On May 17, xikers took over The Novo in Los Angeles for the final stop of their U.S. tour. KQ Entertainment’s second boy group to debut, the 10-member group performed with the energy and precision of seasoned artists. Their fandom, Roady, packed the venue, ready to match the group’s intensity.

The night opened with a dramatic countdown and a VCR video before the members ran on stage in black hoodies, hyping up the crowd under red lights and booming bass. Leader MINJAE’s shout of “XIKERS” kicked off a fiery opening set that included “Xikey,” “Red Sun,” and “Oh My Gosh,” combining hard-hitting rap with strong vocals and intense choreography with intricate footwork. SUMIN’s smile to fans in the balcony and HYUNWOO’s soaring notes early on set the tone for the night.

During the first ment, members took turns reflecting on how much this tour meant to them. YUJUN expressed his desire to make lasting memories, and HUNTER admitted he was close to tears. MINJAE shared how surreal it felt to already be on their second U.S. tour. The mood became even more touching when JUNGHOON addressed the crowd, marking his return after a hiatus. “I’ve waited so long to see roady again,” he said, visibly moved as he gave a shout out to the group’s beloved fans. SUMIN added that having JUNGHOON on stage made the night even more meaningful.

A surprise live debut of “Back Off” came next after MINJAE teased the audience, asking if anyone had looked up the setlist on X. This next track had never been performed for fans in LA before and featured school desks and a baseball bat passed between members in a dramatic performance. 

The group’s rapline, made up of MINJAE, SUMIN, and YECHAN performed “Canvas,” a throwback to their pre-debut days as KQ FELLAZ 2. The trio hyped up the crowd to the track’s heavy trap beats and threw water into the crowd. The next segment featured an outfit change to denim ensembles, and songs such as “WITCH” and “Koong.” Roady kept up with the members’ energy, chanting along to the catchy choruses. 

Next came two more special unit stages. JINSIK, HYUNWOO, JUNGHOON, and SEEUN delivered a rendition of Justin Bieber’s “Holy” with JUNGHOON and SEEUN rapping as a refreshing surprise from the two vocalists. HUNTER, YUJUN, and JUNMIN brought flair and flips to a dance cover of “Ring-A-Ling” by Tkay Maidza. In a later ment, SEEUN and JUNGHOON revealed it was their first time rapping on stage, thanking SUMIN for his guidance. The group joked about switching roles, with  several members offering quick previews of their “new” talents. YECHAN sang a part of “Holy,” and HYUNWOO danced, and JUNMIN, HUNTER, and YUJUN rapped to “Canvas.” MINJAE pointed out that every member is good at rapping and he wants to have an all-rap song for the next album.

The members’ energy seemed unstoppable as they went straight into another explosive segment of back-to-back songs after changing into black blazers with sequence details. “We Don’t Stop” brought an old-school hip hop style track and matching choreography, while “ROCKSTAR” and “DO or DIE” introduced rock elements characteristic to their titles. Roady matched xikers’ intensity so fiercely, you could feel the floor bouncing from fans jumping along. xikers then “ended” the night with “Tricky House,” one of their two debut songs that features the iconic rolling dance move, involving the members dropping backward in unison, rolling smoothly across their shoulders while twisting to face the audience. The track’s choreography feels both unexpected and hypnotic, perfectly in sync with the track’s mischievous vibe.

Fan engagement remained a strong theme all night. The group filmed the “Xikey” dance challenge with roady, based on a fan vote, and YUJUN threw gummy candy into the crowd during “Every Flavor Jelly.” There was even a karaoke segment for fans before the encore, featuring fan favorites “We Don’t Stop” and “Do or Die.” The encore included the unreleased “Moonwalk,” produced by MINJAE, where members held up a banner reading “Thank you for joining xikers on this long journey.” 

Before their final goodbye, the members gave heartfelt thanks. JINSIK got emotional, YUJUN shared his happiness at being on tour as ten members again, and HUNTER said he was ending the tour with no regrets. MINJAE credited Roady as the reason they can keep going, teasing even bigger dreams and a new album to come. He also gave a shout out to KQ’s CEO, the tour staff, and production team, sharing they would not have been able to achieve such a successful tour without them. The group promised to return soon, ending the night by sending hearts over their heads and making sure to wave to roady at all levels of the venue.

It was an honor to see how much xikers has grown since I first caught their performance in Anaheim back in 2022, when they opened for their senior group ATEEZ’s world tour pre-debut as KQ FELLAZ 2. In just two years, this young group has developed unmatched skill and stage presence and my experience with them came full circle as I got the opportunity to see “Tricky House” and its eye-catching choreography once again. I’m excited to see what xikers will bring next as they prepare for their upcoming album.