K-Pop group TREASURE made their U.S. debut at New York City’s own Brooklyn Paramount as the first stop on their [SPECIAL MOMENT] World Tour on April 6.
Debuting back in 2020, TREASURE has been consistently making waves across the globe. Originally formed through the aptly named elimination show YG Treasure Box, TREASURE is a ten-piece K-Pop group recognized for their well-roundedness as both talented individuals and a cohesive collective.
Following the release of their second full album REBOOT, the group began a lengthy string of shows across Asia and beyond. The success of the tour led to the highly anticipated announcement of TREASURE’s first venture into the United States with [SPECIAL MOMENT] in February of this year.
Marking an exciting moment for the group and their fanbase (Treasure Makers, often abbreviated to the very cute “Teume”), TREASURE graced the stage of the Brooklyn Paramount for their debut show in the United States on April 6.
As Teume began to enter the grandiose interior of the Paramount, the anticipatory energy became clear. Audience members bonded over outfits, pickets, and personalized signs, shimmying closer to the stage on the raked theater floor. The evening’s performance was exclusively standing room, which seemed to only double the simmering excitement- with TREASURE’s most iconic tracks shuffling on the speakers overhead and Teume mingling while venue staff passed out small cups of water to the crowd, a distinct party energy was certainly in the air.
The minutes ticked closer and closer to eight p.m. and anticipation was at its precipice as “HELLO” played through the speakers, Teumes bouncing in place and singing along. The lyrics reached the exciting “One, two, you know what I’m waiting for…” final pre-chorus and suddenly the song was blasting– and the crowd went wild. Lights dimming, lightsticks high in the air, and the audience’s cheers at a fever pitch… TREASURE took the stage.
Beginning with the sonic punch that is arguably their most iconic track “JIKJIN” and leading directly into the militant beats of “BONA BONA,” TREASURE immediately set an impactful tone. They gave the crowd two songs to process their invigorating stage presence before receding to allow the live band- you heard me right- to shine. If it hadn’t caught the audience’s attention yet, the incredibly skilled live instrumentalists accompanying their performances gave the crowd an absolutely insane jam on the tail end of “BONA BONA.”
Beyond a personal preference for live instrumentation, the addition of a band only elevated TREASURE’s performances more, notably during “BOY”’s dance break. The bass thrummed and drums kicked square in the chest as Teume were left breathless at the sight of the group’s expressive dancing. If this was TREASURE’s first performance in the United States ever, one can only imagine their trajectory from here.
A rendition of “I LOVE YOU” was followed by the group’s first ment, each member saying hello to New York in their own way as the audience processed the fact that TREASURE was truly, definitively there- and speaking to them no less! The momentum of the group and the crowd’s collective excitement brought the setlist into its second section featuring tracks made by units within the group, beginning with the ever-vibrant “THANK YOU” featuring Asahi and Haruto before the electronic sounds and deep bass of “MOVE” from the unit T5 (aptly named for its five members) shifted the energy into something a bit more smooth and suave- not to mention the slow-motion dance break that held Teume’s attention and breath absolutely captive.
Perhaps one of TREASURE’s most well-suited songs for live performance- though it certainly could be argued their entire discography is one tailored to the live experience as well- is Choi Hyunsuk, Yoshi, and Haruto’s “VolKno.” It cannot be stated enough how perfectly designed this track is for a live rendition- from the gritty electric guitar felt down to the bones when performed on stage, the final minute’s “party chorus” energy, and the “Hands up!” lyric preceding it- it was a positively electrifying three minutes that felt like a lifetime.
TREASURE reunited as a full group with “MMM,” a thrillingly intense track with equally thrilling choreography to boot. Afterwards, the band took over for another jam session that brought the audience through fast-paced dance sounds and smoother, swanky tones until the members made their grand return with “YELLOW,” clad in light-washed jeans and white jackets that positively sparkled as they caught the light. The sunshine-y mood continued with SARURU,” the TREASURE’s reintroduction concluding with a ment where the members regaled Teumes with their adventures through Manhattan, including a visit to Times Square and trying an authentic city slice.
To the delight of many in the crowd- if the wave of screams was anything to go by- the next track performed was “KING KONG.” The audience jumped along with the members’ impactful rap verses and sharp dance moves.
There’s a phrase in the K-Pop world- one which may admittedly extend beyond the genre- that I couldn’t help but think about in the moment… the concept of a “party chorus.” Often considered the most impactful or exhilarating part of a song that makes you want to dance like nobody’s watching, a “party chorus” is often reserved for, self explanatorily, a singular chorus. While there are definitely peaks in energy in “KING KONG,” I couldn’t help but struggle to decide on a single sliver of the track that shone more than the rest… so defining the energy behind the entire performance under the umbrella of a party chorus was a swift decision to be made.
If my conundrum with the party chorus was a struggle in “KING KONG,” I may as well have waved a white flag for “I WANT YOUR LOVE.” An absolute party anthem in every understanding of the phrase, equal parts early 2010s western dance music and second generation K-Pop club anthems (namely works by BIGBANG), “I WANT YOUR LOVE” was all angles, suaveness, and sonic impact. A personal favorite for a myriad of reasons, I was once again caught by the elevated electric current of energy circulating between the audience, TREASURE, and their live band. “I WANT YOUR LOVE” is an incredibly lively listen through headphones or a speaker, but experiencing it live is simply another level of letting loose and having unadulterated fun.
As a staunch believer in the live band agenda, it was not only gratifying but also positively electrifying to hear, see, and feel my theory proved in real time with each song- it is of my firm belief that the addition of a live band to any K-Pop act instantly elevates every aspect of the performance overall. It could be likened to the energy of the audience- drums and a particularly cutting guitar line bring life to both the audience and the artists in the same manner of which the sounds of a cheering crowd can energize a performer.
If Teumes were TREASURE’s batteries, the addition of live instrumentation was like a strike of lightning. The energy in the room was an infectious cycle of excitement, each of the members positively glowing under the lights and cheers from the crowd only growing as the night went on.
In a sudden and deeply entertaining shift of vibe, “B.O.M.B.” was up next on the setlist. TREASURE was promptly washed in warm lights making the white of their jackets refract a baby pink hue as they struck playful poses and smiled cheekily as if they weren’t turning the Paramount into a club mere moments ago. Another aspect of TREASURE’s undeniable draw is on display in “B.O.M.B.”- their sheer versatility. Were they partying hard two minutes ago? Yes. Are they now standing in a circle mimicking a heartbeat before bouncing outwards to the edge of the stage to adoringly interact with the crowd? Also yes- and the best part is they pull off both concepts flawlessly!
Catching their breaths, the members introduced the next set of songs as the final performances for the evening, giving heartfelt goodbyes and thank yous to the Teumes of New York. In an equal parts sentimental and delightful full circle moment, “HELLO” marked the beginning of the end of TREASURE’s time on stage.
Following was a rock remix of another one of their most iconic tracks, “DARARI.” When performed alongside the band, “DARARI” was elevated from a playful love song erring on the side of cozy into a bright, jam-out performance- something that could not have delighted me more.
“RUN” was the final song of the night’s setlist, and fittingly so- sometimes songs just sound like they were meant to close a concert. As the members used the final beats to wrap their arms around each other’s shoulders and bow to the audience, TREASURE said their goodbyes before running off stage.
Cheering and jumping, the audience participated in the charade of a conclusion in the darkness of the Paramount, echoes of “Encore!” and “One more song!” bouncing around the room until the lights sparked back to life and TREASURE came bounding back to deliver exactly that. Jumping, dancing, and playfully splashing fans with water bottles across both sides of the stage, the members performed a remixed track featuring “Going Crazy,” “B.L.T. (Bling Like This),” and “ORANGE.” Now that the heartfelt and heartbroken goodbyes were done and over with, TREASURE ensured each and every Teume left their first show in the U.S. ever with beaming smiles and full hearts.
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