On June 16, 2024, K-pop sensation ITZY rocked the Toyota Music Factory in Irving, Texas, for their 2nd world tour.

ITZY is a girl group under JYP Entertainment and is made up of five members: Chaeryeong, Yuna, Lia, Ryujin, and Yeji. However, the group performed as four due to Lia being on hiatus. Following the release of their "Born to Be" album in January 2024, the group announced their tour, and I was thrilled that Irving was included as a tour stop.

Having visited the Toyota Music Factory four times before, I can attest that the venue consistently delivers positive experiences. The staff is notably helpful and friendly. The venue is organized and easy to navigate, and seeing as this was the second time ITZY performed at the Toyota Music Factory, I understand why they came back.

Although I’ve been a fan of ITZY since they debuted in 2019, this was my first time seeing them live, and I am pleased to say that the show was even better than I imagined.

The show opened with their title track "Born to Be," setting a vibrant tone that showcased ITZY's evolving concept. They followed with energetic performances of "RACER" and "KIDDING ME," pausing to greet the audience warmly and express their gratitude.

ITZY had such thoughtful things to say to the fans in attendance and expressed their appreciation for everyone being there and cheering them on. Chaeryeong said, “We were looking forward to seeing you guys again, and we’re back,” and then Yuna asked, “Midzy, did you miss us a lot?”

I thought it was very refreshing as the girls talked more about why they decided to name their concert after their title track. Yeji stated, “We named our tour 'Born to Be.' Yeah, I think you can already feel our strong energy from the title, and we will show you who ITZY are and what ITZY do throughout this concert.” Ryujin said, “It is very obvious to people that 'Born to Be' was the first song on this tour because we wanted to show you what we got from the first stage; judging from your cheers, I think we made the right decision.”

After a few more songs, the girls shifted into their solo stages, where Chaeryeong performed "Mine," Ryujin performed "Run Away," Yuna performed "Yet, But," and Yeji performed "Crown On My Head”. The solos showed the unique sound that each girl had and really made me appreciate the members individually. It showcased how the girls come together and bring something different and exciting when they perform. 

Despite the smaller stage compared to other venues on their tour, ITZY's outfits, choreography, vocals, backup dancers, and live band were flawless, despite the extreme heat to create a larger-than-life experience.

Although I'm biased towards Chaeryeong and Yeji, all members delivered standout performances. Their collective energy and excitement were consistent throughout the show. The girls moved to another stage where they played some of their older music and fan-favorite songs like "LOCO" and "Not Shy".

Before starting the last stage of their show, the backup dancers and band got a moment to shine as the girls went off stage to prepare for the next performance. Seeing the backup dancers perform on their own allowed them to have their moment on the stage and it was truly amazing to see how much they add to the performances. The live band was also incredible, as each band member got a solo. As someone who knows how to play instruments and grew up around musicians, they were the real deal. The techniques they used were very difficult and it was amazing to see how they brought ITZY’s songs to life. 

As the concert drew to a close, ITZY performed two final songs before returning for an encore, leaving a lasting impression on both seasoned fans and newcomers like my sister, who became an instant Ryujin fan by the end of the night.

Reflecting on the concert and reviewing my videos, it's evident why ITZY ranks among the best K-pop girl groups globally. Their professionalism, talent, stage presence, and camaraderie were evident in every moment, showcasing their dedication to their music and their fans, MIDZYS.

Given the opportunity, I would eagerly attend another ITZY concert, and I wholeheartedly recommend experiencing their performances firsthand.