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The Boyz: Zeneration II - NYC and Dallas
Jul. 31st, 2024 10:55 pmThe Boyz are my favourite group, but I didn't plan my trip around this tour - however when I saw the tour dates, I realised I could definitely see at least one show if I extended my holiday by a few days. So I did!
19 July, Radio City Music Hall, New York City
This was their first show on tour after doing 3 shows in Seoul the week before. The Seoul show was bigger, stadium-sized with a longer setlist and more elaborate staging - this was a smaller theatre-sized version. So I knew largely what to expect from the setlist, though there was still a surprise or two.
Compared to Zeneration I, this show is more relaxed in pacing and the setlist goes deep into b-sides and Japanese singles, a show for the longtime fans. For Zeneration I they really pushed themselves hard - maybe too hard, remembering how in London for instance Changmin had to leave the stage for a while - and this time I think the more relaxed pacing let them enjoy the show more and not be so exhausted at the end.
The setlist too really played into that vibe, this was a show that longtime fans could really appreciate. There were a lot of songs from deep in the catalogue, and getting to see the Japanese songs performed was so great - I hadn't been at all sure they would keep those on the playlist but they did! I never thought I'd get to see Breaking Dawn live and I'm really glad we got that. And the choreo for Back All Black is so killer, that was awesome.
It was also so cool that they included Bite Back, an unreleased song from their upcoming album, it's become a fan fave already despite no official version being released yet.
I do feel a bit regretful that Whisper and Roar got dropped, but it was otherwise a really interesting and varied setlist.
I don't think The Boyz were at their physical peak here - they mentioned being jetlagged and there wasn't as much banter as usual - but I find them so charming and talented. They are my favourite group!
The VCRs for this show are mood pieces rather than narrative, setting the tone for the stages to come. That said there was a moment with Jumilkyu - Hyunjae's hand over Juyeon's eye? Excuse me? - which was quite inspiring lol.
Some notes from the show:
23 July, Music Hall at Fair Park, Dallas
After NYC the Boyz went to Atlanta, which I decided not to do for other concert reasons, but I did catch them in Dallas a few days later! I am so glad I went to this show too. It was great to see them again and I think the vibes were better at this show - they had more energy, presumably having got over jetlag, and the crowd was so into it.
Show notes:
( Setlist )
19 July, Radio City Music Hall, New York City
This was their first show on tour after doing 3 shows in Seoul the week before. The Seoul show was bigger, stadium-sized with a longer setlist and more elaborate staging - this was a smaller theatre-sized version. So I knew largely what to expect from the setlist, though there was still a surprise or two.
Compared to Zeneration I, this show is more relaxed in pacing and the setlist goes deep into b-sides and Japanese singles, a show for the longtime fans. For Zeneration I they really pushed themselves hard - maybe too hard, remembering how in London for instance Changmin had to leave the stage for a while - and this time I think the more relaxed pacing let them enjoy the show more and not be so exhausted at the end.
The setlist too really played into that vibe, this was a show that longtime fans could really appreciate. There were a lot of songs from deep in the catalogue, and getting to see the Japanese songs performed was so great - I hadn't been at all sure they would keep those on the playlist but they did! I never thought I'd get to see Breaking Dawn live and I'm really glad we got that. And the choreo for Back All Black is so killer, that was awesome.
It was also so cool that they included Bite Back, an unreleased song from their upcoming album, it's become a fan fave already despite no official version being released yet.
I do feel a bit regretful that Whisper and Roar got dropped, but it was otherwise a really interesting and varied setlist.
I don't think The Boyz were at their physical peak here - they mentioned being jetlagged and there wasn't as much banter as usual - but I find them so charming and talented. They are my favourite group!
The VCRs for this show are mood pieces rather than narrative, setting the tone for the stages to come. That said there was a moment with Jumilkyu - Hyunjae's hand over Juyeon's eye? Excuse me? - which was quite inspiring lol.
Some notes from the show:
- Out of Control choreo has a wild Jukev moment, I love it
- In the first ments Kevin asked the crowd to shout "welcome home Eric" - so happy for Eric, his first TBZ tour in the USA (after missing Zeneration I due to a health hiatus)
- They mentioned Sangyeon's abs, recently revealed in the Seoul shows. Eric: "make some noise if you liked his abs"
- Sunwoo's intro: "I'm your spider man"
- Eric: "would you rather see Tattoo, or me and Kevin's tattoos?"
- In Kevin's final ment, he handed his mic to a guy in the crowd who proposed to his girlfriend! Pandemonium! Boyz looking on with heart eyes! Later on bubble, Younghoon said the girl was holding a Jacob slogan and that made it even funnier.
23 July, Music Hall at Fair Park, Dallas
After NYC the Boyz went to Atlanta, which I decided not to do for other concert reasons, but I did catch them in Dallas a few days later! I am so glad I went to this show too. It was great to see them again and I think the vibes were better at this show - they had more energy, presumably having got over jetlag, and the crowd was so into it.
Show notes:
- Kevin: "everything is bigger in Texas"
- Haknyeon praised the Texan bbq. Hyunjae says he ate so much he almost threw up… HYUNJAE PLEASE.
- Juyeon shouted out the Dallas Mavericks lol
- Kevin brought out a Beyonce folding fan lol and made a few Beyonce references - wrong city but right state I guess lol
- Eric yeehawed!
- In Thrill Ride, Sunwoo poured water on Eric and Eric flashed his abs. Later, Juyeon to Eric, about Sunwoo pouring water on him at his request: "You always say make me wet."
- There's an audience dance break in DDD - they got 2 members of the audience to dance out the front. And then Eric leapt down from stage and danced with them!
- The audience did the barking thing and Hyunjae asked what is this barking sound. He called us all Erics because of this sound lol.
- Sangyeon: "from Bite Back to Reveal, does it seem like we're a pack of wolves?"
Kevin, to the audience barking: "Do wolves bark? Don't they howl?" - Eric, anticipating his hometown show in LA: "if I get too hyped in LA I might go topless"
- Kevin made them dance a little Giddy Up, with varying levels of enthusiasm from each member. Chanhee did not move lol.
- Ending ments:
Sangyeon was so happy because he got to eat Texas BBQ
Sunwoo: I want to marry you
Hyunjae: I will be back for the Texas bbq
Juyeon: my cowboys - This whole sequence with Sunwoo touching Hyunjae's chest, adding Younghoon to the mix, and Juyeon watching the whole thing from the side.
- During Fire Eyes, Chanhee picked up a Hello Kitty from the crowd. Changmin had a Chucky doll, and Hyunjae got a Buzz Lightyear cushion with his face lol.
( Setlist )
