Stray Kids Put On ‘5-Star’ Performance in Washington D.C. Amid Intense Heat Wave

Written by Caitlin F

On June 23, along the bank of the Anacostia River, the grueling June sun bore its oppressive rays down on Nationals Park in Washington D.C. Another victim to the extreme heat: hundreds of Stray Kids fans, known as STAY, who lined the streets of the Navy Yard neighborhood waiting to gain entrance into the stadium for the K-Pop boy group’s long awaited concert.

Photo Credit: Caitlin F.

Traveling to five continents and stopping in 40 cities, the <dominATE> World Tour marks Stray Kids’ biggest tour since their debut in 2018. The group, consisting of leader Bang Chan, and members Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N., was set to put on their first-ever performance in the U.S. capital city, an area the group notably did not visit on their three previous tours.

The day of, however, came with complications, even before the concert officially started. With a high of 98 degrees and a heat index value of up to 110 degrees, STAY was left to wait in unorganized lines while battling the agonizing heat. VIP ticket holders arrived as early as possible to secure their spots in the general admission pits and get into the venue for the scheduled soundcheck at 5:00 PM. However, fans reported that once 5:00 PM rolled around, hundreds of fans were still waiting outside to get in due to inefficient entry checkpoints and slow security lines. VIP entrances closed, and the remaining fans were refused entry into the group’s soundcheck performance, despite waiting at the proper time.

The actual show began around 7:45 PM, about fifteen minutes behind schedule. The LED screens on each side of the massive stage went black as the familiar chants and electric guitar riffs of “SKZ Anthem” began ringing loud and clear from the stadium’s speakers. STAY shouted along to the group’s iconic motto, “Stray Kids everywhere, all around the world.”

Photo Credit: Caitlin F.

The anthem then transitioned into a theatrical marching band-inspired display complete with fireworks and pyrotechnics as the octet finally made their way onto the stage. As the intense drums of “MOUNTAINS” began echoing, the crowd erupted into cheers. Clad in intricately embellished grey outfits, the group hyped up the crowd and began their powerful performance with their strong rap skills and fierce vocals. The track then faded into one of Stray Kids’ most iconic songs, “Thunderous,” which boasts over 300 million streams on Spotify. Rappers Changbin and Han kicked off the performance of the band version of the track, gracing STAY’s ears with their fiery rap abilities. The blue lightning visuals and lasers surrounding the members then morphed into images of syrups, honey, and slime-like liquid as they transitioned into their next track, “JJAM,’ from their latest mini-album ATE.

As the members caught their breath, they took the time to individually introduce themselves. “The weather is…it’s quite cold, isn’t it?” Bang Chan joked with the crowd. “Nah, it’s really hot. So make sure you guys stay hydrated!”

The show went on as the group threw it back to their debut song, “District 9,” and another old hit, “Back Door.” While the group took the time to go backstage and change their outfits, background dancers (known as TEAM SKZ) came out onto the stage to perform a dance medley of some of Stray Kids’ greatest hits and fan-favorite tracks. The mashup included “Hellevator,” “Easy,” “S-Class,” “Walkin on Water,” “Charmer,” “VENOM,” and “Hall of Fame.”

Photo Credit: Caitlin F.

The members then reappeared, this time sporting bright red suits and jackets and leisurely lounging on a vintage red car. They brought the energy back with their hip-hop reggaeton track, “Chk Chk Boom,” before shedding their jackets and enticing the crowd to perform their fan-favorite, “DOMINO.” STAY head-banged and jumped along with the members for the hype track.

“God’s Menu,” the group’s most successful song to date, which has amassed over 430 million streams since its release, was the next banger on the setlist. The performance utilized the live band, transforming the song into a more intense, rock version of the already powerful track. As the members went backstage for a second time, the band took the opportunity to show off their impressive skills. Guitarist Garret Jones, bassist Jon Reshard, drummer Jamar Moore, and keyboardist Yung Wurld flaunted their instrumental mastery with short solos that kept the crowd exhilarated as the show transitioned.

Felix and Han then returned to the stage to perform their experimental unit song, “Truman,” which talks about their desire to carve their own path in the industry and always keep it real. The duo electrified the crowd and proved their rap star power as they danced around the stage with their background dancers. 

During the following ment, Felix explained the song's origins, “You guys inspired us to write something sort of hype. We’re the ones who cooked it, but you’re the ones who spiced it up. So tonight, thanks to you, we cooked!”

“Burnin’ Tires,” the fierce rap-rock hybrid song by Changbin and I.N., came next. The duo worked together to captivate fans, creating a high-energy environment that kept STAY on their toes. Changbin’s insane rap abilities took control of the beat while I.N. 's powerful vocals shone throughout the performance. “We hope you can achieve your goals after listening to this song,” Changbin expressed, while thanking fans.

The next unit performance was Bang Chan and Hyunjin’s heated track “Escape.” Gracing the stage in seductive all-black leather outfits, the duo contrasted with their background dancers, who were clad in haunting white hoods, shrouding them in an air of mystery. The duo passionately sang about their desires to break free from their shackles and escape from reality. About the meaning of the song, Hyunjin and Bang Chan joked back and forth with each other. “I wanted to prepare a love song, but you wanted to prepare something…” Hyunjin argued, trailing off as the crowd erupted into laughter.

“It’s a very…sweet and cute song!” Bang Chan joked about the sensual number.

Photo Credit: Caitlin F.

Lee Know and Seungmin took the stage to perform the final unit song, “Cinema.” The intimate ballad began with the two members lying beside each other on the stage, washes of cool blue light and moody fog surrounding them as they sang. As fans waved their bright lightsticks in the air, Seungmin, the main vocalist of the group, exhibited his vocal prowess with clear high notes. Lee Know, who is more notably one of the strongest dancers in the group, was able to put his strong vocal abilities on display through the performance. The duo truly created a cinematic experience for the crowd as confetti shot through the air, looking reminiscent of the first snow in winter. As the performance concluded, fireworks went off into the sky and the names of hundreds of STAY danced across the screen like movie credits, as if to say: “These are the people that made this magical night happen.”

To ring in the second act of the show, the complete octet returned to the stage to perform the Korean version of their Japanese track, “Giant.” Behind them, a real giant grey man grew from the stage in front of a fiery red backdrop, looming over the members as they began the striking number. The group then went on to perform “Walkin on Water,” the old school hip-hop inspired track from their latest mixtape HOP. They then transitioned into another one of their’ top hits, “S-Class,” opting to perform the VMA version of the track. Winding down the energy a bit, the group then went on to sing “Lonely St.” and “Cover Me,” dedicating the touching song to their lovely STAY.

Stray Kids then brought the heat, performing three of their most hype tracks in a row: “Topline,” which features the iconic rapper Tiger JK, and the Korean version of their Japanese hit “Social Path,” which features one of Japan's most celebrated rock singers,  LiSA. The group ended the string of jams with their drift phonk hit, “LALALA,” concluding the bender with an electrifying firework display that lit up the skies of Washington D.C. in a sea of red and orange.

Photo Credit: Caitlin F.

Before the group said their final goodbyes, leader Bang Chan went out of his way to check on the well-being of STAYs in the crowd. “If anyone’s feeling dizzy or too hot, please raise your hand,” he prompted. Other members joined in scanning the audience to provide help where it was needed, even going as far as sharing their own water bottles with fans who were in need. The group then took a second to regroup backstage, setting aside a few minutes to allow people to get help, water, and medical attention from security and staff.

When the eight members took the stage once again, Bang Chan let it be known that they would be moving along with the show rather quickly to prioritize the safety of everyone in attendance.

“So, here’s the point where we say our final goodbyes,” the leader declared with a chuckle. “But, we’re not going to do that today. We’re just going to say that we did! We’re going to show some really good performances, so I hope you guys enjoy!”

They then went on to present their last two songs, bringing back the liveliness of the crowd as they performed the vivacious track, “MEGAVERSE.” Hyunjin stood out with his engaging facial expressions and sharp dance moves. The crowd then erupted into cheers as the beginning riffs of the MAMA version of their beloved track, “MANIAC,” began. The group brought their all to the stage despite the intense heat and proved their lasting star power as they ended Washington D.C.’s first-ever Stray Kids concert with a bang.

However, “MANIAC” wasn’t supposed to be the end of the <dominATE> tour stop in D.C. Based on previous stops, the group was supposed to return to the stage for two more encores, going around the stadium on carts to interact with STAYs in the higher sections of the venue and sing around eight more songs. After around twenty minutes and no return from the members, a spokesperson of Nationals Park made the tough announcement that the rest of the show would no longer be proceeding for the sake of everyone’s safety due to the number of heat-related illnesses that had already occurred.

With that, fans began filing out of the stadium, some with looks of disappointment and confusion, others with faces of relief that they would no longer have to stay in the heat.

Photo Credit: Caitlin F.

Many fans took to social media to express their disappointment and anger at the lack of care provided by Nationals Park staff throughout the day. Videos surfaced of venue staff providing no help when a fan was seemingly about to pass out due to the oppressive heat. According to fans, despite the number of emergencies happening within the crowd, staff still made attendees pay for water, and ran out of water too quickly. Miscommunication between the venue and fans led to many fans being told to dump unopened water bottles, despite Nationals Park posting on social media (after doors were already open) that sealed water bottles were allowed in. In total, six fans ended up hospitalized due to heat-related illnesses and the perceived negligence of Nationals Park and Live Nation. Praise was sent to Stray Kids and fellow fans for their attention to those who were struggling.

Despite the struggles with the extreme heat wave and heat-related complications, Stray Kids took Washington, D.C., by storm. The group did not cut corners on their performances, delivering polished choreography, powerful vocals, and masterful rapping, truly dominating the stage. The eight-member boy group will be remembered by D.C. STAY for their efficient professionalism in the tough situation and their ability to put on an amazing show despite barriers.

Stray Kids will be concluding the North American leg of the <dominATE> tour on June 29 in Toronto, Ontario. Grab your tickets here while you still can!

Photos captured on point-and-shoot, please credit Caitlin and K Fuse if reposting