Last weekend, the sensational K-pop boy group Stray Kids did something quite unheard of in the industry by selling out two stadium shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, an experience we were delighted to be part of.
This article needs no hook because this was hands down my all-time favorite concert (and trust me, I’ve been to plenty). Crowned the dominATE tour, named after their album ATE, the eight members absolutely ate up the stage throughout the entire run.
Before members Felix, Bang Chan, Han, Lee Know, Seungmin, Changbin, Hyunjin, and I.N. tore up the stage, I was greeted by STAYs (the fandom) dressed in all-red and black outfits, with some even recreating looks from their videos (which I had fun with as well—dressed up as PiPi from their “CASE 143” video).
“Chk Chk Boom” opened the show to rile up fans, as if they needed it, with the stadium already echoing even before the members appeared. I immediately felt the floor shake from the chanted “Stray Kids” pre-show video, followed by a whole army of background dancers who continued to appear throughout the night. The stadium stage felt massive, especially as dancers waved large flags that said “Stray Kids” in red, white, and blue… American tour stop, am I right?
Every detail of this show is what made it my all-time favorite. From mimicking drums with lightsabers to a gang of “LA LA LA” inspired background dancers, the members lit up the stage in sparkling white outfits. The next few stages were filled with flames, sparklers, and firework-like stage effects.
The first three songs were “Mountains,” “Thunderous,” and “JJAM,” accompanied by fireworks synced to the beat of each track. The set ended with background dancers hitting the floor as part of the choreography for the final song, kinda how I felt. BLOWN. AWAY! Such hype songs to kick off the show!
Following these intense and hype performances came member introductions, presenting how it’s been. It was their first time back in two years for a full LA show, taking over the SoFi stage for the second day of this specific stop. What followed was a throwback to “District 9,” where the boys came out on the extended stage just vibing with the crowd, adding lighter touches of choreography. I loved this approach. Even without full choreo for the entire song, it still felt all-out, and honestly, I felt even more connected to the performance because of it! They still gave it their all, with bursts of fire lighting up the stage.
“Back Door” came next, an intense, fan-favorite song that brought another elevated and energetic performance. The choreography really made use of the massive stage in a way that reached everyone in the stadium.
Even when the members left the stage, the fun didn’t stop. A dance medley by the background dancers kept the energy alive with backflips, stage lifts, and throwbacks to both past and present Stray Kids songs. Then came a super interesting VCR graphic of a machine making a product, just a creative and elevated moment, leaving no gaps for boredom between performances.
Next up was “Chk Chk Boom,” the unofficial theme song of the night that echoed the stadium many times through the night, yet never got old! For this stage, they brought out a whole car and a live band. The members later introduced the band and shared their admiration for them, but the hype and energy of “Chk Chk Boom” continued with even more intense, dance-heavy favorites: “DOMINO” and “God’s Menu.” Red streamers flew across the stadium as the members threw waterfalls at the audience.
Before the unit stages of the night, there was a full-on ROCK OUT moment with the live band, and it was killer. Two guitarists came out on the extended stage while the rest jammed out, pouring even more energy into the set. It brought a fresh, powerful twist to Stray Kids’ sound, thanks to the live band.
At one point, a guitar was even played behind a man’s head. ‘WOW.’ Nothing about this performance felt stretched thin.
Stray Kids knows how to deliver a unit song, and each duo performed tracks from their MIXTAPE: dominATE, with each song offering a totally different vibe. From the rap-heavy “Truman” featuring Han and Felix, to Hyunjin and Bang Chan’s “ESCAPE,” which showcased intense choreography and a full storyline. The choreo for “ESCAPE” told a story: from the members wearing white coats to unveiling themselves as they “escaped.” A visual and emotional feast.
My favorite duo performances were “Burnin’ Tires” and “CINEMA” because they presented completely opposite sounds and styles. One brought all the energy, and the other was purely cinematic and mellow, filled with beautiful high notes and stunning vocals.
The names of STAYs filled the screen like rolling credits—fitting for a song called “CINEMA.” A perfect sign-off to a moment no one in that massive stadium will forget.
I.N., the youngest member, later spoke about his track with Changbin, saying, “This song is about pushing your limits” and “We made it.” He added, “It is a song for everyone,” a truly beautiful sentiment.
The next stages with all eight members had me literally saying, and repeating, “this is SO cool” out loud as “GIANT (Korean Ver.),” “Walkin’ on Water,” and “S-Class” followed.
As an older STAY, I was amped up for these newer songs to stun a stadium, and indeed, they did. All eyes were on them. Each performance felt like a staple moment that had completely revamped the live show.
Another stand out moment came way later after these stages where fans presented the group with a fanmade video befre the members said goodbye with tracks “Stray Kids” and throwback “MIROH” with final surprise song “HALL OF FAME” played for this legendary ending Final lyric of the show being “legendary” – truly symbolic of this night!
SoFi Stadium was filled with the voices of STAYs and Stray Kids, creating an unforgettable night and performance across these two sold-out shows. We’re already looking forward to the next time!
[Photo Credit: JYP Entertainment, Andy Keilen]
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