REVIEW: (G)I-DLE gives the fans what they want at Oakland Arena
(G)I-DLE performs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2024. Aaron Lee/STAFF.
OAKLAND — Though (G)I-DLE last performed in the Bay Area just a little over a year ago, the K-pop quintet brought a mostly different performance to Oakland Arena on Sunday at the second show of a six-date U.S. run, dubbed i-DOL.
The concert was also a step up in production from the group’s Bill Graham Civic Auditorium gig during the I Am Free-ty World Tour in August 2023.
Miyeon, Minnie, Soyeon, Yuqi and Shuhua returned, touring a new LP (January’s appropriately titled sophomore effort, 2) and two EPs released since their last performance in the Bay Area, including a debut all-English record. About a third of the 23-song set leaned on the newer material as the group avoided several early career hits like “DUMDi DUMDi.”
The group started with two bass-heavy pop bangers from 2, “Super Lady” and “Revenge.” Bold floor-to-ceiling letters on a video screen introduced both the song and the group as super ladies. The ladies arrived on a platform decked out with 20-foot-tall crystals, dressed in bedazzled black cheerleader-like outfits. The second song flip-flopped between a slinky and harder-edged rock tune. The group would go on to expertly visit that fine line, as well as the one between family-friendly pop and risqué choreography.
Following fan favorite “LATATA,” during which the group made its way down the curved walkway connecting the main stage to a large square platform in the middle of the room, Yuqi offered the first of two different explanations for this tour’s name.
“This is what you guys want: You want idols!” she announced.
The second explanation was offered by a clever video skit that had the girls pretending they were on a spoof version of “The Office.” During a tour-planning meeting at the offices of their label, Cube Entertainment, they discovered that the letter E had disappeared from everywhere other than the on-screen captions. The E was missing from all office signage—CUB NTRTAINMNT — song titles, tour schedule; even the group’s name. A fruitless search ensued, at the end of which Shuhua arrived not with an E but an O. Hence, “I-DOL.” Close enough!
The group’s dancers encircled them during “oh my god,” the first of many songs on which Soyeon, the group’s rapper, shined. She spit bars in a rhythmic flow while the others blended molasses-thick harmonies. Other Soyeon highlights included grimey “MY BAG,” bass-laden banger “LION” and “Is this bad b****** number?”
The latter came during the show’s solo segment. Wearing a leopard-print full-length coat and lying on her side with one leg peeking through, she was raised up on a platform on the secondary stage and proceeded to thrust her pelvis against the stage floor while rapping. On her walk back to the main stage, she dropped the coat and changed into a baggy T-shirt and pants, and a ball cap.
The group didn’t waste much time getting to the solo segment. First, Shuhua danced to South African Afrobeats star Tyla’s biggest hit, “Water.” She wore an Eastern-inspired outfit with lots of various jangly jewelry. But the dance was less about belly dancing and more about shaking her behind, mimicking Tyla’s own.
Her and Soyeon’s performances contrasted with that of Yuqi, Minnie and Miyeon.
First, Yuqi sang an unreleased song called “Radio” while being pushed down the catwalk in a shopping cart. At one point, she stopped the song, asking the crowd to help her sing the chorus, which she demonstrated a cappella. Though no doubt planned, it was still a nice touch for those unsure of when the singing is assisted by a backing track (which this wasn’t).
After “Change,” a beat-heavy but otherwise sweet-sounding ballad by Minnie, Miyeon took the stage and belted out a terrific song called “Sky Walking,” an ’80s-influenced power ballad. Sparklers went off at the front of the stage as she hopped around, matching her dancers’ moves.
The third act of the show kicked off with 2 song “Wife,” a kitschy, tongue-in-cheek tune. The girls appeared from under a teal, shed-sized wig—like in the song’s video (also worn by many attendees). Wearing matching white pajama-like outfits, (G)I-DLE rapped in unison on this one. At the end, they dropped their shirts to reveal multicolored tops.
“Uh-Oh” kicked off a five-song blast of rainbow-powered pop. On the first one, Yuqi even showed off a couple of breakdancing moves, holding a handstand while twisting her legs to her side. Next came “Klaxon,” off July EP I SWAY, which began with the girls inside a stationary convertible.
“I know the words are in Korean, but can you sing along with us?” Yuqi said ahead of 2 song “Fate,” after tying an errant streamer over her head and under her chin. It seemed too tall a task, but sure enough, many impressively joined in during the chorus.
“Allergy” had the same poppy, fun and carefree vibe, as the girls sang while dancing around the secondary stage. Following the jagged-guitar-led “Never Stop Me” and the glitchy and electronic “POP/STARS,” (G)I-DLE finished off with fan favorites “Queencard” and “TOMBOY,” before returning for an encore of two songs from the group’s 2023 English-language EP, HEAT.
- (G)I-DLE performs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2024.
- (G)I-DLE performs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2024.
- (G)I-DLE performs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2024.
- (G)I-DLE performs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2024.
- (G)I-DLE performs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2024.
- (G)I-DLE performs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2024.
- (G)I-DLE performs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2024.
- (G)I-DLE performs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2024.
- (G)I-DLE performs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2024.
- (G)I-DLE performs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2024.
- (G)I-DLE performs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2024.
- (G)I-DLE performs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2024.
- (G)I-DLE performs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2024.
- (G)I-DLE performs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2024.
- (G)I-DLE performs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2024.
- (G)I-DLE performs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2024.
- (G)I-DLE performs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sept. 8, 2024.
Follow editor Roman Gokhman at Twitter.com/RomiTheWriter. Follow photographer Aaron Lee at Instagram.com/aaronxphotos.