Stray Children’ dominATE World Tour Live performance in New York: Greatest Moments

Regardless of persevering with rain at Citi Discipline, the stadium gave the all-clear for attendees to move to their seats round 8:30 p.m., signaling the present would go on, eliciting a stadium-wide cheer that these exterior the venue might even hear. With simply over an hour of delay, Stray Children would quickly dominate the stage with a flood of reduction and pleasure palpable, and clear skies predicted inside an hour. Phew.

Even earlier than Stray Children sang their first notice on stage, it grew to become clear that this present went past spreading Stray Children’ messages but additionally sharing parts of broader Korean tradition. The present opened with dancers swinging and hanging sticks towards conventional Korean drums on the stadium’s huge LED screens, timed to stadium-wide sonorous booms saying the present was really beginning.

It wasn’t the one time the viewers loved Korean-specific aesthetics all through the night time, however this grand opening really set the stage for the group to dominATE the night time.

When Citi Discipline gave the OK for followers to take their seats for the live performance to start, it nonetheless rained within the NY space for one more half hour, which meant Stray Children’ huge stage was additionally moist. Whereas employees members had run by way of the platform with mops earlier than showtime, the runway that prolonged out into the group pit was apparently notably slippery as each Han and Hyunjin slipped and fell through the group’s first efficiency on it in “District 9.”

But each of the fellows hopped proper again into motion (with Han even seeming barely amused that he had fallen), exhibiting an actual dedication to professionalism and showmanship, even when it was fully comprehensible to take the choreography extra simply. Past a little bit of sliding on stage, there have been no different main falls all through the night time, and everybody ended the present secure and (largely) dry.

Most Okay-pop excursions don’t journey with a dwell band, however the dominATE Tour happily boasted a guitarist, bassist, keyboardist and drummer quartet. Whereas the dwell devices enhanced each music (notably the remixed variations of singles like “Thunderous” and “S-Class”), among the finest musical moments of the night time was a particular highlight placed on the band as Stray Children modified outfits. With an enormous “TEAM SKZ” displayed behind them, the band carried out a heavy-rock instrumental medley interpolating parts of songs like “God’s Menu.”

All through the present, the Children continued to shout out and thank their band members in appreciation, however this solo highlight was uniquely particular, retaining the viewers engaged whereas additionally showcasing how arduous SKZ songs can rock.

Maybe it was the rain-delayed begin, however the guys have been already getting rowdy by the eighth music of the night time. Earlier than beginning “God’s Menu,” I.N opted to chuck off his jacket and carry out with simply his slinky black tank high and black pants.

Bang Chan will need to have been on the identical vibe, at one level teasing that he was going to raise his go well with jacket to flash his famously rock-hard abs solely to snigger and return to performing. (He appeared to not understand the coat’s angular cropped reduce already uncovered most of his six-pack.)

Whereas Stray Children introduced each one of many duo songs included within the March 2025 mixtape dominATE on tour, the standout unit efficiency of Thursday’s present goes to Changbin and I.N for “Burnin’ Tires” — and it wasn’t solely as a result of Changbin wore a T-shirt with New York embroidered on it.

The 2 appeared like they have been having the perfect time, with I.N trying extra assured than maybe he ever had and Changbin delivering his spitfire, speedy raps a breakneck tempo. The highest spotlight got here when the 2 linked up with their dancers to create a humongous human motorbike, the place I.N. leaned on arms and shoulders to mimic driving and swerving, because the backdrop LED screens panned by way of cityscapes.

With Citi Discipline so close to LaGuardia Airport, one in all New York’s two main airports, spectators might see planes flying out and in of the town all through the present. The group observed this too with Bang Chan at one level questioning if the folks flying above might see them.

“Now, all we’ve got to do is watch for a airplane to go,” he joked whereas pausing as if he’d put the present on maintain for one to fly by. The members started imitating airplane sounds by way of their mics — with Felix recreating one thing that sounded remarkably like an airplane whooshing by and the digicam catching Lee Know trying hilariously unamused by all of it — till it was time to maneuver on within the setlist.

But simply as issues have been going ahead, these seated within the higher part close to proper subject started hollering for SKZ’s consideration as a result of an precise airplane was coming by way of the skies. Quickly sufficient, your entire stadium noticed the Southwest Airways jet hovering over the sphere with the octet waving at passengers in hopes of being observed.

For the two-song part of the softer “Lonely St.” and “Cowl Me,” Stray Children took a break from the heavy choreography to wander across the stage to work together with and sing on to STAY. Each songs comprise a few of SKZ’s greatest and most uplifting lyrics, with the pair of tracks appearing extra like a love fest between artists and followers. The blokes will need to have gotten a lift of energy from the assist too with Seungmin and Bang Chan each delivering among the most dynamic belts of the present in the direction of the top of “Cowl Me.”

Because the present winded down, Bang Chan stepped up in his management position to handle every thing earlier than the fellows might exit the stage. After first apologizing for the delay from the rain (which had the group howling that he needn’t apologize), the 27-year-old gave his because of primarily everybody who labored on the live performance: Stray Children’ dancers, the backing band, the live performance manufacturing crew, the venue employees, stage safety, the signal language interpreters and, in fact, STAY. It’s uncommon to see artists acknowledge so lots of the behind-the-scenes individuals who make a live performance come collectively, additional proving why Bang Chan is such a pure and excellent chief.

Earlier than Stray Children took the stage for the encore, the stadium crowd participated in dance-alongs that includes basic SKZ choreography, with the digicam choosing out sure followers to carry out on display. As “Chk Chk Growth” performed all through Citi Discipline, hundreds quickly noticed a well-recognized face on the display. Singer-songwriter Hannah Bang — aka Bang Chan’s sister — appeared on display and busted out some key strikes from the 2024 observe.

Some followers reported that Bang Chan’s dad and mom have been additionally in attendance, making this NYC present an actual household reunion that STAYs bought to (barely) partake in.

Many large-scale live shows in South Korea and Japan function a bit the place artists stand on cell carts that may roll across the complete venue, bringing the celebrities up near these within the additional sections for a couple of songs. Stateside reveals don’t generally make the most of this custom. Nevertheless, the Citi Discipline baseball stadium setup supplied an ideal alternative for Stray Children to be carted across the subject and join with much more STAYs within the bleachers. Whereas performing feel-good songs like “I Like It” and “Stray Children,” the fellows waved and sang at as many followers as they might to mark a very particular close-up second because the present drew to a detailed.