Tomorrow X Collectively are not any strangers to creating historical past at Lollapalooza. Final yr, the band turned the primary Ok-pop act to ever carry out on the Chicago pageant and dazzled an enormous crowd with stay band variations of a few of their most alternative-leaning tracks. Tonight (August 5), simply 12 months on from that late afternoon set on one among Lolla’s smaller levels, TXT are again – and this time they’re making their mark as the primary Ok-pop group to headline right here.
Returning with a stay band once more, the five-piece have constructed their set round two themes, these of “youth” and “rock”. “If you happen to consider these two key phrases, they remind you of Tomorrow X Collectively immediately,” Hueningkai tells NME backstage earlier than the group head over to the Bud Mild stage. He’s not incorrect, and tonight’s efficiency solely reinforces that time, racing via a setlist full of massive riffs, angst and giddy pleasure.
The latter begins early. After the opening two songs – fiery variations of ‘0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You)’ and ‘Pricey Sputnik’ – the members take a second to introduce themselves to the group. Because the digital camera pans to Hueningkai, he lifts his microphone to his mouth and, mimicking what’s now changing into an inescapable custom at Ok-pop reveals within the US, ignites the primary fervent spherical of barking. Moments later, Yeonjun appears out over the drizzle-soaked viewers and declares: “The rain can cease, let’s fucking get pleasure from it.” The rain doesn’t, in reality, cease, however that doesn’t stop Grant Park from pouring all its vitality into doing because the rapper says.
The thought of youth is ever-present all through the setlist, the gathering of songs shared tonight encapsulating all sides of it. It represents flirtations with temptation by way of an intoxicating ‘Satan By The Window’ and the world-ending feeling of a primary break-up in ‘Good Boy Gone Dangerous’, which comes with a brand new and prolonged, jaw-dropping dance break. As Beomgyu does his now-traditional lighting of a rose and tossing it nonchalantly over his shoulder, big flames burst up in entrance of the stage and the group launch into but extra intricate choreography.
However there are additionally the happier, hotter sides of youth showcased right here too. Synth-pop banger ‘Thursday’s Little one Has Far To Go’ would possibly characteristic a few of TXT’s least advanced dance strikes however, as Taehyun, Beomgyu and Soobin ship them with exuberant grins on their faces, they really feel like a number of the most joyous. ‘Cat And Canine’ stays the group’s cutest track, whereas ‘Blue Spring’ – an unreleased track penned by all 5 members premiered throughout their Act: Candy Mirage tour – captures the magic bond of friendship via the tumultuous time of rising up.
Whereas TXT won’t have been readily related to rock after they first debuted, in recent times, they’ve leaned an increasing number of into heavier sounds, with a lot of these songs aired tonight. ‘Wishlist’ is filled with pure pop-punk buoyancy, the group head-banging alongside even because the rain will get heavier. ‘LO$ER=LO♡ER’, a track that all the time feels filled with catharsis when it’s being screamed by 1000’s of followers, amplifies that launch with an prolonged ending that turns into dizzyingly jubilant.
The stay band assist flip ‘Can’t You See Me?’ right into a sludgy sledgehammer of a track that hits extremely exhausting, sonically at the least. That the group performs many of the track by standing nonetheless in a line throughout the stage seems like a missed alternative to make this new rock model as ferocious as it may be. A return to the choreography on the finish helps, however it could possibly’t put it aside from feeling like the one flat a part of the set.
TXT’s Lollapalooza headline second would possibly come within the midst of their Act: Candy Mirage world tour, however they combine issues up from that setlist and track preparations to present Chicago loads of surprises. There’s a ludicrously euphoric rendition of ‘Magic’ that finds the group upping the velocity halfway via for a high-octane dance break and a reunion with Coi Leray for ‘Comfortable Fools’ (plus a snippet of her personal monitor ‘Gamers’). ‘Do It Like That’, the group’s current collaboration with the Jonas Brothers, will get unveiled stay for the primary time, though the trio aren’t current to assist out (“It could be superior in the event that they made it to carry out it with us, however there’s all the time subsequent time,” Taehyun says after).
Though that is TXT’s time to shine – which they do, blindingly – they make sure that to present those that assist make the efficiency what it’s their flowers, and in full HD. Early within the set, they put the highlight on their backing band, every musician’s identify broadcast on the again display screen as they tackle a solo. Later, they do the identical with their dancers, permitting them the possibility to point out off their strikes whereas the group learns their names. It’s a humble gesture, however one which speaks volumes.
Of their new Disney+ documentary Our Misplaced Summer time, Yeonjun mirrored on TXT’s final look at Lolla, saying they weren’t certain in the event that they deserved their place on the invoice. Whereas they proved that to be incorrect in 2022, this headline set reveals they’re greater than worthy of this new, elevated slot on the line-up. Their performances are tight and impactful, their vocals phenomenal, and their stage presence nothing in need of rockstar standing.
As they wrap issues up, Yeonjun describes the set as “a dream come true” earlier than Taehyun asks the group to “observe us for the remainder of our world tour, our new album and extra wonderful stuff”. To try this, although, TXT first want to depart the stage, however they linger on it for minutes after a remaining, thrilling ‘Sugar Rush Journey’ and after gold fireworks mild up the sky in celebration of their big achievement, thanking followers and initiating extra barking. Historical past by no means felt so giddily nice.
Tomorrow X Collectively performed:
‘0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You)’
‘Pricey Sputnik’
‘Tinnitus’
‘Can’t You See Me?’
‘Good Boy Gone Dangerous’
‘Lonely Boy (The tattoo on my ring finger)’
‘Thursday’s Little one Has Far To Go’
‘Anti-Romantic’
‘Farewell, Neverland’
‘Blue Spring’
‘No Guidelines’
‘Cat & Canine’
‘Comfortable Fools’
‘Gamers’
‘Blue Hour’
‘Wishlist’
‘LO$ER=LO♡ER’
‘Magic’
‘Sugar Rush Journey’
