Some of you might recognize the name HWASA, if not- no worries! It came up very briefly in part 1 of my poetry rants. Anyway, she’s a singer who I enjoy listening to, and I’m so happy that I was able to watch her. I still can’t even register that it actually happened. But here’s the story!

It all began with a text…

The 17th of February my friend sends me an ecstatic text- Hwasa was performing in Boston.

Of course- I said yes and the tickets were bought. It started off with just the two of us, but then I remembered another friend. See, two years ago, at the same theater, a different KPOP group had performed there: AESPA. I had gone to watch AESPA with this friend, but remembered how disappointed Friend 2 was that I hadn’t told her about it.

So this time, I asked Friend 2 if she wanted to come. This friend has liked Hwasa for longer than I have(she introduced me to Hwasa), and she agreed pretty quickly. Friend 1 bought the tickets, but there was a small issue. She couldn’t buy 3 at once, only 4. So she bought 4, and decided to bring along a friend of her own, Friend 3.

I want to make something clear- we all knew each other from high school. We went to the same place together. But, Friend 1 was much closer to Friend 3, and I was closer to 2… I’m making this more confusing than it needs to be.

Those were the original plans… and this is when things started to get a little confusing. Friend 3 had a coworker, this coworker also loved Hwasa and had conveniently already bought tickets. And this coworker had 3 friends that they wanted to go with as well. It’s already super hectic now in the group chat as we’re deciding what to eat.

Friend 1 made the final call - KChicken at 4:30. A Korean and Japanese restaurant close to the auditorium that we could eat at. But the schedule didn’t work out so it was pushed to 5:30. No big deal!

They made plans to carpool in the chat. Basically, the coworker was going to drive everyone from her house. Friends 1 and 3 were going with her as well. We all live roughly an hour or less away from Boston, except for Friend 2. Friend 2 lives right outside of Boston, she takes the commuter rail every day. And that was her plan- commuter rail to Boston to eat with us.

I have my own car, and trust issues. ( ͡ಥ ͜ʖ ͡ಥ) So I, kind of rudely thinking about it, just didn’t answer the “what are your travel plans” question. While I appreciate the offer to drive me in, I don’t know this coworker, and I also consider my car to be my happy place.

It’s the day of- Friend 2 takes the commuter rail and sends a text saying she got to Boston really early. I began my drive to Boston. While I was entering the city I get a text, “Hey, so-and-so says she won’t be getting to my place until 5:30 so we’re going to be a little late”.

Almost right after, Friend 2 calls me up asking if I’m nearby. I assure her, I’m already in the city and looking for parking. And I made it clear- we’re going to go and eat without them. I’m not standing around waiting for them to have fun, we can just have fun together.

We walked around Sephora together, and then gradually made our way to KChicken. We waited outside for a little before a table opened up and we sat down to eat!

The rest of the group did eventually arrive. Friend 1 thought ahead and placed a mobile order, and Friend 3 followed suit. The two of them grabbed some spare chairs to sit with us. But when the group arrived there were no tables, and already a que for others to sit and eat before them. So they left.

I was already familiar with the concert venue, I’ve gone there before when Aespa came to Boston. We went inside and got our seats. I wore red, because Hwasa’s favorite color is red. (I didn’t have to look this up, you can TELL)

My goal was to be noticed. My friends thought I meant like a flashlight on me and she calls me to the stage. No, that’s crazy. (But if it did happen…). What I meant, was to be a sparkle of red in a sea of people and she goes, “Huh, that’s a fan”. That’s more realistic. I think I accomplished it?

There were people dressed like the Lorax and she absolutely noticed them. Haha, she laughed really hard at that. Anyway!

Of course I screamed. A lot, I knew most of the songs as well. Haha…. can you tell I really like listening to this woman?

While I enjoyed the show, there were a few things that upset me a little. First, she did not sell out. She got very close! But there were still seats and places that had not sold which was truly saddening. Next, Hwasa doesn’t actually have that many songs. Well, kind of.

Let me explain as best as I can.

Hwasa is currently touring as a solo artist, but in her music career as a singer she was in girl group for much longer than her time as a soloist. Therefore, most of her songs that she has access to are from her time as a member in the group. She does have solo songs, but absolutely not enough to fill up an entire hour plus long concert.

I’m not sure why her solo songs from her girl group weren’t included. I find some of them quite beautiful, and would have done a great job to fill the concert with more songs to choose from. But alas, that’s not what they did.

So, how did they fill the time to make up for the lack of song library? Videos, and a medley.

Of course Hwasa needs to catch her breath. And there were outfit changes as well. So it’s unavoidable that she had to pause to go backstage. Especially since she’s in a solo concert and can’t rest while someone else is performing a solo.

So a video would play on the screens, this happened at the Aespa concert. But these videos were kind of… long? About 10 minutes?

Anyway, she used some of the concert time to engage with fans as well. She walked through the first floor and hugged some of the fans. She asked questions and had chats. She made jokes about how she “Went to Harvard” that one was super funny.

I lost it like crazy when my favorite song played - Maria. I kinda ruined the recordings of that song oops. But that song was the one that made everyone in the venue stand up and lose it.

She does her encore songs and then we are all slapped in the face with post concert depression. My friends and I try to snag quick pictures then make our way out.

Friend 1 and 3 tried to get in contact with the group they had arrived with. But no answer, absolute silence. So I step up and offer to drive them to where they parked their car. I’m not leaving them alone in the city at night!

When they text the group that I’m driving them, that’s when they suddenly can respond back. I think they had planned to go somewhere else after the concert but didn’t bring it up. That’s fine, but my friends wanted to go home!

My trust issues saved us. In not relying on someone else to be my mode of transportation, I was able to drive my two buddies back to where their cars were parked and make sure they were safe late into the night.

I loved finally being able to see Hwasa for real. I have been dreaming of seeing her perform just once for… oh man it’s been 7 years now. Oops. But, it was just a fun reminder that even when we grow up and become adults we can still take the time to have fun and satisfy the little kid hiding inside all of us.

Allow me to open up the floor- what concerts have you gone to? What was the story? Did you go with others or by yourself?