Though I really only bought tickets and started listening to 82MAJOR maybe two months ago, it felt like I had to wait forever for them to finally come to the US and start playing shows. But they finally came!
And they were amazing. Since they are still a relatively small group, getting their “everything ticket” was pretty dang affordable and offered a great deal of time interacting with the group. I rearranged work in a way that required no time off and I still got to enjoy every part offered within this ultimate VIP ticket offering. The only thing that truly sucked about the experience was the weather. There were almost record breaking temperatures across Ohio last week, and the humidity was atrocious. So of course there was a bunch of waiting outside. Thank goodness I had a ton of hair spray in my hair, and little face fan, and an umbrella, because of course it also rained a little bit. Thankfully it wasn’t a downpour. But, getting little reprieves inside for the events was probably more of a blessing than I’m realizing.
Anyway, the first thing I got to take part in was the fan sign. I had my Silence Syndrome booklet ready to go, as well as my “letters.” That was the only thing the group was accepting, per their management, so I popped some words on the back of my small drawings and no one stopped me from putting them in the little collection basket as I made my way to the front of the line. Whether or not they are ever actually received remains to be seen. I would have loved to have handed them over in person to see their reactions, but I can’t win them all. The fan sign went quick, as they all tend to do, but the eye contact was intense. These guys, with the exception of Yechan, can’t speak much English, but I felt the connection! Seongbin felt extra special, though Seongmo and Seokjoon were sure battling for the top spot!
After that, the next item of business was the group photos. These are still always so freaking dumb, in my opinion. Why would I want a photo with ten other random strangers? Though I am interested to see the final product because I think I may have gotten cat ears from Seongbin. I felt something lightly touching my head at one point. After that we got cycled through again for soundcheck. Though their crowd interaction wasn’t anything elaborate, they did play 3 whole songs! We got “Gossip,” “Say More,” and “82!” When that was done they blessedly let us stay in there for the next hour before the show started.
Had it not been so hot I might have tried to fight for a closer spot, or heck, even front row to the stage, but as it was I found a comfortable spot a little further back but with a perfect view. Given that they only have fourteen “official” songs in their catalog, we got all of them in the show! I was a little surprised that they started the show with “Takeover” and then followed immediately with “Stuck.” Even though they are newer songs, they are two of their singles and I would think insanely popular. However, they are both good ones to suck the crowd in with a high energy almost immediately. I will say, I was a little jealous that the Korean shows that happened not too long before this tour got some covers, but still, we got “Say More” and “Suspicious,” so I guess I won’t be too mad. The crowd went wild for “First Class,” and I was pretty dang hype for “Choke.” They sounded great, the moves were smooth, and there was a lot of audience engagement every couple of songs.
After the show was over, they sent us back outside after a short while to start working through the rest of the perks and add-ons. I got my photo individually with the whole group, which was a little intimidating, but I’m hopeful that the two they took will turn out well. Then I went back through twice to get selfies with all of the guys! I will give Ampers&One some more credit here, they were much more creative with the poses. But, I didn’t look disgusting in the ring light and these guys were not shy about getting in close. I’m sure they regretted that with some people…a few could have benefited from deodorant, but I digress. Getting the pictures were such an instant and sweet serotonin boost. A part of me was really contemplating ditching my Friday night plans to catch them in Detroit, but I practiced respect and self control. I am sad that none of the other tour dates would work out for me to attend, so I just have to cross all of my fingers and toes that they will be promoting something new while I’m in Korea this fall!
