The Recap: The Rose Prove Their “WRLD” Is Right Here in Boston

The last time I saw The Rose perform live was in 2019 for their “We Rose You Live” tour. At that time, I was a sophomore in college and trying out writing concert reviews for my school’s newspaper. I also only had one year of Korean music knowledge under my belt but a lot of enthusiasm, curiosity, and love for The Rose’s music. (Their discography is perfect for late-night walks back to your dorm.) 

Six years later, Woosung, Dojoon, Hajoon, Taegyeom, and I met again — this time, in Boston. On July 14, The Rose greeted Black Roses at MGM Fenway Park for their “Once Upon a WRLD” tour with cuts from their newest album, WRLD, and classic tracks like “sorry.” Ahead of the show, Boston Black Roses also welcomed each other into their own worlds. Freebies, including hand-painted lyric cards, were freely given; friends were easily made; jokes and laughter flowed while people found their seats.  

That night, The Rose opened up their “WRLD” to their Black Roses who have stayed with them through thick and thin, leaving behind genuine connection and memories to last a lifetime. 

ENERGY LEVELS

The Rose immediately set the tone of their show with a cheeky message. While other concerts might have run-of-the-mill announcements asking the audience to turn off their phones, The Rose’s messenger noted, “This is your world.” So, if you want to turn off your phone, then sure. If you want to keep it on, go ahead. Hey, if you want to go to the bathroom, maybe you should go now. If you’d prefer to hold it, then “we support you.” 

With laughter echoing throughout the hall, the announcement concluded: “Close your eyes, open your heart, and let the story take you.” The Rose weren’t just here to play their music; they were here to tell their stories. And their fans were here to soak in the experience — the high notes, the low notes, the belted notes, and the softly-whispered notes. (It was also refreshing to witness the lack of phone screens lighting up the crowd.) 

Many might associate high energy with the start of a rock band’s concert. Not The Rose. As the acoustic guitar instrumental of “숨” began to play, the members entered the stage with softness. Parting the red curtain dividing the area, the lead vocalist, keyboardist and vocalist, drummer, and bassist took their places. By leading with simplicity and a calm vibe, The Rose created a space to let go and to relax. 

Instead of flashiness, the band leaned into a singing-around-the-campfire-in-the-summertime feeling. They may have experience performing at huge festivals like Coachella, but no matter how large or small the crowd, The Rose connect with each and every fan. 

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES

With The Rose, every track is a standout performance. However, out of the 24-track setlist, here are some of the most notable moments from the night. 

• 숨 / Ticket To The Sky — We’re on a journey here, alright. Before The Rose started performing, the story voiceover brought the audience onto a train (using our imaginations, of course). “Ticket To the Sky” was such a natural transition to move the story of “ONCE UPON A WRLD” forward and established what the band would emphasize in this show. Namely: adventure, together. 

• She’s In the Rain — Even seven years after its release, “She’s In the Rain” is still that queen. (She clocks in at over 107 million streams on Spotify alone.) Lyrics such as “You wanna hurt yourself, I’ll stay with you” coupled with Woosung’s unique vibrato and Dojoon’s steady vocals made the track hit even harder. 

• Tomorrow — But The Rose won’t let you drown in your pain for long. Hence immediately following up with the lighthearted — but still emotionally poignant — “Tomorrow.” The vocalists also used this boost in energy to work the stage. They even shook their booties, at Woosung’s request. Tomorrow really will be okay. 

• Back To Me — The only way to explain how Black Roses reacted to the first notes of “Back To Me” was that they exploded. If the cheers were already loud, they just about blew off the roof as Woosung growled, “I can make you cry, I can make you scream.” 

• Red — The Rose really let loose when they performed their lead single from 2019. Well, Sammy (Woosung’s English name, which the members called him during the show) definitely did. His body rolls added a new meaning to the color “Red.” According to Jeff (Taegyeom’s English name), the vocalist’s body rolls in Boston went further than the bassist had ever seen him go. With the members’ and the fans’ energies building off of each other, “Red” was truly a special moment to witness and partake in.  

• O — So, The Rose know how to party. Although the song starts off with lone piano chords and Woosung’s sparse vocals, “O” ramps up the energy to become an anthem of hope. As colorful confetti exploded into the air and rained down on Black Roses, nothing much mattered except embracing the awe, the joy, and the hope left in its wake. 

HIGH NOTES

If you’ve never watched any of The Rose’s videos on TikTok, then let me tell you now, you’re missing out. This (peak) sense of humor was on full display in Boston. For the majority of the set, The Rose performed among a bedroom set up. Comfortable couches, plush rugs, and a bookshelf filled with books and plants created a cozy bedroom feel. Woosung even noted how there’s a memory foam mattress on the bed and demonstrated how one can’t effectively jump on it. 

The Rose also gave a shout-out to all the dads and boyfriends who got “dragged” along to the concert with their daughters, wives, and girlfriends. The man in front of me made the band — and the audience — roar with laughter when he yelled, “My wife loves you more than me!” 

But one of the best (non musical) moments came in the form of the New York/Boston rivalry. With a sly smirk, Woosung issued a challenge to the Bostonians: Their loudness was only a 4.2 out of 10. The vocalist added that New York and LA were louder during their stops. Obviously, Bostonians cannot let New Yorkers win. I wonder if The Rose regretted this challenge because the cheers and screams from the crowd grew tenfold at the mere mention of New York. 

Like the man in front of me shouted towards the end of the show, “New York will not beat us!!!” Iconic, if you ask me.

FOR FANS OF 

Crying. To introduce “sorry,” the band’s debut track from 2017, Woosung told the story of how it was made. At that time, it was just the four members of The Rose writing together. From then until now, the band has had to fight tooth-and-nail for themselves. Remembering that moment when they created “sorry” made hearing it live eight years later that more special. 

But The Rose also are for those who love joy, those who love laughing, and those who love experiencing, well, life. The band excels at making music with raw vulnerability and genuine joy two beats later. This is a tight-knit group that feels like family and wants to bring their listeners into that family. 

VERDICT

Find the artists who encourage you to say hello to the people around you, to make friends out of strangers, to open up your world to people you never would’ve expected to meet. Support their music; go to their concerts; share your own stories and listen to others’ too. 

The band members that night were right. There’s nothing like music — and The Rose — to bring people together. 

Keep up with The Rose on Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube. 

Want to relive your favorite artists’ performances? Check out EnVi’s recap of Baekhyun’s show in Chicago here!