For the first time in Santa Ana, South Korean indie rock band SE SO NEON took the stage at The Observatory and delivered a set that was both intimate and electrifying. SASAMI started the night off with charismatic performances with an electric guitar and an ethereal performance with a french horn. Her energy and variety of genres hyped up the crowd for an unforgettable night. 

Although this was SE SO NEON’s third U.S. tour, frontwoman So-yoon admitted she was surprised she had never performed in the city before. Despite that, the audience greeted her warmly, echoing her hello back with their own.

The night opened with “E,” a mostly instrumental track layered with atmospheric guitar, bass, drums, and subtle vocal textures. It set the tone for the evening and gave fans a glimpse into the band’s signature sound, equal parts meditative and expansive. From there, the setlist flowed seamlessly between longtime favorites and new material. “A Long Dream” and “Summer Plumage” drew instant recognition, before So-yoon took a moment to share the story behind her latest album <NOW>. 

“Long story short, ever since I decided to make an album, I asked myself, what do you want to tell, what do you want to make?” she recalled. “I told myself, lowkey nothing. I said, that’s a problem.” She explained how she made herself “lost on purpose,” selling her house in Korea and traveling through Japan, France, and the U.S. Along the way, she sometimes slept on the street, but even those nights carried a strange comfort. “It felt kind of cozy,” she told the crowd. “Place doesn’t matter.” Eventually, she moved to California, where she finished the album. “When I finished my album, I finally could say, I lived in my moment and I feel now. Not like missing my past.”Her honesty set the tone for the night, turning the performance into an invitation into the moments that shaped <NOW>. 

She then went into a crowd favorite “Go Back,” with the audience cheering and nodding along to the beat. SE SO NEON then focused the second half of the night on songs from the new album such as “3 Revolution,” “Remember!,” and “Twit Winter,” while weaving in their classics such as “NAN CHUN” and “Midnight Train.” 

Although So-yoon is now the sole remaining member of SE SO NEON, she was supported on stage by drummer Gyun and bassist Spencer, who both gave standout performances. So-yoon introduced them both to the crowd, giving each time to jam, trade solos, and interact with the fans.  “I’m jealous of his long hair, he’s the best,” Gyun said of Spencer, who grinned and returned heart signs across the stage. “I love you too,” he laughed back.

By the end of the night, the Santa Ana crowd was swept up in the mix of raw emotion and sharp artistry. With <NOW>, SE SO NEON showed that their music is about living fully in the moment, exactly as So-Yoon intended. As fans continue to take in the new album, anticipation is already building for what comes next.