The Wonder of Enhypen

Refracting Sound attends a sold out Korean pop concert at Oakland Arena

In 2020, my daughter discovered Kpop (ie. Korean pop music) by stumbling upon some videos on Youtube. None of her friends were into it; she was something of a maverick, immersing and teaching herself about the genre online. Over the last four years, her interest and love for Kpop grew rapidly, eschewing some of the A-list artists like Blackpink and BTS, opting for a bevy of lesser known (but still popular) groups like Stray Kids, Aespa, Red Velvet and more. Kpop has a fervent fan base and a culture all it’s own, even with genre-specific vocabulary and slang. It’s open and positive, with aficionados accepting and supporting their favorite artists as well as each other. Kpop is super diverse, with all ages, genders, races, with a strong noticeable LGBTQ contingent represented. In some ways, it mirrors the alternative/punk/independent rock scene, but with more diversity and (thankfully) less “gatekeeperism”. There are even Kpop music stores worldwide (Hello Saranghello in San Francisco!) where people converge and obsess over their favorite artists and releases, much like the independent rock scene as well. 

Over the last two years, my daughter’s Kpop attention/obsession has settled and focused on the seven member male group Enhypen, who debuted in 2020. Enhypen has a talented team behind them, crafting catchy uptempo commercial pop bangers with above average vocal phrasing. Their most recent two mini-albums “Dark Blood” and “Orange Blood” found Enhypen riding on the crest of the wave of their own success, built on a foundation of quality. “Dark Blood” revealed a (uh…duh) darker, moodier sound best encapsulated by the trap-rhythmed “Chaconne” and the somber “Bills”. “Orange Blood” was a lighter, brighter, more danceable release, with some clear nods to Michael Jackson, especially on the hit “Sweet Venom”. My daughter silently and not-so-silently worked on manifesting a local Enhypen concert, so when the show was announced in 2024, their first ever in the Bay Area, I was informed that we were attending no matter what. I was able to procure pretty good seats in a lower balcony, right behind the general admission floor area.

After waiting in line for a couple hours and hitting the merch booth, we found our seats. Enhypen entered dramatically with an ornate, gothic stage design, but it wasn’t until they dropped the stuttering, rap and drill-influenced “Future Perfect (Pass the Mic)” that they fired on all cylinders with boundless energy. From there, they delivered consistently during songs like “Blessed-Cursed” and “Attention, Please”, with stellar performances augmented by pyrotechnics and blasts of confetti. Other highlights included “One and Only”, when six Pikachus came running out onstage and danced with the group.

During the last third of the 28 song set, Enhypen and their fans (called “ENGENEs”) matched each other’s energy and pushed it over the top. Beginning with the house music-influenced “Go Big or Go Home”, Enhypen delivered energetic, dynamic performances of their most popular hits, along with some fan favorites. Decked out in gothic red and black suits, they performed the previously mentioned “Chaconne” and “Bills” from Dark Blood with dramatic precision. But it wasn’t until the double-header of hit singles “Bite Me” (see video below) and “Sweet Venom” that the sold out Bay Area audience lost it, screaming the lyrics so loud they drowned out the music. Group member Heeseung commented onstage that the crowd was so deafening that they were actually hurting his ears onstage. They finished the set with the carefree, rebellious “Karma” and another performance of “Go Big or Go Home”. All in all, Enhypen put on a great show and the Bay Area crowd showed their appreciation loud and clear. So what’s next for Enhypen? They have just announced a special mini-album “Memorabilia” coming out on 5/13/24 with two previously released tracks “Criminal Love” and “One in a Billion” and four new songs. Be on the lookout for future Enhypen shows and music; you won’t be disappointed!

*Edited and proofread by OJJG.