Cheers erupt as Ampers&one’s debut song ‘On & On’ fills the venue. The seven-member boy group started their North American tour on February 17th and ended it on March 19th, and for over a month, they held 19 total concerts in 15 different states. Shockingly, stop 14 was in Des Moines, Iowa. Tickets went on sale on January 14, with various types of tickets to buy. Unlike every other K-pop concert I’ve been to, this venue was a bar with standing room only.
The difference between tickets was the extra perks, with more perks meaning higher prices. The highest level ticket was the ‘Everything Ticket’, which included your ticket to the concert, a fansign, group photo, sound check, early access to merchandise, hi-touch, seven selfie tickets (one for each member), and a solo group photo.
VVIP included the fansign, group photo, sound check, early access to merch, and sound check. VIP had sound check, early access to merch, group photo, and hi-touch. Then, there were two different versions of general admission tickets, one with hi-touch and one without. I opted for the VVIP ticket, and then I utilized the add-ons you could buy, like the selfie tickets.
Check-in was around 2 pm, but we had to be back at the venue at 3:30 for the first event of the night, the fansign. Then, promptly at 4:00, the line began moving, and we were ushered inside. The seven members sat at a table while the fans would have around 5-10 seconds with each member while they would sign either a photocard or the tour poster. I was definitely unprepared, with only a few silly ideas of what to say to them in such a short time.
Thankfully, 5 of the boys speak fluent English with two Americans, one who lived in the U.S. for a year, one Australian, and one Canadian member in the group. The other two, though, had a basic understanding and were also easy to talk to.
Then, in the same line, we were ushered back out before going back in for the group photo. Now, seven chairs were placed in front of each member, so groups of seven took their photos. I was the last one in my group, so I was in front of Jiho.
Next was soundcheck, where I had a nice view close to the middle and only a few people back. This time was also short, though, as they played only three songs. But it’s fun to see them in a more intimate setting where there are not as many fans around. Then we had to wait about an hour and a half before the actual concert started.
Ampers&one is a relatively new group with only 12 songs total, so the set list included their entire discography and six cover songs. During this time, the group would split into four and three. The group of four performed more dance-focused songs like ‘That’s What Like’ by Bruno Mars and ‘Good Boy Gone Bad’ by Tomorrow X Together. The group of three opted for cute and vocal-focused songs like ‘Sorry’ by Justin Bieber and ‘Plot Twist’ by TWS. Then, as a full group,p they covered ‘God’s Menu’ by Stray Kids and ‘Blood, Sweat, & Tears’ by BTS.
For me, the best part of the concert was Mackiah’s interaction with the other side of my sign. It said, ‘Day one of making Mackiah my man!’ A quote series of his where he would go up to his members and say, ‘day one of making Na Kamden my man’ or ‘Kyrell my man.’ He read it before laughing and smiling, mouthing back to me, “Day one?” He returned the thumbs up I gave him by nodding and smiling again before looking away.
The concert ended around 9 pm, and they quickly ushered everyone out with only hi-touch, then the everything ticket holders out, and last people with hi-touch and selfie tickets. Hi-touch is exactly what it sounds like: the members stand once again at the table, and you high-five them and just high quickly. If I were to be honest, it was not worth it at all, and I found it just kind of awkward. Not because of the group, but because the premise is just weird.
Lastly, I waited the longest for the selfies! I purchased two, one with my bias Mackiah and the other with my bias wrecker Kyrell. Inside, each member stood in front of a ring light and had a staff member check your phone to make sure you weren’t screen recording and to take your ticket.
When I first got in, Kyrell’s line was short, so I went to his. When I got up there I said “Hi! I don’t care what pose we pick!” He opted for the giant heart pose, then I went to Mackiah’s line and waited. I got up there and said hi, and he greeted me before asking if there was a pose I wanted to do. I told him the pose I wanted, and he agreed before counting down to take the picture.
Overall, this concert has left a lasting impression on me. Ampers&one are truly great performers and made such a short concert feel so long. I am now promoting them like crazy and would recommend anyone going to see them or listening to their next album, ‘Wild & Free’ on April 8th!
