Muse and our second photographer Stacy were able to attend the Orlando stop of A.C.E’s Rewind Us tour as press on July 5, 2024. This was A.C.E’s first US tour after completing their mandatory enlistment. It was an intimate and stripped-down performance which was clearly meant to reconnect with fans and highlight their talent and passion above all else.
The show started off with a dance intro which ran right into “Goblin (Favorite Boys)”, such a powerful opening track. Mixing hip-hop and rock elements, the performance starts strong with Byeongkwan announcing “your favorite boys are back,” which felt very fitting for the packed venue. At once beautiful and powerful, A.C.E performs the song with an open Hanbok and choreography that combines modern and traditional elements. The energy really set the tone for the entire concert experience.
A.C.E then ditched the Hanboks and reset to the back of the stage before red lights came on and the audience screamed in anticipation for the second track of the night, “Savage”. A fast-paced song about veering from expectations, with choreography that mirrors the hyped aspect of the track, they obviously decided to start the show with a bang that almost took the roof off the venue.
To give the guys a little breather, they introduced themselves and connected with the audience for a bit. A.C.E is great with crowd work, getting the audience to participate and engage with them as much as they engage with the audience. This is a skill set that artists should absolutely work to cultivate, and A.C.E have got this down solid. From utilizing the full range of the stage, to asking questions, reacting to fan shouts, and drawing attention to things they see out in the crowd, A.C.E made sure the venue felt seen and heard. They did mention that they were under the weather, apologizing for their vocal condition, not that the audience could really tell by the stunning vocals they delivered throughout the night.
They segued right into the fan charged song, “Changer”, for a lighthearted and fun track that was released right before enlistments happened for the group. Really letting their stage presence and fan engagement shine by encouraging the audience to sing along. It carried the mood nicely from the intense opening to a lighter segment of the show.
They ran through a combination of fun, upbeat songs like “My Girl”, “Face Time”, and “Down” which were largely crowd work and vocals for the Orlando stop of the tour, due to them being sick. Then they progressed to “Higher”, “Baby Tonight”, and “Clover” for some tracks that are a bit more downtempo but still engaging, featuring choreography that managed to hype the crowd. A.C.E also performed their latest release, “Supernatual”, which brought lots of cheers and fans singing along, before mic stands and blazers were delivered for “Effortless”, a cover of “GODS” by NewJeans, and a cover of “Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift. All three of these were delivered with such vocal prowess that it was easy to forget that they were feeling unwell. I’m looking forward to seeing them when they return at 100% because that must be awe-inspiring.
The “Cruel Summer” cover transitioned perfectly into “Slow Dive”, a down tempo song asking someone not to leave because you need them. Before A.C.E smashed into the ultimate fan favorite, “Undercover”, to the delight of the audience. The entire venue seemed to sing along to both the English track and the Korean track. The atmosphere was charged with excitement and pride and was so powerful to stand in the middle of that and feel the synergy between Idol Group and Fans.
A closing audio track played of each member expressing their gratitude and commitment to A.C.E and Choice (the fandom), followed by a bit of the track “If You Heard”, before A.C.E came back out on stage for the Encore. Where they beautifully performed some heartfelt songs the fans all adored; “Talk you down”, “Angel”, “Take Me Higher”, and “Story”. The fans sang along, gave the members Mickey Mouse ears, and generally shared their love and enthusiasm for A.C.E and their stellar performance despite their physical condition.
We had a fantastic time and hope to catch them again next time! We want to thank My Music Taste and BEAT INTERACTIVE for the opportunity to provide press photos, and A.C.E for putting on an amazing performance and sharing their passion and talent with Orlando, Florida.
(Photo Credits: Muse Salgado & Stacy Woodward)
