LE SSERAFIM’s PUREFLOW Tour Cools Down a Hot Los Angeles
I know I’ve mentioned LA’s unusually hot weather this year plenty of times, but it had finally settled down a bit by the time LE SSERAFIM arrived for the first North American stop of their second world tour, PUREFLOW.
The timing felt fitting for a tour built around their latest album, PUREFLOW PT. 1, which arrived in May with fluid, elegant visuals and water imagery reflecting its more laid-back and somber sound. Much of that atmosphere carried over to the show, which felt like a much-needed rush of cool air while still bringing the heat you’d expect from LE SSERAFIM.
The set opened with PUREFLOW PT. 1’s lead single, “CELEBRATION,” and “Creatures,” two of the more upbeat songs on the new album. They were the perfect pair to burst open the dam and get the crowd excited. The group then transitioned into the fun “Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s Wife” from their album, UNFORGIVEN, giving veteran fans a taste of the older favorites to come. Their approach to the choreography was also a bit more relaxed, leaving room to wave and smile at the crowd. It felt free-flowing, just like water—apt for the tour’s title.
Interestingly, they followed with “INTRO: Pureflow,” the instrumental-led opening track from PUREFLOW PT. 1. Although it comes first on the album, its placement here made sense, giving the members a much-needed break after the songs they’d just performed.
After introducing themselves, they sat down to perform “Need Your Company” and “Sonder,” slowing the pace and setting a more melancholy mood. I also loved how they rounded out the next stretch with “Trust Exercise,” whose atmospheric instrumental and electronic synths made it one of my favorites on the new album.
What followed was my favorite part of the show: five of their most popular songs performed back-to-back. “HOT,” “Perfect Night,” “Blue Flame,” “EASY,” and “1-800 Hot n fun” delivered a continuous run of pure excitement, with the crowd matching the group’s energy and singing along. Although these songs also appeared on last year’s Easy Crazy Hot Tour, the live band added an electric flair that made them sound more intense this time around.
Picking up on the references to Sakura’s nickname in “1-800 Hot n fun,” the group moved into the “Saki” interlude from PUREFLOW PT. 1. It was a clever transition into a track satirizing online rumors and gossip.
The night had its share of humorous moments, too. Sakura revealed a shirt beneath her jacket that read, “I’m an Otaku bestie,” referencing last year’s viral meme. Yunjin also asked whether LA’s hot weather was normal, prompting a resounding “no” from the crowd and a bewildered reaction from her. She explained that she’d been trying to get everyone to say, “That’s only because you’re here!” Fortunately, the crowd redeemed themselves when she restarted the joke, responding with the intended line. If she thought this particular night was hot, she should’ve experienced it earlier this summer!
The night continued with “BOOMPALA” and “Irony” from the latest album, alongside fan favorites like “ANTIFRAGILE,” “UNFORGIVEN,” “CRAZY,” and “Fire in the Belly.” They even performed “SPAGHETTI,” though without BTS member j-hope’s part. I was half hoping he would make a surprise appearance, which could have elevated the performance, especially since BTS had finished the North American leg of their Arirang tour in LA less than two weeks earlier. Alas, it didn’t happen.
LE SSERAFIM also recently released their newest single album, Made My Night, and debuted the title track’s performance here. Its disco-infused flavor made it the perfect encore opener, followed by a shortened version of “ICONIC BY MISTAKE,” their collaboration with ILLIT and KATSEYE. The latter’s inclusion pleasantly surprised quite a few fans, myself included.
As the show drew toward its close, I was happy to hear “iffy iffy,” my other favorite track from PUREFLOW PT. 1. Its bouncy instrumental and catchy chorus get stuck in my head every time it comes on. “No Celestial” also made its first appearance on a U.S. tour setlist, so I was glad it finally had its moment. The final song of the night was the Tyla “Water”-inspired “Smart.” Having heard it midway through the Easy Crazy Hot setlist, I initially found its move to the closing slot a surprising choice.
But the more I thought about it, the more that flexibility made sense. LE SSERAFIM have been consistently popular since their debut, with early singles like “FEARLESS” and “ANTIFRAGILE” beginning a run of hits that makes it hard to pinpoint any one song that catapulted them into stardom. Any of their hit singles could reasonably close a show, and “Smart” is one of my favorites anyway, so I left satisfied.
With so many favorites to choose from, though, some omissions were bound to stand out. “FEARLESS” was among them, along with B-sides like “Impurities” and “Sour Grapes.” Their absence may disappoint some fans, but making room for the latest material means leaving a few familiar songs behind. While LE SSERAFIM have already built an impressive catalog over their four years as a group, those setlist decisions will only get harder as they continue to grow.
I still hope they’ll play my favorite song, “Choices,” one day. Since it’s a Japanese release, maybe that’s my reason to see them in Japan. Either way, LE SSERAFIM are one of my favorite K-pop groups, and I’ll catch them again any chance I get.
