12. 24K in Dallas
After a three-month delay (almost to the very day), 24K finally came to Dallas! It involved a lot of frustration due to the unprofessional behavior of their promoters, Studio PAV, but it all paid off in the end. $200 got me a VVIP ticket which included a free copy of their ADDICTION single, fansigning, hi-touch, group photo, and getting to sit (stand) in the front.
This was my third concert and the first one I went to alone. Since it was in Dallas, it was a short drive from my dorm and a relatively familiar one. My main fear was getting back to my car after the show. Since Dallas can vary from upscale, ritzy, white women walking their dogs and Apple Stores on every corner to deep ghetto with homeless people who get a little too close from block to block in some areas, I didn't want to get jumped or harassed on my way back to my car since it was going to be nighttime when the show ended. Luckily the Granada Theater is in a decent area of Dallas and there was parking located right behind the venue, so I felt safe.
I had never heard of 24K until I somehow got wind of this tour happening. Given that the group was five years old, I thought it was a little strange that I had literally NEVER heard of them. They did debut in 2012, which was when I had pretty much stopped paying a lot of attention to k-pop, so I thought that was why I'd never even heard their name before. These tickets went on sale at the end of September, which was barely even two months after the Monsta X concert, so my post concern depression was still kind of prevalent. Since the ticket was $200, only about $25 more than my MX P3 ticket, and included a free single and other good VVIP benefits, I bought the ticket on a whim. I got a little more into 24K within the month before they were supposed to be in Dallas. Cory even called my name and acknowledged a comment I left about seeing them soon on their US tour on V Live. But less than a week before the first show was supposed to happen, the tour was suddenly put on hold because not all the boys were able to get their visas. I still think that was a BS reason, but it is what it is. I was just more concerned because after posting on Facebook that the tour was going to be rescheduled, maybe to February 2018, the promoter just fell off the face of the earth. They didn't respond to any contact methods and I was afraid I was out $200 with nothing to show for it.
BUT. The tour still happened. And luckily for me, this new date didn't conflict with any prior engagements. The weather was constantly threatening to rain, but luckily it didn't really rain. Not on my way there, not while we had to stand outside, and not even on my way back after the concert. Studio PAV had posted a time plan for the show. They were going to let VVIP in at 4:30. I got to the Granada Theater at 4:00pm on the dot. Unfortunately, they were running about 45 minutes behind on everything. We didn't start getting checked in until almost 5:30. The fansigning event that was supposed to start at 5, didn't start until almost 6. And the show that was supposed to start at 7, didn't start until almost 8. I have no problem with waiting, but given that this was a standing room only venue, there was no opportunity to sit down. And since the weather had been wet for the past three days, I was not going to sit on the ground. I had already been on my feet for 4 hours straight by the time the show finally started. There was also quite a bit on confusion, for me at least, since a lot of the Studio PAV staff didn't really speak English. They wanted you to stand in specific places, but hardly directed you, verbally or physically and then acted like you were supposed to know what they wanted you to do when there were no instructions, clear lines, or anything else to guide you. I also got stopped by the staff and asked "where I was going" when I tried to go to the bathroom, which was located in the back of the standing area.
The check-in process was also a big part of the delay. You had to present your confirmation and then I think the lady had to manually find you on the computer. Then they gave you your VVIP lanyard and had you write your name so they'd know who to sign the album to. This process didn't take too long for me, but given how people operate, I'm sure it became a long and drawn-out process because somebody didn't have their confirmation ready, or they couldn't find their ID in their purse, or whatever.
But I digress. 24K finally came out and the fansigning began. I want to apologize for the blurriness of these photos. I had zoomed in because I wanted close-ups so the quality was kind of sacrificed.
They are all super handsome in person! I don't know what it is about guys in music groups, but they are all so breathtakingly gorgeous when you get to see them in person! The fansigning itself went by at a nice pace. You started with Cory and then went down through the rest. They'd sign your album, make a little small talk, hold your hand for a moment and then you moved on to the next member. And while we waiting for the fansign, they even gave us some fanservice!
My bias, Jeonguk, smiled at me and did the cutest faces directly at me! With Live photos on the iPhone, the photos got captured like gifs so when I touch them, they move, which unfortunately, I can't replicate on here. I was wearing a turtle necklace my mom got me for my birthday last year and Kisu noticed it. He started saying turtle in Korean, but I had no idea what he was saying until Jeonguk said turtle in English and I was like "Yeah, turtle!" and smiled at them like a fucking idiot. I don't usually smile a lot, so maybe that's why I felt like I looked like a brainless bimbo just smiling all wide and shit, but I was happy lol. And I remember Jeonguk's hand was so warm, hot almost. Not like sweaty or clammy, just hot. But I guess that shouldn't surprise me given how hot he looks. Okay, I'll stop now.
Jinhong is also like really gorgeous??? Like, I kind of knew that already, but in person just wow. I don't understand how men can be so beautiful sometimes.
Then there was more waiting. And then the show finally started. They started with BINGO and ended with Superfly. They also did a pretty good amount of their discography. There were maybe only one or two songs I didn't know. They did Honestly?, Still 24K, Run, Oasis, It's Heaven, Hey You, Only You, and others as well. I really like the song Secret Love so I was a little disappointed they didn't do that one. I also don't think they did the B-side of ADDICTION, BEEN YOU, which is an R&B masterpiece that I've been obsessing over. They also did unit performances. Jinhong, Kisu and Cory did a cover of Trey Songz' "Heart Attack".
In between every few songs, they would either show a video or talk to us. They even did a little Q&A session. We were supposed to be able to leave questions in the venue lobby for them to answer but there really was no "lobby" and everything was running so behind schedule that I think they just decided not to do that, so instead 24K answered some questions they thought we'd like to know the answers to and they even called on a few audience members and let them ask questions. I also want to take an opportunity to obsess over Cory's English for a moment. I know he was raised in Oregon, but that boy has full-on, American fluent English. He even mentioned "being a little ADHD right now" which is such an American thing to say, I'm dying. He sounded just like one of us, and I think that kind of helped break down any kind of cultural/language barrier between 24K and 24U. I was also impressed with how quickly he was able to translate back and forth between English and Korean on the spot.
They're talking segments were great. Jinhong did his food impersonations, which have thrown me off since I first saw him imitate a tangerine on Mixnine. His impression of a tuna can was spot on. That in combination with the English commentary, "Where is my banana?" "Where is my beer?" had me rolling. Changsun also did the 'SOMEBODY TOUCHA MY SPAGHETT' meme a couple of times. Which just goes to show, memes are the one thing that can bring any two people together.
During the encore, a few of the members came out into the audience and jumped around with us all crazy during their second performance of BINGO. Also, toward the end, 24K took a group photo with the crowd and Cory asked if we had a Texas flag and I thought to myself, "surely someone brought one". But they didn't. That's not the infuriating part, though. What was ridiculous was instead of buying a Texas flag, somebody brought a giant OREGON FLAG. Wtf, guys? I know Cory grew up in Oregon, but let's be honest, who even knows what the Oregon flag looks like (aside from people in Oregon, and hell, they may not even know)? And the Texas flas is so iconic to Texas that that would've been a nice thing to give them. Even when I saw the GazettE in Dallas, people brought a TEXAS flag. This is TEXAS, guys. You don't have to be here long to reali
All and all, I really enjoyed this concert despite all the bullshit I had to deal with with Studio PAV. 24K is such an underrated group. These boys are all so talented, so charismatic, and just fun that it's hard to fall in love with them. And since I'm obsessing over them more than normal after the concert, their music is amazing. I'm falling in love Jinhong's unique voice and don't get me started on Kisu and when I listen to Cory, I just feel so many things.
This is my signed single album. My only complaint about this was that whoever provided the markers really cheaped out and got some barely-permanent off-brand Sharpies. Even after I got back to my room, which was nearly 5 hours after they had signed it, their signatures were still able to be scratched off just by rubbing against them. Also upset at how I accidentally smeared Cory's signature a little, but that's my fault (and his for signing right on the right edge where I'm gonna put my hand, omg).
Studio PAV also decided not to sell any merch at the shows, which was weird. And preorders were literally dealt out of a suitcase in the side alley where we were waiting in line before we could get in. They were also low-key selling light sticks in the alley like they were drugs or something. That was fucking weird but at least the people who pre-ordered merch were able to get what they paid for. Unfortunately, Studio PAV didn't mention that merch wasn't going to be sold at the show until literally 2 days before the Dallas show. And the pre-orders ended I think in January, if they even reinstated them once the tour got rescheduled. I think this was a last minute decision to in order to save on having to bring the merch with them and haul it around, but tours make a lot of money on merch. Even if they upped the prices, that merch would've sold. But it wasn't my decision.
Jeonguk photocard, guys...
Even if you couldn't go the concert, I'd recommend getting ADDICTION (and the rest of their stuff). ADDICTION is a really pretty album and the songs, including the instrumentals, are really nice to listen to.
I honestly wish nothing but the best for these boys. They deserve it. I also hope they'll release more music. For a group that's been around for 5 years, they don't have a lot musically to show for it. Only one full-length album? And a majority of it consisted of past singles that were already out. They said we should expect a comeback soon after they go back to Korea so I'll be waiting (not so) patiently.
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