. At one level, we needed to stand in entrance of some spiritual nut yelling at us concerning the “sins of idolatry” by a megaphone for a superb hour or so. We did this all earlier than the tropical storm struck. I can’t think about what that was like!
Making issues worse, KCON didn’t enable early check-in this 12 months and every conference day required its personal check-in. So, we received to get pleasure from these infinite traces each morning. Possibilities of experiencing something scheduled for the primary hour or two of the conference had been just about scrapped until you needed to begin lining up hours upfront. There critically must be a greater approach to do that. Are all conventions so unhealthy with traces? I felt like we had been being herded like cattle.
For no matter purpose, KCON additionally did away with their meals avenue, making choices for meals fairly restricted. This pressured everybody into the venue’s horrible “galaxy cafe,” a sub-cafeteria-quality expertise the place they’ll gladly cost you upwards of 25$ for what should have price pennies to make. Eight {dollars} for a fountain drink? You’ve received to be kidding. And don’t even take into consideration leaving the conference to eat outdoors until you’re keen for one more hour-long wait to get by bag verify once more!
Sadly, this mismanagement diminished the alternatives for individuals to attend the actions and levels that they had really paid for, which is a disgrace. KCON has steadily streamlining their insurance policies over the previous couple of years, so I don’t know what went improper this 12 months. It jogged my memory of 2016.
2. Repetitive line-up
This isn’t a grievance about any single act since I’m a fan of all of them. However as somebody who attends KCON yearly I’m a bit dissatisfied by how their performing line-ups appear a bit stagnant. In fact all of the MNET teams should be there (whether or not they’re Ok-pop or not), however nearly half of the weekend’s line-up was a repeat from final 12 months. Clearly these large teams have tons of followers that deliver within the ticket gross sales, however I’d like to see extra variety subsequent 12 months.
2023’s Showcase Levels had been an awesome step ahead on this regard, so hopefully they’ll proceed the development. Repetition of acts was the largest purpose we determined to go for 2 days as a substitute of all three.
