BTS EPISODE: Jin — RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in US and Europe

I remember when this tour was first announced, I was worried about how the Run Jin concept was going to be incorporated into the concerts. But I didn't need to worry; the concert was fucking amazing. Of course, Jin's live performances were phenomenal — flawless vocals, incredible energy — but it was also really interactive and hilarious and so much fun. It was a concert that felt completely different to any other one I'd been to — one that was so unique, and so thoroughly JIN. I know I say this for all BTS concerts, but god, I'm so glad I got tickets for this tour. 

Is it too soon to feel nostalgic over this?

Unboxing: Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR Official Tour Merch

JIN TOUR MERCH HAUL! 

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR Official Merch — Check Shirt

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR Official Merch — Check Shirt (Detail)

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR Official Merch — Check Shirt (Detail)

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR Official Merch — S/S Routing T-Shirt (US Version)

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR Official Merch — S/S Routing T-Shirt (US Version) [Detail]

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR Official Merch — S/S Routing T-Shirt (US Version) [Detail]

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR Official Merch — Wootteo Keyring

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR Official Merch — Tour Keyring and Tour Mini Charm (Newark Version)

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR VIP Gifts — VIP Laminate Pass + Lanyard, Acrylic Pin Set, and Fanny Pack

I had pre-ordered the oversized Check Shirt and Tour Keyring from Weverse Shop Global in June, but I did pick up a few things at the concert: the S/S Routing T-Shirt (US version), Wootteo Keyring, and Tour Mini Charm (Newark version). (I thought I exercised a lot of self-control, if I do say so myself.) I received some gifts with my Soundcheck VIP Package as well: a VIP laminate pass and lanyard, an acrylic pin set, and a silver fanny pack.

Jin Ramen Mild T-Shirt

Jin Ramen Mild Noodle Pack and Noodle Cup

There was also a huge Otoki Jin Ramen booth inside the venue (not sure if they're a tour sponsor, but Jin is — appropriately — the current spokesmodel for them) where they were giving out free gift bags to all the VIP that included a blue Jin Ramen Mild T-shirt, a pack of Jin Ramen Mild, and a cup of Jin Ramen Mild. (Coincidentally, I just picked up a six-pack of Jin Ramen Mild cups last week. Not because Jin is the spokesperson, but because it's genuinely delicious.)

Gifts from ARMY!

And, of course, there were tons of ARMYs giving out free goodies — handmade beaded bracelets, keychains, buttons, dozens of photo cards, ticket bookmarks, a plethora of candy, the most adorable BTS ARMY pens, scrunchies, and even bottle openers! Truly, BTS ARMY is the best fandom in the world. (I'm only slightly biased.)

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Jin #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark — Day 2

Finally got to see Jin at the last date of the North American Leg of his #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark yesterday! Aside from Jin performing his songs, I actually didn't know what to expect from a tour that's based on Run Jin — his variety show that's full of shenanigans — because I purposely kept myself from watching tour footage beforehand so as not to spoil the experience. But it was surprisingly interactive, with random audience participance games in between songs, and HILARIOUS. (Him trying to guess "Orange Suit Guy" with all of us pointing to an ARMY in the 300 sections wearing a full-on orange dinosaur suit will forever be a highlight.) And considering this tour doesn't include choreography or backup dancers, I thought he commanded the stage exceptionally well on his own. His setlist was well-rounded and included the majority of his solo songs across Happy and Echo, as well "Super Tuna" (of course), and a medley of BTS songs:

1. Running Wild
2. I'll Be There
3. With the Clouds
4. Falling
5. Don't Say You Love Me
6. Super Tuna
7. I Will Come to You
8. Abyss
9. Background
10. Another Level
11. Loser 
12. Rope It
13. BTS Medley: Dynamite
14. BTS Medley: Butter
15. BTS Medley: Mikrokosmos
16. Spring Day
17. The Astronaut
18. Nothing Without Your Love
19. Epiphany
20. Moon
21. To Me, Today

I managed to get us Soundcheck VIP Packages for this concert, so we also had the pleasure of watching him perform "Running Wild," "Another Level," and "Super Tuna" during soundcheck. Despite having had to line up in a thunderstorm with pouring rain all afternoon (thank god I checked the forecast beforehand and packed an umbrella) and not being able to leave Prudential Center for nearly seven hours (as a smoker, this is kind of a nightmare), I thought this concert was absolutely worth flying to Newark for. (As you can imagine, there are some worries about going over to the US right now.)

As usual, I will be uploading reels of every single stage from this concert on my Instagram. (Lest you think I'm not enjoying the concert in real-time, I usually film about a minute of each song and then sing along and dance and wave my ARMY Bomb with everyone else.) Just waiting for the official announcement of the OT7 world tour now. (And the ticketing blood bath that will ensue.) Unless another surprise solo tour is coming...

BTS EPISODE: Jin — RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Goyang

EXACTLY ONE MORE WEEK UNTIL I SEE JIN IN PERSON!!! 

BTS EPISODE: J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Asia

The amount of hard work, planning, practice, dedication, endurance, creativity, and stamina — not just from J-Hope, but also the dancers and staff — that went into this tour is just remarkable. I am so glad that I got to witness a part of it in person. 

Jin — RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in Newark

Okay, I was legitimately scared for this ticketing run because both of the Amsterdam shows sold out in 10 minutes, but not only did I manage to get FLOOR TICKETS, I also got SOUNDCHECK PACKAGES!!! (And at regular pricing, too, not bullshit Ticketmaster Platinum pricing!!!) Jin, we're coming to see you!!!

Jin — RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR Poster

(Image source: BTS Weverse)
Just as I'm riding down the high of Hobi's Hope on the Stage Tour, we're now getting an unexpected but extremely exciting tour announcement for Jin (the first from the vocal line!!!). I didn't expect to have to go through ticketing stress again so soon, but LET THE (HUNGER? SQUID?) GAMES BEGIN. 

Unboxing: J-Hope Hope on the Stage Official Tour Merch

You didn't think I'd go see J-Hope on tour and not get merch, did you?

J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour US Exclusive Zip-Up Hoodie
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour US Exclusive Zip-Up Hoodie
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour US Exclusive Hoodie
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour US Exclusive Hoodie
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour US Exclusive Brooklyn Acorn Keyring Charm
Yes, my friend Iris and I decided to get in line for merch at Barclays Center at 7:00AM. There were about 100 people in front of us when we got there which, compared to the last time I was in line for merch at the BTS Permission to Dance concert in Las Vegas a couple years ago, seemed quite reasonable. (I guess, to be fair, there were also about 5 times more people at that concert.) We waited for about 3.5 hours to get in (the merch booths opened at 10:00AM, so all things considered, we actually got in pretty fast), and both Iris and I managed to get everything we wanted. For me, that included the two US-exclusive hoodies (that, frankly, cost a small fortune with the atrocious USD to CAD exchange rate) and the Brooklyn-exclusive acorn keychain (SO CUTE — every city in the US leg of the tour gets a city-exclusive acorn keychain).

J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour Hoodie
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour Hoodie
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour Blanket

Of course, when I got home, my Weverse Shop package from Korea also arrived with the general Hope on the Stage Tour merch I had ordered a few weeks ago — I picked the hoodie and the blanket. Yes, I, too, am wondering where the hell I'm going to fit three new hoodies in my already packed closet.

Now, did I get a cold when I got back from NYC from waiting in line for nearly four hours in 5°C weather on three hours of sleep? Yes, yes, I did. Was it worth it? Yes, yes, it was.

J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn at Barclays Center — Day 1

J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1
J-Hope Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn — Day 1

Yesterday was the first date of the North American leg of J-Hope's Hope on the Stage Tour in Brooklyn (sadly, the only day of the tour that I got tickets to). It was a flawless concert with an absolutely loaded set list that included old classics ("1 VERSE"), new favourites (the world premiere of his unreleased new single, "Mona Lisa"), songs across his entire solo discography, and a select few BTS bangers: 

1. What If…
2. Pandora's Box
3. Arson
4. STOP
5. MORE
6. On the Street
7. Lock / Unlock
8. I Don't Know
9. I Wonder…
10. Trivia: Just Dance
11. Sweet Dreams
12. MONA LISA (World Premiere)
13. 1 VERSE
14. Base Line
15. HANGSANG
16. Airplane
17. Airplane, Pt. 2
18. MIC Drop
19. Silver Spoon (Baepsae)
20. Dis-ease
21. Outro: Ego
22. Daydream
23. Chicken Noodle Soup
24. Hope World
25. = (Equal Sign)
26. Future
27. NEURON

Tens of thousands of ARMYs from all over showed up (let's not talk about the insane line-ups) and proved why we are still the biggest and baddest fandom in the world. The crowd was electric, just pure energy. I am so, so, so glad I got tickets to this concert (and lower bowl seats, at that!). It was entirely worth flying to NYC for only one day. 

(I've uploaded about one minute-long reels of almost every performance from this concert on my Instagram, in case you're interested. And so I can re-live this show until the next OT7 concert.)