by Lorenzo dela Cruz | April 13, 2025

all images taken from the crowd

Driving the three and a half hours out to Houston's Bayou Music Center on Thursday, April 10th—fully knowing that I would have to make the drive back and work early the next day—was totally worth it, in my opinion. It had been a while since I attended a K-pop concert; however, I had frequented the Bayou Music Center many times ever since moving back home to San Antonio after graduating in 2023. Unlike previous visits for the likes of TripleS and ARTMS' own Odd Eye Circle, the venue seemed more packed than usual, and the energy and anticipation were at an all-time high. As soon as the lights dimmed, everyone’s attention turned to the front, anxiously waiting for the members to take the stage.

As the crowd stood to its feet, the fog settled, and suddenly the iconic saxophone notes of "ViViD" blared through the air as the lights shined on Heejin, who burst onto the stage. In an unconventional move, one by one, each member made their way to the stage performing their debut solos from the early LOONA days—a real throwback moment for longtime fans. Personally, I really enjoyed the Odd Eye Circle subunit's solos, including Kim Lip’s “Eclipse,” JinSoul’s “Singing in the Rain,” and Choerry’s “Love Cherry Motion.” Kim Lip took the spotlight with “Eclipse,” performing a special version of the song with a dance break after the second chorus.

After their individual performances, each OEC member returned to the stage and joined together for a performance of “Girl Front.” The crowd, seemingly full of Odd Eye Circle fans, roared with every passing minute. Each member gave a modern twist to the songs that, in a sense, started it all, and the crowd responded with eager cheers and emphatic swings of their LOONA light sticks.

After the initial nostalgia bomb, the group of HaSeul, JinSoul, Kim Lip, Choerry, and Heejin finally joined the stage together and continued suit, performing “Favorite” and “열기,” both songs from LOONA’s debut EP. This section was highlighted by “Star,” a song that had recently resurfaced from the depths of my Apple Music rotation. The group donned outfits with sequin skirts, and the low-key blue lighting really highlighted the reflections coming from the dresses as they went through the choreography. The energy was high as the members finally introduced themselves to the audience, speaking on how excited they were to be in Houston for the third time in as many years. In a surprise twist, the members even performed a bit of “Hi High,” a crowd favorite. The first act concluded with a more mellow vibe in “Universe”—a contrast to the high-paced, high-energy beginning. However, it was a fitting end to the act. Beginning with their solo performances, then transitioning into Odd Eye Circle subunit performances, and finally into LOONA songs, reflected the format of how the group originally debuted—and the years of success and change that each member had gone through to make it to this point as ARTMS.

This deeper meaning manifested itself through their costume changes. Donning all-white outfits and beginning with “Butterfly,” this point marked as an audio-visual metaphor for the group’s evolution into their current form. After the uplifting and floating melodies, the group went straight into a hard-hitter, “Paint the Town,” and the energy in the venue peaked. What really impressed me was the sharp fluidity the members had in their choreography. Performing these songs back-to-back emphasized the versatility and range of talent the collective group had—not only to nail every riff, but also to absolutely demolish their own choreography.

Members of the audience who hadn’t followed the group since their LOONA days were finally brought into the loop with performances of “Sparkle” and “Virtual Angel.” The group rounded off the night with “Burn,” their newest release since last year’s debut album. The song’s sleek, more mainstream sound contrasted with the more dance-pop, electronic sound of the past LOONA generation.

The encore performance of “Why Not?” was full of energy and hilarious moments, including JinSoul repeatedly failing to throw the paper money—provided by fans—back into the audience, much to the amusement (and light-hearted scolding) of the rest of the members. The song capped off a night that truly tied ARTMS’ past with its bright future and work to come.

All in all, ARTMS’ Houston concert was an amazing experience. It was a joy for both old LOONA fans and newer ARTMS fans alike, reminding me of why I enjoyed listening to LOONA years ago—and why I continue to follow their members in ARTMS to this day.