Fireworks came early this year to San Francisco’s Oracle Park during Wednesday night’s concert by K-pop stars Stray Kids.
Called “dominATE,” the 2025 world tour concert literally exploded on numerous occasions during the three-hour lovefest featuring the hit eight-member South Korean boy band that originated on reality TV in 2017.
Bang Chan, the leader, entertained the adoring crowd with his excellent English. He and his rapping cohorts Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin and I.N. put on a flashy show boasting thunder, video games, audience participation and nonstop colorful projections on the stadium’s big stage.
Oh, there was plenty of song and dance, too, starting with “SKZ Anthem,” concluding (after two encores) with “Star Lost.” Notable numbers were “Thunderous,” “Jjam,” “Domino” and “Topline,” while “Chk Chk Boom” got double treatment. Four duets put the spotlight on pairs: “Truman” with Han and Felix; “Burnin’ Tires” with Chanbgin and I.N., “Escape” with Bang Chan and Hyunjin and “Cinema” with Lee Know and Seungmin, the show’s sole melodic ballad.
Style is clearly a major point for the performers, who changed outfits several times, giving over the stage/projection screen to a cadre of dancers and an actual live band. The boys looked great throughout, in everything from Michael Jackson-style glittering jackets to branded T-shirts and coveralls.
Alluringly androgynous, and charming to a diverse, screaming audience, Stray Kids represent an appealing 21st century trend in pop music, creating an inclusive world not divided by language, gender, race and/or age.