A Night Of Lunar Magic – ONEUS’s BLOOD MOON tour in Pontiac
All photos by Ciara Glagola
February 16, 2022 brought Pontiac, Michigan a bout of springlike, dreary weather. The area surrounding the Crofoot Ballroom was pelted by on-and-off rain showers, as strong winds gusted through the streets. Come 7:30 p.m., however, the atmosphere inside the venue was anything but dreary, as the six members of ONEUS took the stage for the third stop of their BLOOD MOON tour.
Comprised of members Ravn, Seoho, Leedo, Keonhee, Hwanwoong, and Xion, ONEUS last found themselves performing in the United States at the end of 2019 for their six city FLY WITH US tour. By comparison, the BLOOD MOON tour will have covered 14 cities by the time it is done, giving many more TO MOON across the country the opportunity to watch them light up a stage in their city.
And light up the stage they did, the moment that they stepped onto it. “COME BACK HOME” marked the start of their setlist, immediately setting the standard for the phenomenal night that was ahead of each attendee. Thus, the BLOOD MOON concert charged, full speed ahead, into a night full of dynamic performances that would leave the packed room captivated for the next two hours.
The setlist had something for everyone, a vast array of songs from throughout their discography. From TO MOON since debut, to those who joined with the release of latest mini-album BLOOD MOON, there was a song for each of them. Those looking to enjoy something funky could enjoy “BLACK MIRROR” or “BBUSYEO.” Fans looking for a slower, heartfelt moment had their time during “Youth” and “I.P.U.” There was even a mashup of B-sides “Plastic Flower,” “English Girl,” and “Airplane.”
ONEUS has never shied away from breathing new life into known-and-loved songs, something shown through the rearranged versions of singles “A Song Written Easily,” “TO BE OR NOT TO BE,” and “No diggity,” along with the rock version of “Valkyrie” and the Road To Kingdom version of “LIT.” They also brought out the English versions of beloved tracks “Shut Up 받고 Crazy Hot!” and “Life is Beautiful.”
Regardless of the song being performed, the room was filled with a palpable electricity, created in equal parts by the members of ONEUS giving it their all onstage and by TO MOON, matching that with their cheers, enthusiasm, and love. During their ments between song breaks, the members kept coming back to speak about how hot a city Pontiac was. They assured TO MOON that, should anyone ever tell them that Pontiac is a cold city, they would say it is a hot one. The temperature rose even higher during a dance cover stage of Post Malone’s “Motley Crew” and Michele Morrone’s “Watch Me Burn.” Equal parts powerful and sensual, ONEUS’s stage presence and choreography commanded the attention of the entire room.
One thing fans of ONEUS can count on from the group is their commitment to finding beautiful, new ways to pay homage to Korean culture. This can be observed throughout their work, both audibly and visibly: it is heard in songs such as “LIT” and “Intro : Window” and seen in the music video and live performances of their latest single “LUNA.” This was a prevalent theme in their concert, too. In the portion of the show that included the three aforementioned songs, the members took to the stage clad in hanbok, the traditional Korean clothing.
This sharing of Korean culture is something that is embraced with great care by TO MOON. During “LUNA,” the crowd held up hand-fans just like the ones the group members utilized in the song’s choreography. This project was well-received by ONEUS. After seeing TO MOON holding the same fans as them, Hwanwoong remarked, “It feels like we are standing here for Korea, for our country.”
As the concert drew to its close, the members lingered onstage long past the last notes of “BBUSYEO.” They soaked in the atmosphere, taking in their final glimpses of Michigan TO MOON with bright smiles and sparkling eyes. For a few more moments, the Crofoot Ballroom was filled with the excitedly waving hands of the group members and the fans, each equally grateful to be in each other’s presence after a long and difficult two years.
It does not go unnoticed how important it is to ONEUS that they have the opportunity to stand on these stages and do what they do. Ravn’s ending ment went into detail about how he wants to, “Give people hope, love, and self-belief. And tell them how precious they are, through music.”
Pontiac’s BLOOD MOON has come and gone, but for those that still wish to catch this nighttime spectacle, you can see ONEUS at the remaining dates of the tour.