Global Powerhouse BTS Takes Over Las Vegas With High-Energy Arirang World Tour
BTS, the trailblazing global boy group who helped popularize K-pop internationally, made their grand return to Las Vegas Memorial Day weekend.
The seven-member outfit, comprising members RM, Jin, Suga, J-hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook, sold-out four nights at Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium as part of their Arirang World Tour. BTS played their first show in Vegas on Saturday (May 23) and will resume on May 27 and 28. The K-pop group last played the stadium in 2022 during their concert series Permission to Dance on Stage — it was one of the few locations the group performed the show due to COVID regulations at the time.
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The Bangtan Boys had just as many fans lining up to see their Sunday night two concert as the group did four years ago. The stadium inside was illuminated by the group’s lightsticks, known as ARMY Bombs, and the screams were near deafening. Lines to get in wrapped throughout the stadium’s parking lot, and there wasn’t an empty seat visible throughout the venue.
Sunday’s concert was a just over two-hour show of elaborate production and cool performances. The tour’s been highly anticipated as Arirang, the group’s album that the tour’s named after, is their first album in years. BTS, much like all young men in South Korea deemed fit to serve, spent the last few years completing their mandatory military service. Seeing BTS onstage, however, you’d never know the members each had to take a minimum 18-month hiatus over the last few years.
Much like Arirang the album, Arirang the tour is saturated in Korean culture. BTS has long been the end of accusations of being “too westernized” in their music as their popularity has exploded globally over the last decade. But it’s hard to believe one could see a show like this one — which included introductions and interludes of traditional Korean music, an elaborate homage to the Korean flag motif and a 360-degree “jeongja” style pavilion inspired by Gyeonghoeru Pavilion in Gyeongbokgung Palace — and deny that the group’s cultural identity has been infused into every moment.
The show, which kicked off with “Hooligan” off of Arirang, was performed in the round. While their 2021-2022 run of shows felt like a celebration of their careers up to that point, a healthy mix of new and old songs, Arirang solidly felt like a show for those who have stuck by the group and are fully immersed in Arirang as an album.
Sunday’s show leaned heavily on Arirang, performing only nine older tracks. If there are older fans looking to relive past tours, Arirang is not the tour for them. BTS has made it very clear they’re looking ahead, not backward, while staying true to their roots and the fans who got them to this point.
Among the non-Arirang songs performed were some of BTS’ legendary hits — “Fake Love,” “Mic Drop” and “Idol” — along with two of their pandemic-era English language singles — “Butter” and “Dynamite” — and two surprise songs. “Black Swan” off their 2020 chart-topping album, Be, was the first surprise song, and their 2014 song “Spinebreaker,” a longtime fan favorite, was the second.
A highlight of the set, however, was the performance of their new track “FYA,” which transitioned into one of the group’s most iconic songs, “Fire,” which the group mashed up with the beat of “FYA.” It felt like a truly special musical moment that could only be witnessed at a BTS concert.
Many fans, like 21-year-old Natalie Nuntapreda, traveled from outside of Nevada for the show. She’s been a fan for nearly a decade, she said, and traveled with a group from Utah. “I love that they dance because I’m a dancer,” she said from inside the stadium about why she’s drawn to BTS. “It’s fun to see all the different, unique voices and styles. I just think they’re so talented.”
Knowing fans would travel, Hybe, the parent company of BTS’ label BigHit Music, once again put on “BTS The City” activation. The group all but took over the entire city for the weekend, turning red to match the Arirang color scheme. BTS put on a similar activation when they performed in the city in 2022. The Arirang activation, however, took things to a new level.
Fireworks kicked off the weekend Saturday night at the MGM Grand. V cheekily mentioned the firework display during Sunday’s concert, joking that the noise was preventing him from sleeping, so he looked out the window of his hotel room only to discover it was due to him and the group.
The Las Vegas Strip, as part of a partnership with Visit Las Vegas, turned fully red at 11 p.m. local time, with the group’s picture and a message “Las Vegas Welcomes BTS” splashed across the marquees on the Strip. The nearby Sphere also featured Arirang displayed on its rotation.
The City also hosted a slew of retail, dining and cultural events. Certain restaurants and cafes offered special BTS-themed items, official afterparties followed the concert at nearby nightclubs, the Arte Museum Las Vegas opened a BTS exhibit and the iconic Welcome to Las Vegas sign was even illuminated red in honor of the group.
BTS is slated to make a special appearance tonight (May 25) at the American Music Awards, which was announced last week. Monday’s award show appearance marks the group’s first in four years. They’re up for three awards at the show including artist of the year, song of the summer and best male K-pop artist.
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