[RECAP]: MONSTA X Is Back and New York Knows It
Review by Crystal Li
Photo credit: Sarah Waxberg and Starship Entertainment
On Tuesday, October 6, Starship Entertainment's boy group MONSTA X returned to New York City for the first time since their 2022 No Limit Tour, bringing their THE X: NEXUS Tour to the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden. The six-member South Korean group debuted in 2015 and is known for their energetic beats, powerful performances, and undeniable chemistry between the members. This is their first tour since the members began their mandatory military service, without their youngest member and rapper, I.M, who is currently enlisted in the military.
The setlist perfectly blended MONSTA X’s newer work with nostalgia, featuring songs from across their 11-year discography. I was surprised that only the title track “MAGIC” from their latest album made the cut, and was gutted that fan favorite “SURVIVOR” was not on the setlist. But it was great to see so much of their older work represented. It felt like a celebration of how far the group has come.
The night started off with banger after banger — “DRAMARAMA,” “Love Killa,” and “Rush Hour” got the crowd going wild. Next came a hidden gem in “LONE RANGER.” With a New York Rangers game going on in the same venue, I thought it was truly a missed opportunity not to make a bit out of it. Nonetheless, their sparkly red leather jackets and the performance did not disappoint.
Photo credit: Sarah Waxberg and Starship Entertainment
To accommodate the local audience, MONSTA X made a few adjustments to their setlist from their Seoul stop. Namely, they included a few of their English-language tracks like “baby blue,” “heal,” and, of course, “MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.” During their ment, KIHYUN and JOOHONEY invited everyone to sing along, while HYUNGWON was beatboxing in the background. It was a small but thoughtful touch that made the New York crowd feel especially included.
Act 2 featured more work from their recent releases and an unexpected favorite of mine, “Tuscan Leather.” The hip-hop-inspired choreography was so much fun to watch in person, and I have had the song on repeat ever since the show on Tuesday.
Photo credit: Sarah Waxberg and Starship Entertainment
All six members, yes, including I.M, had their moments to shine with their solo performances. The third act began with a video of I.M’s “Error 404,” which sparked some of the loudest cheers of the night. Then came SHOWNU, who delivered a sensual performance of his solo song “Around & Go.” When asked about the meaning of the song, the leader of the group joked that he would communicate later on Bubble (a paid chat mobile app commonly used in K-pop). HYUNGWON came onstage in a long trench coat and performed “NO AIR” before reuniting with SHOWNU onstage. The pair captured everyone’s hearts with the choreography of their unit song “BREATHE.”
KIHYUN took over the stage with “HOWLING” from his latest solo album. His vocals and stage presence rival those of some of the best performers I have ever seen in the industry. Then, for a change of pace, MINHYUK came out with his guitar following a small incident with his mic, performing his song “Reaching.” Last, but most certainly not least, was the “ACE” of the group, JOOHONEY, who lit up the stage with a mashup of his rap solos “STING / Touch the Sky.” His charisma and energy were absolutely through the roof. Each performance highlighted a different side of the group, making it easy to see just how much individual talent MONSTA X brings together.
Photo credit: Sarah Waxberg and Starship Entertainment
The final set of the show was a trip down memory lane. “Beautiful Liar” from their 2023 EP REASON is my favorite title track in their discography. Hearing “Alligator” and “Shoot Out” live sent chills down my spine and took me back to the heyday of K-pop. when each group carved their distinct soundscapes. MONSTA X was certainly one of them, and their aggressive style and stage presence had a big impact on the newer generation to follow.
To make the night extra special, the show fell on JOOHONEY’s birthday, and MONBEBEs (MONSTA X’s official fandom) went all out to shower him with love. I picked up a birthday banner on my way to my seat, and we were encouraged to hold it up during the encore. The celebration did not stop there. MONBEBEs prepared a heartwarming video wishing him a happy birthday. You could see him tear up a little bit, and he thanked everyone and expressed how special it made him feel to celebrate his birthday in New York. A birthday cake was brought to the stage, and JOOHONEY cut the cake before immediately getting sprayed with water by his fellow band members.
The night concluded with all five members back onstage, dressed in customized merch, for an encore. MONBEBEs’ energy was out of this world during “Rodeo,” as the floor beneath us vibrated with fans jumping and dancing the night away. What stunned me the most was the group’s feverishly endearing passion for performing. If you know anything about MONSTA X, this should not come as a surprise, but it still struck me that with one missing member and years of military hiatus, they still seemed like the same group that debuted in 2015. Full of ambition to make their mark in the industry, full of energy to always give their best performance onstage, and full of determination to get better at their craft.
We hope to welcome all six members back to New York together very soon. Until then, explore their discography here:
