In a sea of idol groups all competing for the public eye, it takes a lot to emerge victorious.
Following the survival show “I-Land,” K-pop boy band Enhypen debuted in November 2020 with a vampire-themed concept, showing a side to the now-six-member group that cemented its ability to not only capture the world’s attention but leave fans bloodthirsty for more.
In the years since, Enhypen has proved it doesn’t do things in halves — the second show of its two-night stay at the Oakland Arena certified that the only option the sextet has is to go big or go home.
In true vampy form, fans of the group, dubbed “Engenes,” dressed in varying shades of red and black, with many holding Enhypen-branded lightsticks, a K-pop concert staple. As the arena buzzed before the idols arrived, fans traded gifts, whether it be friendship bead bracelets or stickers of the members. It was clear that a show like this was about more than just hearing the music live; fans had prepared for this night for days, if not weeks.
As the boys stepped onto the stage to perform the concert’s opening track, the theatrics of the set foreboded the exceptional nature of the night. Each song was paired with its own digital background visual, and costume changes were tidied over with pretaped short films, with one even including the members fighting hooded figures as if they were truly vampires in the flesh. Multiple songs saw confetti or streamers shot into the crowd, and there never failed to be a litany of lasers to dazzle the eyes. Frankly, the music came second; the Blood Saga tour was truly a 4D experience.
That isn’t to say the musical performances were underdeveloped — while the boy group’s discography spans genres, it’s undoubtedly found its niche with a darker, more provocative sound. Tracks such as its 2023 hit “Bite Me” or the moody R&B ballad “No Way Back (feat. So!YoON!)” saw the group at its best, especially as it offered a more intriguing sound amid the other more basic pop tunes in their catalog. “Moonstruck” and “Stealer,” in particular, gave the members the opportunity to show off their vocal chops, with Sunoo and Jay delivering beautiful, lilting falsettos that paired well with the rougher, deeper tone of group rapper Ni-Ki.
The brighter points of the concerts, such as the hype-building electronic dance track “Go Big or Go Home,” gave the boys the chance to showcase their multifaceted presence with a palpable energy thrumming in their veins. Every fan in the venue gave their all to the nonstop jumping and chanting of the members’ names. Everything from the choreography to the pyrotechnics was perfected; though the group could have easily fallen into the trap of insincerity, its love for performing reigned supreme.
In the first encore of the night, Enhypen came out dressed casually, adorning tour merchandise and jeans. Instead of breaking out into their typical choreographed formations, the group casually strolled around the extended stage, accepting gifts from fans. This included everything from handwritten letters to plush animals to pose for photos with. In their ending speeches to the crowd, the members underscored their appreciation for the Engenes, emphasizing the ability of their music to transcend language.
“Most of our songs are in Korean, so it always surprises me when people sing along,” member Jake noted.
Though the members went through the trouble of bowing out and pretending the night had come to a close, the true encore began a minute later. As the dimmed lights blared back on, Enhypen burst back on stage for another iteration of “Go Big or Go Home.” If the energy was high before, it became absolutely electric then as the entire arena shook with the weight of fans’ excitement. Even as the lights came back on and the members actually left for the night, many stayed at their seats, willfully hoping for yet another encore.
While vampires may not be real, a night with Enhypen will undeniably leave fans feeling as though they had just been captured and ravished by a coven come to life. The allure of the group will satiate a craving one hadn’t even realized they had.