A "Good Day" for Uaenas: IU's 2024 HEREH Tour Rocks the Bay Area
By. Pranav Chittharanjan
Photo Credit: EDAM Entertainment
In 2014, IU made her first appearance in the USA at KCON LA. Since then, her American fan base has grown exponentially, thanks to multiple album releases and TV appearances. Uaenas have eagerly awaited her return, and after 10 long years, IU finally embarked on her 2024 World Tour “HEREH.” The tour covers 18 cities and 31 shows, with six in the US, including Oakland, which was the third-to-last stop.
For those unfamiliar with IU, she has been dubbed in Korea as the "Nation's Little Sister" due to her youthful charm, relatable personality, and widespread popularity across various age groups. She debuted in 2008 at just 15 years old and has spent the last 16 years captivating audiences across generations. Her ability to connect with listeners through her music has cemented her status as one of Korea's most beloved celebrities, and her Oakland performance was no exception.
I first discovered IU’s music last fall, when I heard about her concert movie featuring the “The Golden Hour” tour. Little did I know that after watching I would become a Uaeuna! Earlier this year, I was happily surprised to learn that IU was coming to the States and I was determined to get tickets. Unfortunately, I was beaten in the Ticketmaster Queue the first time around but thankfully had the opportunity to attend last minute.
Walking into Oakland Arena, I was greeted by thousands of enthusiastic fans and a completely sold-out venue. The energy and excitement from the Bay Area Uaenas was unmatched. The merchandise lines stretched as far as the eye could see, with many fans carrying custom signs and posters. As I took my seat, I was pleasantly surprised by a gift from IU’s mom, which included a photobook binder, a photocard, a keychain, and a charm. I settled in, not knowing this would be a full 3-hour show—the longest I’ve ever attended—yet at the end still wanted more.
Part 1: Hypnotic
The concert began right on schedule with IU rising from the stage to perform her first song, “Holssi,” the title track from her newest album The Winning. This powerful start set the tone for the rest of the show. In a delightful twist, she performed with a group of young kid dancers instead of adult backup dancers for “Holssi.” She smoothly transitioned into “Jam Jam,” which was bursting with high energy and cheers. Her impressive vocal range was on full display, through every high, low, and long note, all while dancing to the beat. She then introduced herself to the crowd, giving a special shout-out to the Bay Area, saying, “It’s even more incredible than I thought.” I was surprised she referred to it as the Bay Area, as many idols and groups typically just say “Oakland.” After her brief introduction, she launched into “Ah puh” and “BBIBBI.” Seeing the lightsticks sync and change colors to the beat of “Ah puh” was mesmerizing. She wrapped up Part 1 with a lively performance of “Obliviate,” which featured many Latin American influences.
Photo Credit: EDAM Entertainment
Part 2: Energetic
With a burst of swag and energy, IU returned with a stunning performance of “Celebrity,” one of her top five most popular songs on Spotify. Her costume change for Part 2 was one of the best of the night—she wore an oversized jersey, a black mini skirt, a bandana, and a backward hat, perfectly matching the swag she brought during Part 2. She introduced Part 2 to the crowd, who responded with the coveted Bay Area/Kpop Bark! IU was in shock as she’s never heard the crows bark before but that soon changed as the show progressed. She then performed “Blueming,” a song I first heard during The Golden Hour tour movie and immediately added to my Spotify playlist.
After “Blueming,” she engaged with the crowd again, this time selecting a random fan to gift a special rose. She followed with high-energy performances of “eight” and “Coin,” both perfectly fitting the energetic theme. The choreography of “Coin” was outstanding with the background dancers matching IU’s outfit. Before wrapping up Part 2 with “I stan U,” she chose another fan to gift a coin she kissed live on stage and took a group stage photo.
As a transition to Part 3, a highlight video showcased Oakland Arena, featuring clips of the crowd outside before the show, the rehearsal, staff, merchandise, and more. The entire arena was amazed at the quick turnaround. A live camera panned over the audience, capturing fans up close with their posters and signs, cheering for IU to return for Part 3. One fan even had a custom USA flag with IU’s image on it!
Photo Credit: EDAM Entertainment
Part 3: Romantic
IU returned to the stage in a white floral dress to perform “Havana,” with choreography blending samba and swing dancing. Part 3 had a softer, more romantic vibe, featuring some of her ballads. She continued with “Meaning of You,” which the crowd enjoyed so much that IU let the Bay Area Uaenas finish the song. After “Meaning of You,” she was met with the Bay Area Bark and joined in, expressing her love for her Uaenas. She shouts out the Bay Area again for their loud energy before following with a special acoustic version of “Strawberry Moon”, along with “Through the Night,” two slow and calm songs that the crowd sang along to. Having both and Korean lyrics and the English pronunciation on screen was extremely helpful to fans like me who don’t know her lyrics by heart.
Part 4: Ecstatic
After a quick outfit change, IU returned in a deep purple dress to perform “Shopper,” another song from her new album and my personal favorite from it. She revealed that this was her favorite dress and had saved it for a special occasion, initially choosing it for LA, the last tour stop, but deciding the Bay Area deserved to see it. Naturally, the crowd responded with barking, and IU joined in! Next was “Above the Time,” a song I had never heard before but thoroughly enjoyed. The stage effects were spectacular, with a top projector displaying animations of the inside of a clock. After a brief comment expressing her hope to return and her love for her Uaenas, she ended Part 4 with “You&I” and “Love Wins All.” “Love Wins All” is such a beautiful song, and hearing it live for the first time, it quickly became one of my top three IU songs. The stage featured an angel-like figure descending from the sky as IU exited the stage.
Encore: Heroic
As expected at K-pop concerts, IU returned for an encore! She came on stage in an all-denim outfit to perform “Shh…”. The dark lighting with red accents, the live band, and the background dancers created an incredible vibe. Part of me wished HYEIN from NewJeans had made a surprise appearance for her part, as she did in Korea, but IU nailed it on her own. IU joked that the crowd’s “Oo Oo” barking noise matched perfectly with the way “IU” is said, and hinted at a possible return to the Bay Area and a possible second encore. She then performed the upbeat “Twenty-three,” which I heard for the first time. She concluded the encore with a rock version of “Holssi,” emphasizing her live band’s talents, especially during their rockstar-style ending. The live band truly elevated the entire show, and I’ve noticed more groups, like Blackpink and Itzy, also incorporate live bands, which I fully support. Just when it seemed the concert was over, text appeared on the screen for a crowd sing-a-long of “Through the Night.” Without hesitation, Uaenas began singing, and just as the song was ending, IU returned for a second encore!
Double Encore
She came back in a casual outfit, with a backward hat, flannel, and wide-fitted jeans. This part of the encore was spontaneous, with IU taking song requests from the crowd to give her Uaenas everything they wanted. She began with “LILAC,” my all-time favorite IU song, making it a top life moment for me. She followed with a short verse from “Wallpaper Pattern.” After seeing numerous signs and hearing the crowd cheer for “Good Day,” IU decided to bring “Good Day” out of retirement just for the Bay Area. The crowd went wild during the chorus, and IU’s smile grew wider and wider. She continued with more conversations with the crowd, performing “A Gloomy Clock,” “Only I Didn't Know,” and a short verse from “GANADARA.” Before wrapping up the show, she promised the barking Bay Area Uaenas she would return and ended with “Someday” and “Palette,” two beloved ballads.
Throughout the show, I noticed that everyone except those in floor seats remained seated. Alongside the barking and cheering, the audience clapped and applauded, which was a first for me at any K-pop show. This demonstrated the immense respect and awe the crowd had for IU. Most of IU’s comments were also in fluent English, without the need for a translator, showcasing her dedication to providing a great show for her US fans.
The 3-hour concert was one of the best I’ve attended! IU is headed to Los Angeles to finish the tour, with one final show in Seoul towards the end of September. Although she just turned 31 and has been performing for almost 2 decades, it doesn’t seem like she’s going anywhere anytime soon. Stay tuned for new music and future performances!
Photo Credit: EDAM Entertainment