K-pop group TWICE returned to the Bay Area in Oakland for their fourth North American tour, an early stop on what is already shaping up to be a physically demanding schedule. Having gone to all their previous North American tours, I was excited to see them again from the pit on day 1.

The group adopted a 360-degree stage concept for this tour, shaped like an S with a front, center, and back stage. The members spent most of their time in the center. At times, individual members faced different sections of the arena and rotated among the stages, while other songs featured the full group performing together before collectively turning to another side. From my position in Pit 1, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Nayeon seemed to spend the most time on my side throughout the night. Unfortunately, my bias, Sana, spent much of the show positioned on the opposite side of the stage.

^Sana

The stage design featured multiple platforms that rose and lowered independently during the set. A welcomed addition for fans seated farther back in the arena. Large LED screens facing all four sides descending and rising throughout the performance and occasionally forming themed set pieces, including visuals framed like a television screen. The production choices made it clear that this tour prioritizes scale and coverage across the entire venue.

Oakland’s crowd responded strongly from the start, particularly during the group’s more recognizable tracks. The floor sections remained engaged, with Candybong lightsticks waving to the beat of the music and fans singing along throughout the arena. Fan favorites such as “Fancy” and “Feel Special” played during the encore drew some of the loudest reactions of the night, though noticably, classics like "TT" and "Cheer Up" were omitted from the setlist. All of this was further elevated by a live band and a large cast of talented backup dancers.

^Tzuyu

One of the more notable additions to the setlist was “Takedown,” which stood out for its darker tone and sharper choreography, probably best known for being featured in the hit Netflix animated movie, K-Pop Demon Hunters. The performance leaned into a heavier atmosphere compared to much of the group’s brighter content, offering a striking contrast within the set. The Oakland crowd responded with heightened attention, making it one of the night’s more memorable group performances.

Apart from the setlist, TWICE had a completely updated wardrobe from their Asia tour. Gone are the cuter outfits, and what we were left with were more mature earth tones and cohesive colors. While the Asia tour featured an all-white outfit, it was replaced with a white and blue costume reminiscent of a marching band uniform. Additionally, the group wore an updated set of Western outfits featuring tassels and fringes, designed by Kim Shui, that looked stunning in motion. (You can see her post about designing the costumes on her Instagram).

^Momo

Midway through the show, the concert shifted into a solo segment, with each member performing shortened versions of their respective solo tracks from the group’s most recent album, Ten: The Story Goes On. These condensed stages offered brief but focused spotlights on each member’s individual style and musical direction, while maintaining the fast pacing of the overall show. I particularly enjoyed Jeonyeoun’s country-themed “Fix a Drink” with her performing in a cowboy hat with a gaggle of cowgirl backup dancers. A contrast to Nayeon’s high energy “Meeeeee”. The crowd nearly lost it at Jihyo’s solo with “ATM” with her powerful voice, commanding visuals, and sharp dance moves, ending it with her unzipping her hoodie to reveal a pink fuzzy bra. My only critique was that from where I was standing, the backup dancers would often block my view of the members. Overall, the segment provided a refreshing break from the group choreography and highlighted the individuality of each member.

^Jeongyeon

One of the biggest elephants of the night was Dahyun spending most of the show seated onstage with a visible tape on her leg. She later addressed the situation directly, reassuring fans that the issue was not serious. Before the Seattle dates, Dahyun had shared on the group's social media platform Bubble that she experienced ankle pain during the Vancouver show, which worsened after dancing. From where I was standing, she appeared visibly uncomfortable with having to remain seated, but as the night progressed, she loosened up and returned to her cheerful self, frequently waving and interacting with fans during moments when she was not singing and dancing with her arms. During the solo stage, she was also able to perform "Chess" while seated.

^Dahyun

Among individual performances, Jihyo stood out unmistakably. Her stage presence was explosive, delivering consistent intensity regardless of where she was positioned on the stage. Vocally strong and visibly engaged, she commanded attention whether she was singing or not. Her performance often elevated the energy of the arena, particularly during moments when other members appeared to be more subdued.

^Jihyo

That contrast was noticeable at times. Since the start of their North American tour, social media discussions have pointed to uneven energy throughout the show, and from the floor, those observations were at times noticeable. There were moments when a few members appeared less engaged when not actively singing, likely a reflection of fatigue rather than disinterest. I noticed this happened more often during the beginning of the show. Against that backdrop, Jihyo’s consistently dynamic delivery stood out even more.

Concerns about pacing remain. When the North American tour was first announced, the number of dates already raised eyebrows. Those concerns only grew as additional shows were added, with Los Angeles ultimately scheduled for four performances. The physical toll of such a schedule is becoming increasingly apparent.

Nayeon shared on Bubble after the Oakland shows that she has not been feeling well and is currently relying on over-the-counter medication. From the floor, there were moments where she appeared slightly uncomfortable, making her perseverance throughout the show all the more commendable.

The encore portion provided some of Oakland Day 1’s most genuine moments. The members moved more freely around the stage, spending time along the edges and acknowledging fans across all sections of the arena. Sana continued the trend from the other stops and proceeded to playfully splash the audience with her water bottle. Throughout the night, Chaeyeong stood out to me as well, apart from Jihyo, especially during her interactions with fans and moments where she teased other members. During "Dance the Night Away", Nayeon ran over the Dahyun and spun her around in her chair, and later Jeongyeon snuck up behind Jihyo during her solo part and playfully jabbed her behind. These looser interactions drew some of the night’s loudest cheers and reinforced the group’s strong connection with the audience.

^Chaeyoung

Regarding the VIP benefits, historically, K-pop VIP packages often included direct fan interactions such as hi-touch events, post-show meet-and-greets, or group photo opportunities. TWICE’s first North American tour, TWICELIGHTS, offered hi-touch and group photo benefits. While the decision to discontinue these interactions post-pandemic is understandable for health reasons, the increase in VIP ticket availability without comparable interactive elements is hard to overlook. That said, I did enjoy the VIP soundcheck benefit, lasting about 15 minutes, even if the experience overall feels more oriented toward scale than intimacy.

_{From left to right: Chaeyoung, Dahyun, Tzuyu, Jeongyeon, Sana, Nayeon, Mina, Jihyo, and Momo}

Overall, it was a fantastic show filled with the spectacle TWICE fans have come to love and expect. From the ambitious stage design to the live band, choreography, and moments of genuine fan interaction, Oakland Day 1 delivered an exciting and memorable experience, and I had an absolute blast being there.

There are understandable concerns about the demanding pace of the tour. TWICE has already completed six shows across three cities in just ten days, with roughly 30 dates still ahead. Given that history has shown how physically taxing these tours can be, the hope moving forward is that the schedule allows all nine members to stay healthy, energized, and able to perform at their best for fans across the remaining stops.

Setlist:
FOUR
THIS IS FOR
Strategy
MAKE ME GO
SET ME FREE
I CAN’T STOP ME
OPTIONS
MOONLIGHT SUNRISE
MARS
I GOT YOU
The Feels
Gone
Cry For Me
HELL IN HEAVEN
Right Hand Girl
Dive In (Tzuyu solo)
Stone Cold (Mina solo)
Meeeeee (Nayeon solo)
Fix a Drink (Jeongyeon solo)
Chess (Dahyun solo)
Shoot (Firecracker) (Chaeyoung solo)
ATM (Jihyo solo)
Decaffeinated (Sana solo)
Move Like That (Momo solo)
Takedown (Jeongyeon, Chaeyoung & Jihyo)
Fancy
What Is Love?
YES or YES
Dance the Night Away
One Spark
Scientist
Feel Special