Photos by Paddy Murphy for Outset in Chicago
Outset in Chicago was packed wall-to-wall last Saturday night for one of K-pop’s most beloved soloists, Wonho. His fan meetup tour WELCOME BACK, WENEE follows the completion of his mandatory military service, as well as the release of his new English single “What Would You Do”. The idol first rose to fame as a member of Monsta X, and has maintained a strong fan base since his departure from the group in 2019. Wonho has spent his career as an artist working diligently and persevering through hardships, all while maintaining his signature bubbly attitude and showing gratitude to his fans at every turn.
His fans, known as Wenee, have been waiting for the opportunity to see him perform for years and the excitement was abundant. Crowds at most K-pop shows tend to consist of a younger adult audience, but there were fans of all ages in attendance that night. Wonho has a special quality as a performer and an artist that just about anyone can love.
While fan meetups aren’t full-scale concerts, the evening was still packed with performances and fun interactions. Wonho performed his solo tracks, as well as a medley of dance covers, with the help of his high-energy dance crew. Everyone on stage was feeding off the rowdy energy from the crowd, and vice versa. Fans seemed to enjoy his lighthearted dance covers (which were mostly girl group hits) as much as his emotional ballads like “Losing You” and sexy dance hits like “Lose” and “Open Mind”.
Throughout the evening, Wonho took the time to express his gratitude to the fans in attendance. During a brief intermission, a video he prepared for the audience played on the stage’s screen. He spoke about his newest English release and the work that went into the making of the song and the video, the tour itself, and his plans for the following year. The crowd of Wenee erupted into cheers at the mention of an incoming album, as well as another tour in the future.
The show started winding down with the acoustic track “No Text No Call” before closing the setlist with the sentimental track “WENEED”. Prior to signing off for the evening, Wonho and his dancers showed off the two flags they were given by the audience: a Chicago flag signed by the audience members, and an American flag with a shirtless photo of Wonho printed on it. The display of banners felt like a good representation of the idol’s duality. He’s a performer that has the ability to be sexy and appeal to a more mature audience, while still connecting with his fans across the board on an emotional level.
Wonho’s appreciation for his fans runs deep, and the feeling is definitely mutual. People from all generations and walks of life came together to see him on this tour. It was hard to find a fan that wasn’t carrying around merch they bought, holding his lightstick, or equipped with bunny-themed accessories as a nod to his representative animal. The night was filled with great music, fun covers, some good laughs, and a bit of barking (which was both encouraged by the dancers and very confusing for the man being barked at). His long-awaited return to the stage has proved that he’s still at the top of his game, and he’s just getting started.