
5-member K-pop band A.C.E has returned to San Francisco’s August Hall on Friday, December 20th for their [UNDER COVER: AREA US] tour, one year and two comebacks after their last world tour. This time, they are back with a host of new original songs and choreography, but they also made sure to feature several covers, paying homage to their roots in busking.
Opening the show was a special guest: the winners of MyMusicTaste’s A.C.E cover dance competition. Eclipse, a K-pop dance group based in NorCal, delivered a powerful dance cover of “Savage” to the audience’s excited fan chants.
Before the crowd’s cheers could subside, the silhouettes of the five A.C.E members, Jun, Donghun, Wow, Byeongkwan, and Chan, emerged to a dramatic, string-heavy intro that seamlessly transitioned into “Under Cover,” a relentless fusion of rock and hip-hop that ignited the energy in the venue.
However, the solemn mood would not last for much longer. “Are you ready to see more sexy performances?” asked A.C.E. The crowd’s wild cheers indicated an undeniable affirmative response, so without further ado, the group launched into “Slow Dive” and “Black and Blue,” delivering the promised dose of sexiness, all the while displaying their incredibly stable vocals. It’s this combination of clean, powerful dance moves and high-caliber vocal technique that keeps fans hooked on A.C.E’s performances, not to forget their palpable love for performing.
As the members exited the stage after “Mr. Bass,” the lights dimmed, and Byeongkwan’s voice gently guided the audience to close their eyes and listen to their story. “It’s okay, you’re not alone,” he whispered. “I’ll be right here.” The members took turns telling an emotionally poignant allegory based on the hardships they faced when debuting, comparing themselves to “a lonely cactus, lost in the desert.” But then they found Choice, who breathed life into them and “made [their] dreams come true,” and they promised to return the favor and sing for Choice “with this voice [fans] have given [them]”. At the end of the emotional narration, several Choice were holding back tears, but their spirits were lifted when, upon opening their eyes, A.C.E reappeared on stage, shining brightly in the stage lights, as if reassuring Choice that they will always be by their side. Their next stage, “Calllin,”was met with fervent fan chants that matched the driving, high energy of the song. The intensity of the atmosphere ratcheted up as the group performed “Savage,” a hard-hitting, trap-based track paired with choreography full of attitude (and multiple jacket removals).