LIVE REVIEW: TWICE turns it up at UBS Arena stop of dazzling 'THIS IS FOR' World Tour
review by amber bintliff
PHOTO CREDIT: JYP ENTERTAINMENT, SARAH WAXBERG
When you see them once, you’ll madly love them twice. With numerous sold-out world tours, over 200 songs in their extensive catalog and consistent chart-topping achievements, TWICE has steadily become a global phenomenon since their debut in 2015. The nine-piece K-pop girl group recently released their fourth full-length album THIS IS FOR last July, which debuted in the no. 6 spot on the Billboard 200 Album Chart and has now garnered over 300 million streams on Spotify.
Consisting of Jihyo, Nayeon, Mina, Sana, Chaeyoung, Dahyun, Momo, Jeongyeon, and Tzuyu, the group is currently on the North American leg of their THIS IS FOR World Tour. TWICE turned it up for the first of three shows at New York’s UBS Arena last Wednesday night. Their fanbase, affectionately known as ONCE, was ready to be blown away by the group, with extravagant outfits and official lightsticks illuminating the 19,000 capacity arena.
The tour introduces a flawless production with a 360-stage setup, offering fans an elevated and personalized concert experience regardless of where they’re sitting. Not a single inch of the massive stage went to waste, with moving platforms and adjusted choreography allowing TWICE to face every last corner of the crowd throughout the night. Additionally, the group incorporated a remarkable live band and array of backup dancers in ways they’ve never done before on previous tours that absolutely transformed the show.
Screams echoed through the arena as soon as the lights dimmed and “FOUR” began blaring through the speakers. A large screen slowly lifted up to reveal TWICE at the center of the colossal stage before kicking off the epic night with “THIS IS FOR.” If there’s one thing this era has proved for the group, it’s that this is the most confident, intentional and mature they’ve ever been with their artistry. This opening section of the show featured some of TWICE’s most electric hits, including “Strategy,” “SET ME FREE” and “I CAN’T STOP ME.” Each song hyped up the crowd more and more before they concluded with “MOONLIGHT SUNRISE.”
PHOTO CREDIT: JYP ENTERTAINMENT, SARAH WAXBERG
TWICE then transitioned to the next portion of the set, powering through performances for an hour straight. This second act began with an other-wordly interlude showcasing the immense talent of the backup dancers, each beautifully moving across the stage before the group returned for “MARS.” TWICE quickly switched to a darker, more mature vibe for the next few songs, delivering killer performances of heavy-hitters like “GONE,” “CRY FOR ME” and “HELL IN HEAVEN.” The crowd particularly lost their minds for “RIGHT HAND GIRL” with its captivating choreography and exhilarating added outro from the live band.
TWICE’s commitment to their collective chemistry and individual identities is their strongest asset, even ten years into their career. The halfway point of the show shifted focus to each member for their solo stages with all of them (except Chaeyoung) pulling material from their recent special tenth anniversary album TEN: The Story Goes On.
Tzuyu kicked off this section, flaunting her smooth vocals and cool energy with the R&B-influenced “DIVE IN.” Mina’s prominent vocals and choreography effortlessly demonstrated her commanding presence with a chilling performance of “STONE COLD.” Nayeon followed, oozing with confidence as she brought a playful, flirty vibe to the stage with “MEEEEEE.” Jeongyeon transported the arena from the cold temperatures of New York to an old-school saloon in the Wild West with the carefree country-pop inspired “FIX A DRINK.”
Dahyun is unfortunately still on a break from the North American shows until March due to her ankle injury, so the setlist still omits her solo stage for “CHESS.” Chaeyoung then delivered a gorgeous performance of “SHOOT (Firecracker)” from her debut solo album LIL FANTASY vol. 1, which was released last summer. Jihyo proved her status as an intense eye-catching performer with “ATM,” highlighting her infectious charisma, fluid movements and addictive vocal tone.
Sana delivered a captivating pick-me-up with delicate vocals and a dance-pop influence on “DECAFEINATED” for the penultimate solo performance. Momo gave a powerful ending to this section of the night as she commanded the audience around her with “MOVE LIKE THAT.” The rhythmic track leans into the main dancer’s seductive side, effortlessly showing off her lower vocal register and invigorating choreography in a way that demands your undivided attention.
PHOTO CREDIT: JYP ENTERTAINMENT, SARAH WAXBERG
Chaeyoung, Jihyo and Jeongyeon returned to the stage and transported UBS Arena to the world of K-pop Demon Hunters for “TAKEDOWN.” The three members contributed to the award-winning Netflix film’s official soundtrack with their own version of the song, which first premiered live during their historic headlining set at Lollapalooza in Chicago last year. The crowd’s energy was electrifying during this performance as the venue echoed with an equal mix of every lyric and excited screams.
With only a few songs left, TWICE continued to pour their hearts into the final moments of their performance. The second to last section of the setlist was home to iconic fan-favorites, including “FANCY,” “YES or YES,” “What is Love?,” “Dance The Night Away” and “ONE SPARK.” ONCE’s energy was at an all-time high during these songs, with many dancing in their seats, singing at the top of their lungs and recording on their phones to savor the memory.
Every element of this show made it one to remember. There’s a special atmosphere at K-pop concerts, especially TWICE’s, that are hard to replicate elsewhere. Costume changes kept things visually engaging and exciting, while the 360-stage gave fans a new perspective from every angle and emphasized the group’s incredible adaptability and consistency. The live band breathed new life into the setlist with reimagined, innovative renditions that felt both refreshing and familiar. Backup dancers equally shined on their own and complimented TWICE’s intense choreography, guiding the audience through every group and solo performance. The vast ocean of lightsticks also visually stood out as each lit up UBS Arena with an immersive and colorful precision. With every single production detail being immensely and carefully thought-out, there's truly no bad seat in the house when it comes to TWICE.
The encore was preceded by a dance cam competition, which allowed ONCE the chance to get on the big screen and show off their best dance moves to some of TWICE’s most famous tracks. It was fun getting to watch lucky fans excitedly dance to their favorite songs before the group returned to the stage one last time to share their gratitude and close out the show. “Feel Special” and “SIGNAL” were night one’s encore tracks, with “SIGNAL” winning the crowd vote over “TT.”
Standing at their most confident and self-assured, the first night of three at UBS Arena for TWICE proved their status as one of K-pop’s strongest live acts. For the group, this isn’t just a job–it’s their purpose. Their shared passion perfectly shines through with every note and groove feeling as if it were second nature. Whether it was your first or 100th time at one of their shows, the THIS IS FOR World Tour showcased TWICE’s monumental evolution with a powerful precision. The show elevated and celebrated their artistry in an exhilarating light, cementing themselves as a group you don’t want to miss out on–not even once.
TWICE’s massive THIS IS FOR World Tour continues tonight in Philadelphia, PA for this first show ever in the city The North American leg concludes on April 18th in Austin, TX before heading overseas for the UK/EU leg this summer. Tickets and information for the remaining dates of this must-see tour can be found here.
PHOTO CREDIT: JYP ENTERTAINMENT, SARAH WAXBERG
