Editors Note: This is a unique review called “Two Views” where we have two different Live Reviewers sharing their experience of the same show. Enjoy! 🙂
Shay: The sun hadn’t even risen when my friend and I arrived at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, for Seventeen’s “NEW_” Tour. It was October 26th, day one of their U.S. Florida stops, and we got there at 6 a.m. to line up for merchandise that wouldn’t open until 11. We were among the first twenty fans waiting outside, buzzing with excitement and exhaustion, swapping freebies with fellow Carats who had traveled from all over the state. The air was cool, but the energy was warm since we were all there for the same reason: to see the thirteen (well, nine this time) men who have shaped so much of our youth.
Liana: Despite the rain, SEVENTEEN brought the heat to Sunrise, FL at the Amerant Bank Arena. Going into the show, I was unsure of how the dynamics of the group would play out, as they’re currently touring without four of their members who are enlisted in the South Korean Military. Keeping an open mind, I showed up early to the arena, none the wiser to what was to come. The pre-show time went on as all K-pop shows do: fans merrily singing along to the music videos playing, people sharing freebies, and chatting with seat neighbors about all things SEVENTEEN.
Shay: When the merch booths finally opened, it felt like a mini victory. We managed to grab everything on our wishlist before heading back to our hotel to rest, shower, and get ready for the night ahead. By the time we returned for the show, the outside of the venue was alive with laughter, lightsticks, and freebie trades. Meeting other Carats, some who had followed Seventeen since debut, others newer but just as passionate, reminded me why this fandom is one of the most vibrant communities out there.
Liana: Once the “THUNDER” music videos began playing, the tension began to rise as well. Fans were singing the song at the top of their lungs, waving their light sticksㅡa hand-held glowing stick, customized per artist to show support for themㅡand then the lights dimmed. Screams erupted from the crowd as the open video concept reel (VCR) began playing. And they continued on as the LED video wall began to rise, revealing members Mingyu and Jun in dark, grungy outfits. They were just the beginning. After walking the runway like models in New York Fashion Week, The8 came next, hyping up the crowd while dancing with their supporting dancers. The opening of the show was chaotic. Everywhere you looked, another member would be fiercely walking their own catwalk. Ending at the center of the main stage, SEVENTEEN launched into song from their most recent mini album Happy Burstday.
Shay: Inside, our section (133) gave us the perfect side view of the main stage, close enough to see every movement and expression. The moment the lights dimmed and the first notes of “HBD” hit, the arena exploded. The energy was unreal! The crowd roared, the lights pulsed, and Seventeen emerged confident and very charming. They dove straight into “THUNDER” and “Domino,” filling every inch of the stage with synchronized precision and effortless charisma.
Liana: From the moment SEVENTEEN stepped on the stage, they captured everyone’s attention. With the skills of a 10-year-old group under their belt, it was impossible to look away from them. While smoothly executing the dance to “HBD,” SEVENTEEN continued to push the crowd’s energy to new heights, encouraging people to make more noise. I’m sure their fans’—affectionately nicknamed CARATs—cheers could be heard outside the venue. Segueing into a crowd favorite song, “THUNDER,” it was easy to see how much SEVENTEEN enjoys performing. One of my favorite parts about seeing musicians live is seeing how passionate they are about what they do. SEVENTEEN still performs like they’re experiencing their first-ever concert all over again, but with all the confidence of a well-seasoned group.
Shay: Even with four members absent due to military service — Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, and Jeonghan — the group’s bond felt unbreakable. As someone who’s been a Carat since 2018, during the “CLAP” era, I thought I knew what to expect. But seeing them live, even with a smaller lineup, reignited something in me. My main biases, Hoshi and Jeonghan, weren’t there, but I found myself falling head over heels for the rest all over again — especially Jun and The8, who were absolutely captivating. Jun’s “Gemini” was smooth and dreamy, and The8’s artistry shone in every fluid movement. Dino’s “Trigger” was a powerhouse, Vernon’s “Shining Star” radiated confidence, and Seungkwan’s “Raindrops” nearly brought me to tears.
Liana: Following those electric performances, SEVENTEEN had their first mentㅡspeaking time between setsㅡwhere they introduced themselves and the tour. Having never been to Florida, they were surprised Amerant Bank Arena was an ice hockey rink: [English translation of DK’s comment] “I heard this was an ice hockey rink, aren’t you guys cold? Let’s melt all the ice tonight!” Something unique to a SEVENTEEN concert is how they transition to the next song. For each tour, they invent a slogan and gesture to mark the beginning of a new song. For the “NEW_” World Tour, the transition was “SEVENTEEN CARAT jjak jjak new” with two claps for ‘jjak jjak’ and the phone hand shape for ‘new.’ Creating something simple and personalized for the fans to use, makes the audience feel like they’re more involved in the concert, a role beyond just cheering.
Liana: After the opening ment, they performed “Domino” and “Network Love.” Dino began the solos section of the concert with “Trigger,” a sexy number featuring him in a sparkly black suit, dancing like his life depended on it. Jun joined Dino on stage to begin his solo song “Gemini.” Sporting a flowy sky blue outfit, Jun entranced CARATS with his fluid dance and airy vocals. Rising from the floor, a lone guitar appeared. Emerging from behind the video wall, Vernon confidently walked over to the guitar for his solo “Shining Star.” During the song, he declared Sunrise FL, was his Shining Star.
Shay: “F*ck My Life,” and “Darl+ing” hit deeper live than I expected. And then came “Rock with You,” which turned the whole arena into one giant choir of joy. Afterward, the screens played “DJ BongBongie Time,” a remix of Seventeen songs that transformed the venue into a spontaneous dance floor. It was one of those rare moments where you could feel pure happiness ripple through thousands of people at once. When the confetti rained down during “Very Nice,” the night closed on a euphoric high. That performance alone was enough to convince us we had to come back for day two. So right after the concert ended, we bought tickets for the next night (continued below!).
Liana: Ending the first three solos, SEVENTEEN launched into “SOS,” “F*ck My Life,” and “LOVE, MONEY, FAME” all of which had the crowd singing the lyrics word for word back at them. Special shout-out to Mingyu in this section—he was bouncing around, bopping with CARATs, and overall bringing 526% of his energy to the stage. Settling down into their second ment, Dino led fans in singing the chorus of “SOS” a capella. Hearing SEVENTEEN sing with no accompaniment is a magical experience. Their vocal talent is unmatched, and the way their voices blend seamlessly together is enchanting.
Liana: Going into the show, I didn’t know the setlist, so to my surprise, they launched into their first English single, “Darl+ing,” a sweet song about love. This song led to the slower section of the concert featuring Joshua’s “Fortunate Change,” DK’s “Happy Virus,” and Seungkwan’s “Raindrops.” These songs showcased the vocal prowess of the members, how they could effortlessly express deep emotions while hitting high notes and maintaining the audience’s attention. The8, Mingyu, and S.Coups brought the energy back up with their solos.
Liana: The8 performed “Skyfall,” an EDM dance song that turned a hockey rink into a club. Appearing in the blackout, Mingyu began his stage with lights mimicking paparazzi camera flashes. Strutting down to the extended stage, Mingyu showed off his metallic silver suit and his powerful dance moves in “Shake It Off.” In another perfectly blended song transition, S.Coups appears on the main stage in an edgy all black outfit surrounded by dancers. With all the confidence of being SEVENTEEN’S leader, S.Coups launched into his intense and gritty rap, “Jungle.” As a bridge between the final solos and one of SEVENTEEN’S most popular title tracks, “HOT,” Dino delivered a bold dance solo to heat up the fans even more. Riding the energy of the previous stage, they jumped directly into the high-energy song “HIT.” With SEVENTEEN’s discography spanning over five albums and 11 mini-albums, they can’t perform every song. Their solution? An a capella fan song request section. By vote of loudest cheers, they sang iconic songs that didn’t make it onto the official setlist. To bring the tension back up after the short break, DK had a drum solo that served as the introduction for “Rock with you.”
Liana: During their encore break, instead of having fans sit in a blackout, we entered CARAT Time, where random songs would play, and a fan would be picked out of the audience to dance to the song. Popular songs like “Cheers” and “HOME;RUN” made an appearance, all DJ’d by CARAT’s mascot, Bongbongee. With Club CAROT closed, SEVENTEEN reappeared singing “A-TEEN,” giving the show a nostalgic vibe with a throwback section. As a play on their number-related group name, their encore set consisted of “A-TEEN” (a spin off of 18), “9-TEEN,” and “20.” Closing their sentimental section, the members sat criss-cross-apple-sauce on the stage and spoke from their hearts. Mingyu explained how with CARATs by his side, they’ve been able to accomplish all the dreams he had and doesn’t know what to dream for next, but hopes CARATs will continue to support them. After many thank yous and well wishes, Vernon revealed that their first-ever show in Sunrise was especially special as his mom is a Florida local and was in the crowd that night. With promises to support each other through whatever the future may hold, SEVENTEEN began their final section of the concert.
Liana: Kicking it off with a light EDM, club-esque song, “Eyes On You,” they continued to surprise fans with an unexpected performance of “Super,” where Mingyu entered the pit and jumped along with fans to the lively song. Sustaining the enthusiasm, the members quickly launched into “Left & Right,” followed by an a capella version of their variety show theme song “Going Seventeen” and “Snap Shoot.” In typical SEVENTEEN fashion, the logical next step was to make fans dance to a random song of the group’s choice. And with a final group dance to “Healing,” the concert came to a close.
Or did it?
Liana: There’s only one way to end a SEVENTEEN concert, and it’s with an infinite version of “VERY NICE.” After forcing fans to jump for two minutes straight, Seungkwan and DK began hunting for fans who wanted to sing his iconic high note section of the song. We experienced “VERY NICE” SpongeBob version, Screaming version, and finally, a Sexy version. While Seungkwan and DK were hunting for victims in the pit, the members on stage entertained everyone else. The first few rows became a splash zone with Mingyu and Vernon throwing water bottle after water bottle on everyone. And finally, with that silly and entirely unserious ending, “New_” World Tour in Sunrise (Day One) came to a close.
Liana: This concert left me winded. From the beginning of the show to the end, SEVENTEEN demanded every ounce of fans’ energy and then even more. Surrounded by fellow CARATs, it was so easy to let my hair down and enjoy the night. And that’s what a SEVENTEEN concert is at its core: having fun and forgetting your worries for just a moment. Between the beautiful lights, amazing camera work, crazy setlist, and wonderful members, there wasn’t a single thing to complain about. Overall, the concert was VERY NICE!
– SEVENTEEN Live Review by Liana
NIGHT 2
(by Shay Claudio)
October 27th came, and this time, we were armed with VIP passes. We arrived around 3 p.m. for check-in and were instantly greeted by more friendly faces. Even waiting in line was fun! Carats swapping photo cards, laughing, and sharing stories of their favorite moments from the night before. The VIP experience came with a clear tote bag printed with the “NEW_” logo, an engraved power bank, blue-tinted sunglasses in a soft case, nail stickers, a tin case, and a laminated badge. But the best part? Soundcheck.
Hearing “SOS,” “9-TEEN,” and “HOT” during soundcheck felt like being let in on a secret. The members looked relaxed and playful, waving to fans, teasing each other between songs. It was an intimate moment that made the whole VIP experience unforgettable. When the concert officially began later that evening, the roar of the crowd was even louder than before.
The second night’s setlist mirrored the first but added special surprises — “Call Call Call!,” “Worth It,” and “5, 4 , 3 (Pretty Woman)” by S.Coups and Mingyu, and a wild, high-energy “Fighting (BSS cover)” that shook the floor. Every performance radiated emotion and chemistry, proof of how deeply the members trust and love one another. The8’s “Skyfall” was breathtaking like a masterclass in control and grace. Jun’s effortless magnetism commanded the stage in every frame.
Even with four members missing, Seventeen’s unity was undeniable. They filled the arena with laughter, energy, and warmth. During “_World,” Carats’ voices rose above the music, echoing across the venue, and the members smiled which you could tell they felt it too. “Very Nice” closed the night once again, showering the crowd in confetti and cheers.
Both nights were emotional milestones. As a longtime fan, standing there surrounded by thousands of glowing lightsticks, I felt a deep sense of pride and belonging. Seventeen has always represented growth, teamwork, and authenticity and this tour embodied all of that. Even after years of loving them, they still manage to surprise me, inspire me, and make me fall in love again.
Walking out of the Amerant Bank Arena that night, I realized Seventeen isn’t just a group you listen to, they’re an experience you have to live in person!
All photos courtesy of PLEDIS Entertainment
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Last modified: November 11, 2025
