Concert Review: BTS

2022.04.15

The Band: BTS

The Venue: Allegiant Stadium / Las Vegas

The Date: Friday, April 15, 2022

The Tour: Permission to Dance

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A month or so ago my friend Amy told me that BTS announced four shows in Las Vegas shortly after The Grammys. They were invited to perform on that show (and that performance was amazing, btw - I posted it about it a couple of weeks ago) and decided to make the most of it by performing for their fans. They’d done four shows in December in Los Angeles - all of which sold out almost immediately - and this was a similar set up. Amy saw them in December and wanted to go to Vegas but didn’t have anyone to go with. Enter me. I told her if she could get the tickets I would ask for the day off and well, she did, and I did, and the countdown started.

For the uninitiated, BTS is, per their website, “an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan or “‘Beyond the Scene.’” They are “a Grammy-nominated South Korean group that has been capturing the hearts of millions of fans globally since [their] debut in June 2013.”

I’d known about BTS for a few years and liked the songs I’d heard, but I didn’t know much beyond that until Amy became ARMY - the BTS fandom. She’s filled me in on a lot and wow, is there ever a lot to know! This fandom is like nothing I’ve ever seen. There are people all over the world who genuinely love this band and after watching the interaction between BTS and the crowd on Friday night, the members love ARMY right back. It’s truly remarkable to witness.

So, not knowing much of anything about BTS or ARMY or what the night was going to be like, I hopped on a plane to Vegas.

Before the main event we went to a pop-up experience as well as behind-the-scenes art exhibit and both were equally cool. It helped me start to see who the fans were and how the band gives back to them. These events were all for the fans - pardon me, for ARMY - and everyone was so, so nice. There was no pushing in line, no yelling, no drama. People were just polite to each other, mutually respectful of their fellow ARMYS. As you can see I’ve started to learn a bit of the lingo. A very tiny bit, to be fair.

But the concert was what we were really there for and the experience was indeed something I’ll never forget.

First and foremost, the fans were incredible. I saw the same respect and appreciation for each other as I did at the events. There was no ugliness, no anger, no sloppy drunkenness. This was a group of people, 50 thousand strong, who were there because they loved the band. People from all walks of life, from all across the country and the world filed calmly into a stadium, filled it up before the lights went out, and sang and chanted their hearts out for almost three solid hours. I’ve never seen anything quite like it, and it was easy to get swept up in even though I didn’t know all the songs or the chants or the inside jokes. It didn’t matter. What mattered was the music and the energy and the joy that filled that stadium.

BTS sold out four nights in this stadium in minutes (that’s 200,000 people, by the way). They also sold out four nights at the MGM Grand Arena for folks who couldn’t get stadium tickets to watch a livestream of the show. I have literally never paid to watch a livestream inside an arena before. I didn’t even know that was a thing bands did. To be fair I’m not sure any other band does that but this group is in such high demand, has such unbelievably loyal fans, that they felt they wanted to give them something even though they couldn't get into the stadium. They truly understand that ARMY made them who they are.

Now, let me talk about the concert itself since I did say this was a concert review. First of all, there was no opening band, just BTS. That so rarely happens anymore and it was nice. They started ON TIME. I didn’t even know that was a thing anymore. And let me tell you, when those lights went out and the intro music started, the crowd went BONKERS. I had ear plugs and it was STILL loud! In addition to the yelling there were the ARMY Bombs; wonderful little light sticks that look like a small crystal ball. Each person pairs their bomb with an app and then throughout the show they light up in different colors all over the stadium. It was the coolest use of light technology I’ve ever seen. Apparently it’s a thing with K-POP in general but BTS has taken it to a whole other level. Way better than the light-up wrist bands many artists do these days. Not that those aren’t cool but this was a unique experience. (Amy let me hold hers for a moment and it was kinda awesome.)

And then the band started to sing. And dance. And it was pop and hip-hop and soul and R & B and more. It was all in Korean - save for a few English songs - and it was incredible. I’d heard many of them (since I’d been studying up a bit before going) and knew a few pretty well. They were smooth and fun and silly. They were theatrical and energetic and engaging. They were thankful, celebratory and just plain good. I appreciated that they did several mini sets throughout the night, giving their fans a chance to rest every few songs while they changed outfits and got ready for the next few songs. Everything they did was high energy and they probably needed the rest, too. I’ve never sat down so much at a show and it was such a nice experience. The lighting in addition to the ARMY Bombs was excellent and the addition of indoor fireworks was cool.

I also appreciated that the band took time to genuinely thank the fans for coming. Each of the seven members took the mic and talked about what it meant for them to be there, what the fans meant to them, and how much they appreciated what the fans had done for them. Most of them spoke in Korean but there was a translator, and it was seriously one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen during a show. They were sitting on the stage and it was clear it wasn’t scripted; it was genuine and heartfelt. Most bands thank the crowd and some even thank their fan club or whatever, but this was something different. This was like being in the living room with your friends hanging out talking about how much you love and appreciate each other. In a stadium filled with people it felt quite intimate. As someone who is ARMY adjacent and not deep into the fandom, I almost felt like I was intruding.

Suffice it to say, this was a show I will never forget. I know it’s likely a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and that’s okay. It was definitely the best way I could have come back to the concert world after two and a half years. And to experience it with a great friend was even better.

Until next time…