IVE’s SHOW WHAT I AM North American Leg Goes Out with a Bang in Vancouver
Photos: Jeff Vinnick, Rogers Arena
On August 9, IVE wrapped up the North American portion of their second world tour, SHOW WHAT I AM, in Vancouver after spending nearly three weeks touring the continent. Though IVE toured America two years ago, SHOW WHAT I AM gave Canadian fans their first opportunity to see the group in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. The sextet performed at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena with a packed setlist in mind: they led in with their edgier hits and ended with fan favorites that originally drew audiences in years ago.
The night started off with a VCR that visually erupted into flames, which culminated in one large visual of bright wings. IVE arrived on stage to perform “GOTCHA (Baddest Eros),” and introduced a key component of the concert: much of the setlist received band re-arrangements. Though the group performed without a live band present, this decision felt like a reasonable compromise. It was clear that IVE’s team wanted to bring the exhilarating feeling of hearing a live band without incurring those additional touring costs.
Wearing stunning black leather outfits with silver accents, IVE dove into successive performances of “XOXZ,” “Baddie,” “Ice Queen,” and “BLACKHOLE,” the latter heading their second full album, REVIVE+, released in February. The band re-recording elevated the song’s already grand feeling, making it sound even more powerful and spacious. As the group moved down the extended stage, they shouted out a brief greeting before settling into position for “TKO.” While many K-Pop artists would normally have a dedicated talking segment at this point, IVE prioritized a long stretch of performances. Attendees looking for anecdotes on how the group spent time in Vancouver and those who wanted to solely focus on the performances likely came out of this concert with varying perspectives.
Following “TKO” came “Holy Moly” and “My Satisfaction,” the latter of which ended with an interlude. After IVE left to prepare for the next segment, bright lights shone on the stage with nothing to focus on. Though the pre-recorded band solo sounded epic, the visual of an empty stage felt awkward. This feeling did not last, however, as a quick VCR flashed on screen to segue into the members’ solo songs from REVIVE+.
Wonyoung’s “8” kicked the segment off, followed by Rei’s “In Your Heart,” Liz’s “Unreal,” Gaeul’s “Odd,” Leeseo’s “Super ICY,” and Yujin’s “Force.” This display allowed the audience to experience each member’s qualities, such as Wonyoung’s captivating stage presence, Rei’s playful charm, and Gaeul’s graceful dancing. IVE also made sure that their backup dancers had their time in the spotlight during the next break, where various crew members showed off their flexible and calculated moves. Though IVE was the main draw of the show, this part reflected the sentiment that backup dancers also deserve praise—the crowd cheered loudly all the same.
IVE re-emerged from the backstage as “angels,” wearing white sweaters with small curved wings. They launched into performances of “삐삑 (♡Beats),” “WOW,” and “Off The Record,” before heading down the extended stage for “FLU.” In a flash, the show was already half over, a fact lamented by IVE during their first proper talking segment. They kept it short and sweet—in Yujin’s words, “It’s the only time [the audience] can rest”—noting a few fun tidbits around crafting their solo songs. Much like earlier in the show, those favoring brevity would appreciate this approach.
IVE discarded their angel wings, tossing the sweaters off to reveal glimmery tops underneath. The latter half of the show amped up with the beloved songs “ATTITUDE,” “LOVE DIVE,” “REBEL HEART,” and “I AM.” The amount of people collectively singing “숨 참고 love dive” (“Sum chamgo love dive”) added a surreal quality to the atmosphere. It was no longer just a concert; it was a karaoke session. This energy continued into IVE’s performance of “BANG BANG,” the Wild West-inspired single from REVIVE+.
The show neared its conclusion with “Wild Bird” and the members’ final messages to the crowd. Though the group was heading back to South Korea the next day, they couldn’t leave Vancouver without a large encore. DJ Wonyoung ushered the show into its last portion, starting with “Supernova Love” and “Kitsch.” “After LIKE” closed out the concert, and the song’s hook (“What’s after like?”) sums up what the Vancouver crowd gave and received that day: love.
The Kraze extends their thanks to 42West, Live Nation Canada, and Starship Entertainment for the opportunity to cover the show. For more on IVE’s SHOW WHAT I AM, be sure to check out our coverage of their Los Angeles show at the Kia Forum on August 1. The tour will finish on September 13 following concerts at Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld-Arena and Taipei’s Taipei Arena.