ROOKIE K-POP GIRL GROUP TRI.BE MAKE THEIR MARK WITH THEIR FIRST U.S. TOUR, “TRI.BE VIDA LOCA.”
BY Mimi Calhoun
K-Pop girl group TRI.BE have been on the road in the U.S. with their tour, “TRI.BE VIDA LOCA.” With 17 stops in 17 different cities in less than one month, the seven-member group under TR Entertainment have been keeping busy. The tour started on June 6, 2023 in Orlando, FL, with stops ranging from Los Angeles, CA., Omaha, NE, and even Columbus, Ohio.
Although it may seem strange for a K-Pop group to come to the midwest, let alone Ohio, there has been a rise of concerts from the genre in the state. Though it was canceled, boy group VERIVERY scheduled a stop in Cleveland in December 2021 and girl group PIXY performed in Columbus in April 2023. As K-Pop has become increasingly popular over the years, the opportunity for artists to make their way into the Western music scene have followed.
TRI.BE performed at the KING OF CLUBS in Columbus on June 16, 2023. While the venue is relatively small, it was the right size for the up and coming group. In K-Pop, a group or artist is still considered a “rookie” for about two years after its debut. TRI.BE is on the cusp of leaving its rookie status, as the group debuted on Feb. 17, 2021.
The group’s name comes from combining the word “TRI,” as an abbreviation for the word “triangle,” which is a symbol of perfection, and “BE,” which means existence. When put together, the meaning is supposed to be “perfect existence.” TRI.BE debuted with the single album “DA LOCA,” which incorporates pop, afrobeats, funk and dancehall elements. Currently, six of the seven members are on the U.S. tour, as Jinha has been on hiatus since May 31, 2022 due to health issues.
Even though the group is still relatively new and still working its way up in both the K-Pop genre and music world, it's evident that the members love what they do and care about their fans. While waiting outside to be let into the venue, all six members along with their staff came out to take a group picture about two hours before the concert was supposed to begin. The girls greeted fans with big smiles and eager waves, as they said ‘hellos’ in English before throwing hand hearts once they finished. Although it was a brief encounter that didn’t last more than 10 minutes, it was memorable to be so close to an idol.
The actual concert itself lasted a little over an hour and a half, which included a short interruption after two fans threw some lightsticks on stage. Luckily none of the members or anyone else got hurt, but there was a moment where fans wondered if the show would continue due to the disruption happening so close to the end. Thankfully, the concert was able to conclude without any problems and left fans wanting more.
For a group that can still be considered new, TRI.BE performed 14 original songs with some quick covers of other K-Pop group songs such as, “The Real” by ATEEZ, “Shoot Out” by Monsta X and “Next Level” by AESPA. The stamina and energy of the girls was impressive and most of the concert showcased each of their intricate dances and live vocals with little breaks in between. With the dedication towards fans and passion for performing, there’s no stopping TRI.BE and what it will accomplish next.
