First, my proof. Because, for some reason, people sometimes think I'm lying just to validate my critique of groups that aren't Mamamoo or NJZ.
Photos taken by yours truly.
Moving on to those candid thoughts I mentioned, I deliberated not only if I would post about this but how, and I decided to keep it short and simple, since I have a pretty big football game to lock into in a bit.
My friends were eager to hear my take after the concert was done, and I decided to break it down into Block A and Block B.
During Block A, I thought aespa had incredible visuals and the excitement of the legitimately sold out arena was palpable the moment they took the stage. The stage itself wasn't extremely elaborate, but it effectively added some flash and flair to their performances with some pretty neat visual effects (other than that AWFUL Uncanny Valley virtual idol performance during one of the intermissions).
...But I thought I would have to come here and roast aespa. For the entirety of Block A, I don't think there were any live vocals. I don't care if a music show is lipsynced, but when I pay good money for good seats at a concert, I expect some live vocals. I enjoyed the spectacle of the stages, aespa's insane visuals and the electric atmosphere, but the lack of live singing, especially when I know how well they can sing, was starting to get to me.
However, Block B saved the day. When they came out in the pink hoodies and started performing Spicy, the energy took a total 180. From that point on, I'd say they were 95% live. When Winter (my bias) belted high notes, I could see the strain in her neck from the effort. They performed so well in Block B that it still puzzles me why SM or their Performance Director wouldn't let them cook during the first half.
I won't get an answer to that question, but the second half was enough to make those questions mostly irrelevant background noise.
All in all, I was asked by my friends where I would rank the concert compared to all the ones I've been to.
I excluded the Mamamoo concerts, since I personally don't think it's fair (and they asked me to do so as well), so aespa actually makes my top 3. Which is impressive, considering my frustration with the first half and the weird a.i. intermission that stole Illusion and/or Savage stages from me (wtf SM).
Winter and Ningning shined the most individually, and I really don't think it was close. No shade to the other two members, but Winter was a lot more...engaged with the crowd than I expected? And Ningning had her game face on for the entire show, which I actually respected. She understood the mission the whole night and delivered. She's now my second favorite member just from how she ate up the stage.
That's not to say Karina or Giselle were lacking to me, but those two just particularly stood out. And trust me, I know idol stage presence when I see it.
Anyway, this ended up not being all that short, but I think I at least kept it simple.
Just be on notice, fellow girl group stans, I will put my money where my digital mouth is, and go see your favorites perform to confirm if all the hyping up you do is legitimate 
Oh thank 
