713 Music Hall was filled with butterflies as fans eagerly waited for Whee In to take the stage. Whee In, who debuted in 2014 as a member of K-Pop girl group MAMAMOO, stopped in Houston for the second of two Texas shows on her Whee In The Mood 1st World Tour. This tour marked the singer’s return to the US after MAMAMOO’s 2023 MY CON tour, and while she expressed doubts about being able to sell a performance without her members to help fill the stage, she proved herself more than capable of shining brightly on her own.

Whee In started the show alone on stage illuminated by a single spotlight. Her first song, “I Know I Know I Know (Beyond),” was a power ballad that showcased her signature stable vocals and warm, honey tones. If anything was consistent throughout her performance, it was her ability to put on an impressive vocal performance no matter what, a talent that was perfectly displayed when she followed up her first song with back-to-back dance tracks of “water color” and “Spark.”

While Whee In changed into her second outfit of the night, fans were treated to a VCR of Whee In getting ready for a photoshoot and answering “Either Or” questions. Fans watched Whee In choose between things like “Soju or Wine”, “Heels or Sneakers”, and “Group or Solo.” The video was a unique way for fans to get to know Whee In even when she had to be offstage. Whee In, who wanted to connect with her fans as much as possible, kept her offstage moments to a minimum, adjusting her microphone on stage twice while talking to the crowd.

The second half of the show was marked by a distinct shift in tone. Whee In herself referred to it as a “sexier” stage, where she performed in a shimmering, black bodysuit. Fans were very receptive to the performances of songs like “On The Island” and "Dance 4 You,” which featured sultry vocals and seductive dance moves. This half of the show began with a full version of the song “Deserve,” an interlude in her EP, WHEE. Whee In shared that the full version of the track was a tour exclusive that was made as a gift to fans.

There were two highlights of the night, “17” and “Shh.” “17,” a song that features her fellow MAMAMOO member HWASA, is the most unique song she performed, with a faster tempo and more upbeat nature. The performance was a perfect amalgamation of Whee In’s many talents. The track was filled with high notes that only an experienced vocalist could hit at the same time as she executed a myriad of challenging dance moves. “Shh,” an unreleased song that was performed for the first time on this tour, was a more mature song that heavily utilized her male backup dancers. Whee In sold the performance with her unbelievable charisma, making fans wish the song was available to stream.

Any artist can shout out whatever city they’re in between stages without much thought, but Whee In went the extra mile by showing she genuinely cares about her Houston fans when speaking to the audience. Like many singers that have performed in H-Town in the past, Whee In voiced her love for Houston native Beyoncé, recounting memories of her and her group mates singing “Crazy In Love” while goofing around in the practice room. She spoke about how excited she was to be performing in the hometown of an artist that inspired her so much. In addition to showing love for the city and all it had to offer, she also expressed her concern for fans after the heavy thunderstorms and tornado that hit the city a week prior to her performance. Fans assured her that they were all safe and she said she felt relieved after seeing them all gathered together safely.

Part of the encore included a video showcasing fanart and clips of fans showcasing their love for Whee In and her voice. Some of the fans shown in the video could be spotted in the audience, earning a round of cheers when they appeared on screen. One of those fans was a girl dressed as a radish, a reference to MAMAMOO’s lightstick. She was just one of many fans who dressed up for the show, some of which wore butterfly accessories in reference to the butterfly on the tour poster.

The show did eventually have to end, but Whee In made sure fans enjoyed every minute of the show. She introduced her encore with a VCR of her pretending to be a cat and her backup dancers brought the video to life by leading her onto the stage with cat toys. Whee In kept up the audience’s energy from her first encore song “OHOO” to her last, “Wheee.”

Have you seen Whee In on tour? What was your highlight of the concert? Let us know by leaving a comment below or by reaching out on Instagram or X (Twitter)!

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Edited by Martina Yee

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