TOMORROW X TOGETHER Chicago Concert Review
The “ACT : LOVE SICK World Tour” in Chicago was compelling in a plethora of ways.
It is hard to review TXT’s “ACT : LOVE SICK World Tour” Chicago show like any other concert, given its extraordinary blending of formats. The show was not quite a theater production, not quite a movie, and not quite a straight-up concert. It was a bit of everything, a rich tapestry of theatrical numbers and cinematic flair that made anything other than in-person viewing unsatisfactory. The show was fully immersive, and each component of it worked together so seamlessly that each musical number carried itself with the kind of grace reserved for a ballet, the kind of aesthetics reserved for art shows, and the kind of boyish charm reserved for child prodigies. Visually and auditorily striking, TXT made captivating works of art in real time.
The Show Overall
TXT’s outfits, props, and enormous backgrounds transported the audience into a different world for each performance. Viewers were taken to a sky-high world of whimsy, an ornate and dramatic castle, a garden full of twinkle lights, an ominous, red forest, a graffiti-covered car, and so much more. The members dressed the part each time, chameleonic as they went from sweet pastels to dark, edgy looks and back again. They had several gorgeous, princely getups as well: shimmery pink suits followed by dark blue, lace-covered tops. In just a few hours, TXT played the roles of angst-ridden youths, happy-go-lucky kids, sinister animals, princes straight out of a period piece, woodland fairies, and sentimental friends.
Although the show was one remarkable moment after the next, a few in particular stood out more than the others. One is when Yeonjun performed a dance transitioning into “PUMA.” He perfectly captured the mannerisms of a devilish character midway through his solo dance, going from just a cocky character to one much more sinister! Secondly, there were moments when the members’ faces simply faded out of the picture. While watching them emotionally sing on the big screens on both sides of the stage, they appeared to melt into their surroundings, until all that was left was a memory, giving new depth to their tales of feeling lonely and misunderstood. Furthermore, the lighting made some moments on the big screens appear black-and-white, adding to the magic trick of it all. Third, during one of the more emotional numbers, the 2D rain appeared as if in 4D, as sweat ran down the members’ faces just like rain would! Even without trying, each detail added to their storytelling!
The members’ teamwork also deserves a moment of appreciation. Many moves required reliance on the others, sometimes even standing on or carrying another member, and each move was pulled off without a hitch. They also ensured their characters in each scene were embodied through their dance moves, from expressing pain like that of someone gravely wounded to the carefree joy of a daredevil.
The immersion of watching this show did not let up during breaks; costume changes were when videos kept the audience’s attention rapt and the drama high. Since it is an unspoken rule to not spoil what occurs in the transition videos at K-pop concerts, this description will stay general: the videos told stories that added to the lore of TXT’s cinematic, musical universe in ways both surprising and expected. The members took on multiple roles, in a presumed attempt to get to the bottom of who they truly are and how much of a villain resides within each of them. These absorbing videos made the night fly by even faster than it already was.
The Setlist
TXT’s show was great for those who like less time spent interacting with the crowd and more time spent getting to more songs instead of vice versa. The members spoke a bit at the beginning, the end, and for a moment during mic changes, but otherwise, the show was all about the music. They started with an anthemic hit, “0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You),” and kept spirits high with “Wishlist,” “Blue Orangeade,” and “Magic.” Things took a turn for the dramatic with “Ghosting,” and the members, fittingly, disappeared as a video played after that.
The next segment started with “New Rules,” followed by seamlessly back-to-back performances of “PUMA” and “What if I had been that PUMA,” another hit anthem in “LO$ER=LO♡ER,” and then another serious turn with “Trust Fund Baby.”
After the next video interlude, the audience was taken on a trip that went from Memory Lane (with their debut, “CROWN”) to a “Magic Island.” The magic remained for “9 and Three Quarters - Run Away” and “Blue Hour.” This portion of the show did not end with another emotional turn, opting instead to leave the audience reveling in the joy of the “Blue Hour” set’s pastel carnival. It was not just smart but fateful to end a segment of the show this way, since countless attendees cosplayed as their cowboy characters from the music video!
Next was a period of dark musical numbers. “Frost” was sung with a riveting degree of power and passion, and they remained in an anguished state for “Maze in the Mirror.” They closed this section of the show with a thrilling rendition of “Eternally,” which maintained the song’s duality without feeling disjointed. Unrushed, suspense-building verses were performed between faster, haunting choruses. Just as the members perfectly played the part for each musical number, they also proved they can channel different characters within a single song, making “Eternally” one of the night’s most admirable feats.
A shorter segment followed, allowing the emotional density of “Can’t You See Me?” and “Opening Sequence” to sink in.
After “Lonely Boy (The tattoo on my ring finger)” and “Anti-Romantic,” the show ended with the vigorously-applauded “Good Boy Gone Bad.” This ending smartly flipped the order of previous segments: instead of starting with the bold, confident numbers and ending with more vulnerable ones, they did the reverse.
The three-song encore was simply adorable! Wearing denim overalls and white shirts, the members sang “Thursday’s Child Has Far To Go” while moving through the crowd and genuinely lighting up at the chance to get closer to the fans. The sweetness persisted with their official fan song, “MOA Diary (Dubaddu Wari Wari),” and they ended with an unreleased track, “Sweat.” While the show pre-encore presented the audience with a spellbinding anthology, the encore offered a “true story” and the chance to see the members simply as they are.
Conclusion
The potential of each element of TXT’s concert was maximized to the fullest extent. The lighting, backgrounds, props, vocal deliveries, costumes, special effects, choreography, facial expressions, other acting components, and, most importantly, ways in which all of these elements cooperated with one another, gave each stage its own splendor. Each stage was its own living work of art, its own miniature play, telling a different tale that showed off another one of TXT’s apparently infinite sides. The “ACT : LOVE SICK World Tour” is sure to wow audiences of all degrees of fandom. It is a can’t-miss and absolutely astounding show that left the audience hanging onto every word, expression, scene change, and dance move.
Overall, TOMORROW X TOGETHER proved to be an act worth seeing in concert regardless of how good or bad one’s seat is. Any opportunity to watch TXT live is worth taking, and every spot allows for viewing an intriguing piece of cinema, not to mention a chance to see them up close when they move through the crowd! Watching TXT was absolutely enthralling and worth every second.
Read my previous TXT writing and listen to my TXT-themed podcast episodes below!
minisode 2: Thursday’s Child Theories
Five Big Takeaways from TXT’s Series of PAPER Magazine Interviews
The TXT Music Video Universe (Part 2)