KIRE: ‘The Kid Who Flew’ From Taiwan to LA
Taiwanese pop-R&B and hip-hop artist KIRE took the stage at the Moroccan Lounge in Los Angeles on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, as part of his The Kid Who Flew World Tour Ch. 1. The night was filled with a mix of sensuality, energy, and interactive moments, blending music, comedy, and even a bit of matchmaking.
Photo Cr: Aliyah Hinckley
The evening kicked off with a VIP meet-and-greet, where fans had the chance to meet KIRE, take photos with him, and share their excitement for the night ahead. As the crowd continued to file in, R&B singer Chloe Tang, accompanied by DJ Tima Dee, took the stage to open the show. Tang’s sultry, soulful melodies quickly set the mood, with the audience clearly vibing to her smooth sound.
Photo Cr: Aliyah Hinckley
Before performing her track “2.0,” Tang got the crowd involved by teaching them a series of gestures to go along with the chorus, which they eagerly followed. The song, an empowering anthem for the new era and new mentality, resonated deeply with the audience. The lyrics "You like the old me but I killed that hoe / Leave a couple roses on her tombstone" felt like a powerful declaration of growth and transformation. During the performance, Tang threw roses to the audience during those lyrics, embodying the song’s sentiment of rebirth and confidence.
Photo Cr: Aliyah Hinckley
As she performed “PRIMAL,” Tang's sultry presence captivated the crowd. At the end of Tang’s set, a fan in the crowd came forward to hand her flowers. The moment was met with an affectionate “awww” from the crowd, a sweet acknowledgment, capturing the genuine warmth and admiration that filled the room.
Photo Cr: Aliyah Hinckley
After the show, Tang greeted fans and sold candles she had personally made with a photograph of her on each. As a fun bonus, she gave away homemade beef jerky to anyone who stopped by, adding a unique, personal touch to the experience.
The night set the tone for what was to come with KIRE, as fans eagerly anticipated the headliner’s performance. But for that moment, Chloe Tang had more than earned the crowd’s admiration and love with her sultry and alluring vocals during her intimate set.
Photo Cr: Aliyah Hinckley
KIRE came onto the stage with high energy, performing his track “Sky” — a sweet, melodic song that immediately set the tone for the night. As the crowd got into the rhythm, he transitioned into “Yes No Maybe,” breaking into dance, doing the Dougie, which kept the momentum going. The audience cheered along, fully immersed in the performance. Throughout the night, KIRE’s DJ Evy added an extra layer to the show by playing various pre-recorded sounds that enhanced the atmosphere. For example, when the energy peaked and things got a little too freaky, the DJ would play a sound saying "Daddy Chill!" adding to the fun and heightening the laughter in the room, much like a drummer punctuating a punchline after a good joke.
Photo Cr: Aliyah Hinckley
As a fun surprise, KIRE gave out his merch necklace and a ring to two lucky fans who got his questions correct, making them the envy of the crowd. KIRE explained that the ring is called a crown ring, and “It’s to remind you that you, yourself, inside of you, each one of you, is a king, is a queen. Okay. Know your worth. Never let anybody talk you down. Alright!” These moments of personal connection were balanced with KIRE’s humor, which kept the audience laughing. Between songs, he shared some personal tidbits, saying, “I told you, I’m not like this. I like to stay at home and read books,” which made the crowd chuckle as they got to see a more down-to-earth side of the artist compared to his sensual performances on stage. But as KIRE is seen on social media he shares openly that down-to-earth and candid side of himself all the time. He also mentioned he enjoys spending time with his cats and watching anime.
KIRE’s humorous banter continued throughout the concert, making the concert feel as much like a comedy show as a musical performance. “Why am I talking so much?,” KIRE laughed, acknowledging that he'd been cracking jokes and chatting with the crowd for much of the night, checking the time to make sure he didn’t go over it. It was clear that the back-and-forth with fans was as much a part of the experience as the music itself.
The night took an exciting turn when KIRE performed an unreleased track titled “Comet.” The crowd was buzzing with excitement to hear something fresh, and the new song didn’t disappoint. Another new song he performed was “Flaunt,” a carefree, upbeat hip-hop track that had the crowd moving. Later in the set, he performed “l.s.d,” which had fans moving to its sultry and hypnotic beats, perfect for getting lost in the rhythm.
There was a sudden burst of barking from the audience at one point, and KIRE, noticing the commotion, laughed and asked, “Why do we have dogs in the house?” This led to KIRE singing “who let the dogs out” gaining a response from the crowd as they shouted, “Who, who, who, who, who?,” and additionally, he went on to sing, “who let the cats out.”
Throughout the night KIRE interacted with fans, responded to their questions and shoutouts, and he knew exactly how to respond and what the fans would love. He noticed a fan was on a Facetime call. He grabbed the phone and was shocked to find the fan was cooking while watching the show. KIRE laughed, then went on to say you’re getting a free show so he put the phone at a lower angle below his stomach saying, “This that free show,” gaining “ooh’s” and laughter from the crowd.
The night was full of lighthearted moments, and KIRE’s charisma and humor brought fans closer to him. At one point, he invited multiple fans onstage for a sensual, Magic Mike-esque performance. One fan was handcuffed to the mic stand, and another had a leash clipped to his collar, creating a playful and intimate moment that felt spontaneous and fun. When KIRE brought another fan up and noticed the crowd’s attention shifting to him, he jokingly scolded them, creating a funny and playful moment that had the crowd in uproarious laughter. KIRE even took on a bit of matchmaking, bringing attention to the chemistry between the fans and teasing them in the most entertaining way.
One of the most touching moments of the night came when KIRE invited a fan, Jessica, onstage after sharing a heartfelt backstory. Before the song started, he shared with the audience that he had met Jessica earlier during the VIP meet-and-greet, her story and interaction with him had stayed with him. Jessica suffers from a condition – face paralysis – that prevents her from smiling fully, and she had shared her story with KIRE in a way that deeply resonated with him. Jessica said, “I had avoided doing a lot of meet-and-greets because I’m still a little self-conscious about not being able to physically give a smile, meaning showing my teeth, and I had explained that to him. I’m like ‘please don’t think I’m being rude but I can’t smile, but you can smile for me. If you can give me the smile, that’s all I want, that’s all I need.’” Jessica’s words clearly touched KIRE, who held her hand and smiled for her in a moment she described as "the most amazing thing ever."
Photo Cr: Aliyah Hinckley
“But I never imagined that he would call me up on stage. That was definitely the icing on the cake. I’m still processing Friday night. I really still am.” The emotional exchange was a beautiful testament to the connection KIRE fosters with his fans, turning a simple interaction into a truly unforgettable moment for Jessica.
Photo Cr: Aliyah Hinckley
Towards the end of the show, KIRE kept the energy high, jumping around singing to “like that X4,” throwing rolled-up posters into the crowd for fans to catch. KIRE performed his debut song called “美 (Beautiful),” a track he explained the title means ‘beautiful’ in Chinese, and in Japanese, the word beautiful can be pronounced like his name kirei (綺麗). The song, filled with melodic layers, showcased a softer, more introspective side of his artistry. One of his favorite songs to perform, “don’t stop,” came next, and the crowd sang along passionately.
As the night wrapped up, KIRE reflected on the incredible energy in LA. He went on to Houston for the YAR (Young Asians Represent) Music Festival and is planning to perform in London and return home to Taiwan. The night was a perfect blend of music, laughter, and sweet moments that left everyone feeling connected to KIRE and the music they shared.