![[Concert Review] SF9 Shares True Showmanship for “Love Dawn” Tour in San Jose](https://facilityfun.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/DSC_3916-5rNQZk.jpeg "[Concert Review] SF9 Shares True Showmanship for “Love Dawn” Tour in San Jose")
Photo Cr. Megan Kan // KpopWise
SF9 returned to the USA for the North American leg of their “Love Dawn” world tour. After wrapping up the European leg of their 2025 tour, the band has finally come together to showcase what it means to be true professionals and creative artists to fans around the world. Formed in 2016 under FNC Entertainment as the company’s first dance-focused boy group, SF9 originally consisted of Rowoon, Jaeyoon, Dawon, Youngbin, Inseong, Taeyang, Hwiyoung, Zuho, and Chani. Since debuting, some of the members have gone on to pursue other roles in the industry—Rowoon and Zuho, for example, have explored acting—while others remain active in group activities. The members participating in this tour are Youngbin, Hwiyoung, Inseong, Jaeyoon, and Chani. Taeyang is currently in Korea recovering from a dance injury while working on local projects, and Dawon is serving in the military.
The band released their most recent album “Love Race” in the spring of this year. Before that, they focused on various projects such as Japanese releases, musical productions, and preparations for touring Asia, Europe, and North America.
On December 4th, they performed their second-to-last U.S. show in San Jose, California, at the Hammer Theater. With a full house of excited fans lined up outside, the five members opened the show with “Love Race,” which was met with enthusiastic cheers as soon as the lights dimmed. Dynamic and charismatic, the song showcased the powerhouse talent of the five performers on stage.
Diving into the concert recap, several noteworthy details stood out.
Starting with showmanship and performance, the members displayed sharp formations, sleek and sensual choreography, and impressive vocal contrast—particularly between vocalists Inseong and Jaeyoon, whose tones complement each other beautifully. This was evident during stages such as “Tear Drop,” a 2020 title track from their “Turn Over” album. With its synth-driven backing track and tempo, the song highlights soft yet fast-paced vocals paired with well-placed rap parts. Their performance of “Trauma” was another highlight of the night, featuring smooth floorwork choreography and excellent interplay between vocals and rap.
Newer songs “Wararu” and “Bibora” showcased different sides of SF9’s versatile discography. “Bibora,” an upbeat EDM track, revealed a more energetic side of the group, while “Wararu,” a percussion-heavy and dramatic piece, emphasized intensity and dynamic choreography. Although less charismatic and more forceful than earlier songs, both added appreciated variety to the setlist.
Solo Performances
Youngbin performed a self-composed song titled “Someday,” a rock–alternative style track. He even incorporated dancing and rapping, checking all the boxes while clearly enjoying himself on stage.
“I wrote this song wanting to give you guys good energy. We always talk about someday like a dream. Meeting you guys is one of my dreams. So I’m really happy that today came true, and that was someday.”
—Youngbin
Inseong performed a cover of “On the Ground” by Rosé, rearranged into a rock–alternative version. His rendition energized the crowd, who eagerly sang along and waved their lightsticks to match his intensity.
Jaeyoon performed “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish, offering a more mellow contrast to the earlier solos. The performance highlighted his soft falsetto and emotional delivery, and fans enthusiastically sang along.
Hwiyoung covered Sombr’s “Back to Friends,” a moody band-style ballad accompanied by dramatic spotlighting that emphasized the emotional depth of his performance. The rapper revealed a different side of his artistry through this vocal-focused piece.
Each member shared their reason for choosing their song—some simply enjoyed it recently, while others wanted to show a different style or side of themselves. This segment was especially enjoyable and highlighted each member’s individuality and personal talent. Compared to other K-pop concerts in America, where artists often choose common pop covers, SF9’s choices felt more expressive and intentional with an added flare or creativity twist.
Finally, to wrap up the night, the band saved some of their classic hits for the end of the setlist, earning some of the loudest reactions. One of their biggest songs, “Good Guy,” had fans singing along passionately and shouting the fan chant. Inseong praised the crowd, saying he could hear the chant clearly in his in-ear monitors, which made the members very happy. “Love No. 5” brought heavy bass, a fast beat, and EDM-club energy during the chorus, while the verses allowed each member to showcase their charisma through their individual parts. “O Sole Mio,” another fan favorite, had the crowd cheering, screaming, and singing along loudly. Its performance proved once again why it remains one of their most beloved tracks.
In the end, SF9’s San Jose stop proved not only their professionalism but also their ability to evolve while staying connected to their roots. With refined performances, thoughtful setlist choices, and genuine interactions, the group showcased why they continue to resonate with fans worldwide. Their synergy on stage—despite being a smaller lineup for this tour—highlighted both their individual growth and their collective strength. As they continue the “Love Dawn” tour, SF9 reinforces that their artistry, versatility, and dedication remain as compelling as ever, leaving fans eager for what comes next.
