I had the pleasure of seeing XLOV at their London performance at the Troxy, a venue plagued with bad reviews from K-Pop fans. But the group, consisting of members Wumuti, Rui, Haru and Hyun, brought it to life with their electrifying personalities and performances.

The performance started with a series of dance covers by O.D.C – Oraceon Dance Crew. A London-based troupe of young, talented performers. They really warmed the crowd with their selection of covers, including Gnarly by Katseye, GO! by Cortis and Rizz by XLOV. This had the crowd primed and ready to dance and scream along with the group, who graced the stage not too long after. This was something I enjoyed as I’m so used to waiting 30-40 minutes between openers and the main act.

This hasty start may be due to some operational issues this stop had due to lost luggage and delays in setting up due to that loss. Fans had spent their time in the queue documenting information they gleaned from staff via social media on the reasons why there were delays in fan benefits, which were rescheduled for after the show, with some fans leaving the venue around 2am instead of the 11pm they had expected.

The group took to the stage at 8:30pm to cheers so loud I could feel the floor beneath me vibrate. I have never seen a group of fans so excited to see their idols, but I am not surprised, as XLOV has been breaking down the restrictive walls of the ‘K-Pop model’. Especially in terms of gender norms and identity, building them a strong crowd who resonate with the group’s message of acceptance, much like the early days GAGA.

They started the show with their viral hit Rizz, fans chanting along as the group showcased their sharp and precise choreography with incredibly steady vocals throughout.

The show continued with a few short chatty moments where we got to really know the group and all the members’ personalities, as they introduced themselves and shared highlights from their tour stops. One memorable moment was when the group divided the crowd to do a cheering competition with Haru and Wumuti cheering on one half of the crowd and Rui and Hyun the other. Admittedly, I was in the middle, so I cheered for both, but the members stunned and showed off to elicit louder cheers, ending in a group pose, which was such a slay. Safe to say, the crowd went wild.

Hyun and Wumuti sang a beautiful cover of Diamonds by Rihanna, whilst Rui and Haru did a dance cover for their unit stages, giving the members a chance to show off to the max. The group also did a well-received cover of Lovesick Girls by BlackPink.

Whilst the covers were great, the group’s vocals shone with their performances of Kiss and Say Goodbye and 1 of Love. But their dance captivated audiences with 1 & Only standing out at the London show as they had the Choreographer, Cullen Neale, join them on stage to showcase before jumping into their full set.

Their performance was full of energy and joy, and you could really tell the group was meant to be on stage.  My only gripe, I wish there were screens so that those of us further away could see the group when they did floor work and just generally.

Now you know how I found it, I wanted to share how fans found it.

Simone (@siimone_olivia on Instagram)

Seeing XLOV live in concert was truly amazing. They are boundary pushing in every sense, and you can clearly tell how hard they work and how deeply they love what they do. Even though there were a few setbacks that were out of their control, they handled everything professionally and still delivered a show I’ll never forget. They ooze power and energy from start to finish, and I left the concert feeling completely fulfilled and inspired!

Kimyi (@itskimforkimyi on Instagram)

They were amazing and are smashing it. I don’t think their dance performances work for standing-only venues like Troxy. Sooo much floor work missed.

Emilia (@emijb55 on Instagram)

XLOV created an energetic and dynamic atmosphere. From acrobatic choreo to chilled easy listening covers. They brought the house down for sure!

Jamie (@crazy_happy_dreamer on Instagram)

I liked the energy of the show. I felt like it was way more physical than other K-pop shows. There was a lot more talking and interaction with the crowd, which made it feel more personal. The moment with the choreography was really cute. I also liked the opening act and the variety of songs they did.

I also wanted to do a little review of Troxy as I’ve never graced the venue before.

Firstly, the queues were long and a little chaotic, but when they started letting fans in, they went down quickly. I had low expectations of the venue from what I’ve been told by other fans, and well, the queue is my only upside. 

Being a smaller venue, the further back you were, the less you could see. Unlike the OVO Arena, where seats and standing are on a sloped ground so fans can see no matter how far back they are, I stood a few rows behind the barricade separating the early comers and GA standing, and I could not see a thing. I enjoyed the show through other people’s phones who were closer to the barricade. I think this will be a venue I avoid in the future or aim for seats. Now that’s done, the show.