(Photo Gallery) SE SO NEON delivers a kaleidoscope of emotions during the <NOW> North America Tour

Sep 15

On Friday night, September 5, eager fans filled the sidewalks early outside the iconic 9:30 Club, buzzing with anticipation for SE SO NEON’s <NOW> North America Tour 2025. The tour spans seventeen cities through October, and D.C. marked an early stop on the journey.

Se So Neon in Washington, D.C // 9-5-25 // Photos by Miya (Sarah Peter)

Formed in 2016, the beloved Korean rock band (whose name translates to "New Youngsters" or "New Youth" in Korean) transformed the venue into a vivid soundscape, focusing on their latest release, NOW, while incorporating earlier tracks that kept the setlist fresh and unpredictable. Known for their genre-blending sound that fuses blues, psychedelic rock, new wave, and synth-pop with a vintage aesthetic, SE SO NEON has carved out a distinct identity in the K-indie scene, deliberately defying categorization to reflect their expansive, boundary-free approach to indie music.

Opening the night was Tokyo-based multidisciplinary artist Mei Ehara, announced just days earlier as one of the two support acts for SE SO NEON’s North American tour. Known for her thoughtful blend of indie folk and dream pop, Ehara delivered a warm, stripped-down solo performance that gently welcomed the growing crowd. With only her acoustic guitar in hand, she played a succinct and heartfelt set, her clear vocals and luminous presence drawing in even those unfamiliar with her work. As an artist whose creative avenues span music, photography, writing, and design, Ehara brought a subtle depth to the stage with her emotionally resonant songs. The supportive crowd responded with genuine warmth, making her set a fitting prelude to SE SO NEON’s high-energy performance.

As gentle waves of fog drifted across the stage and the lights dimmed, the band members – Spencer on bass, and Gyun on drums – emerged one by one, taking their positions and warming up their instruments. When frontwoman Hwang SoYoon finally appeared, the crowd erupted in cheers. SoYoon is both a guitarist and vocalist, and leads the band’s creative direction, overseeing everything from their sound to their striking visual identity. With calm confidence, she picked up her guitar, played a few exploratory riffs while looking skyward, then launched into the band’s first song of the night, “E.” As the drums kicked in and the full band locked into the groove, SoYoon's energy lit up the room. The crowd surged during her mid-song solo, and she matched their energy, pushing harder with each note until the song’s finale.

A kaleidoscope of lights accompanied the performance throughout the night, creating a vibrant visual backdrop that matched the emotional highs and lows of the set. The band performed an impressive range of songs from across SE SO NEON’s discography – including earlier releases like “Joke!,” “A Long Dream,” and “The Wave,” while spotlighting much of NOW with songs such as “Twit Winter," "Remember!,” and “New Romantic.”

Throughout the performance, SoYoon commanded the stage with a quiet yet powerful presence. Her ability to balance intimacy with passion shaped the emotional journey of the evening; a hallmark of SE SO NEON’s performances, which has earned critical acclaim from major media outlets and fans around the world.

After a few tracks, she greeted the crowd, “What’s up, D.C.? I can’t hear you all, what’s up?!” The crowd roared in response. “Thank you for coming! I can’t really see you guys, but… are you there?” More screams filled the venue. “Keep doing that, since I can’t see you! Use your voices!” she teased.

Setting down her water bottle, she continued, “Yeah, we’re back! The NOW album just came out. We started our new tour, and this is our second stop – D.C.” She then formally introduced her band members and shared that they had explored a bit of the city earlier that day, visiting tourist spots and even going for a brisk run before the show.

Musically, the chemistry among the band was joyfully palpable. At several moments, SoYoon and Spencer met center stage to jam face-to-face, while at other times she leapt onto the drum platform to shred alongside Gyun, adding spontaneous bursts of raw energy that felt electric and unplanned. This kind of intensity has helped SE SO NEON earn a reputation for captivating performances at numerous international festivals over the years, further cementing their growing global presence.

Toward the end of the set, SoYoon paused to reflect on the evening. “This is the first time performing these songs for you after the release. I’m so excited! New album, new tour, new merch, and new members! So… thank you for everything!” she humbly concluded, sincerely expressing her gratitude.

Although the main performance eventually ended, fans weren’t ready to say goodbye. They cheered loudly for more, and SoYoon gladly obliged, returning for a two-song encore of “Jayu” and “Kidd,” which capped off the sweet and unforgettable night.

Words by Miya (Sarah Peter) // for KtopiaX