EXO’s Kai Promises Eternity for His Fans
EXO’s Kai brings his “KAION” solo tour to Texas, promising his fans “forever” with them on the stage — and a group comeback.
In 2016, the nine-piece K-pop boy band EXO was set to perform at the Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie, Texas. However, bandmember Kai wasn’t able to join the group due to visa delays. Now, nine years later, he finally gets his moment on the stage at the renamed Texas Trust CU Theatre.
Kai is best known as the main dancer and center visual of EXO, which first debuted as a 12-member South Korean–Chinese boy band in 2012, and its subunit EXO-K. In 2019, he joined fellow EXO member Baekhyun as part of SM Entertainment’s supergroup SuperM, made up of members from some of the company’s other boy groups. A year later, he debuted as a solo artist with his first self-titled EP.
Since returning from his mandatory South Korean military service in February, Kai’s been busy. He’s taken over hosting duties of the variety web series “Changing Majors” on YouTube, made his comeback with the EP “Wait on Me” and its lead single “Adult Swim” in April, accompanied EXO’s main rapper Chanyeol and leader Suho on several stops of the “SMTown Live 2025: The Culture, the Future” tour, performed this summer at the Waterbomb Festival in Seoul, Korea, and embarked on his first world tour “KAION.” After stops around Asia, he wraps up the North American leg, and will have encore performances in Seoul at the end of September.
Sensual, Shy, and Sensitive: A Study of the Self
For Kai’s performance in Texas, there are no bad seats. Though the Texas Trust CU Theatre can hold over 6,000, its very top section is closed off for the night, confining the space to just three main tiered sections that mostly sit on the ground floor. Even the farthest rows feel closer to the stage, making the venue feel more intimate.
Both the venue and stage are on the smaller side, which means most of the production is kept simple. A large screen takes up the background space, with some area for Kai and his six backup dancers to move around in front, but not much else.
As the first VCR, or prerecorded video, builds momentum to Kai’s entrance, moody black and white scenes of the idol play on screen to establish the first section, “Chapter 1: A Stranger in the Mirror.” Kai, dressed in a three-piece suit, sans jacket, stares into a mirror at a man crouching on the ground — another version of himself. Suddenly, the background goes transparent, with black bars indicating a jail cell. A man in a red ensemble heaves under a lone spotlight, his back turned to the audience. Screams erupt as the audience realizes it’s Kai. The screen fades to black and moments later, the entertainer walks on stage in full view.
“Do you know what’s the meaning of my first solo concert, KAION?” Kai asks, pausing to take a break and introduce himself. “KAION is a combination of the word ‘Kai’ and ‘on,’ and in Greek, ‘Kaion’ means ‘eternity.’ There’s a meaning to it, too … Kai on stage is only the beginning of eternity … I want to spend forever with you on the stage and I want to keep that promise with you. After the concert today, you’re going to have to forever stan Kai.”
Over the years, fans have gotten to know Kai’s versatility and personality through his idol performances, acting, and participation as a cast member on several reality and variety shows. While Kai, whose real name is Kim Jongin, is known for his unique visuals and sultry, fierce, and cold stage presence. Off-stage, he’s actually quite introverted, shy, and sensitive.
Kai’s performances and ments (fan interactions in between songs) exhibit this dichotomy, and KAION’s four chapters emphasize his darker and more innocent sides. After “A Stranger in the Mirror” comes “Chapter 2: Reflections of Myself,” with a VCR showing scenes of the idol reading, playing dominoes, and holding and painting peaches — allusions to upcoming performances. Later, he explains, “Just like the theme of KAION, I tried to show you different sides of me … but at the end, all the screams are at the sexy back.” He jokingly adds, “So it makes me really happy, but also a little upset.”
Though the VCR gives off a playful and pure vibe, the following performances are the opposite, radiating sensuality. During “Vanilla,” a slower indie-pop song, Kai wears a green suit and accompanies the music with flowy movements.
While the original “Peaches” features a sweet, dreamy, hip-hop beat, the stage version is pared down to simple chords. Kai incorporates key moves from the video choreography, but adds an even sexier flair to this performance. He leisurely struts around the stage, pausing during certain moments to grab the air or roll his body. In one move, he swiftly falls to the ground on his back and slowly lifts his hips to the sky, which elicits excitement from the crowd.
Kai’s set shows off how he’s the perfect idol. It’s undoubtedly sexy, but with moments where the six-foot entertainer shows off how adorable he is, too. For the introduction of the smooth and groovy “Come In,” he starts his choreography confidently, before turning his hand movements into different hearts for the crowd as the backdrop flashes pink.
“Chapter 3: When All Selves Become One” is probably the most anticipated part of the show for the audience, with the VCR giving a glimpse of what’s to come — a blindfolded, shirtless Kai in a leather jacket and pants being brought to life.
Kai next appears on stage in a similar outfit, with some embellishments — a silver chain and black cap. “This is the last outfit,” he tells the crowd. “So which one is your favorite?” While the crowd gives a lukewarm response to the first red costume, there are louder cheers for the green suit, and even more enthusiasm for the current outfit.
“I went on such a diet to wear that red outfit. The stylist and I talked all night … This is all the [screaming] I get?” He feigns disappointment and asks the crowd to cheer again, which they oblige. “I’m not that happy because it was really forced,” he jokingly accuses. “I already know what’s on your mind! [Anyway,] this is the last outfit. Make sure you take it all in.”
Powerful Performances from EXO’s Main Dancer
Maintaining the stamina to sing and interact with fans for two and a half hours is already such a physical feat; to do so while executing intense choreography as a solo artist is something else. But Kai shows he’s up for the challenge. Throughout the night, he lives up to his main dancer title, putting his all into his show.
Pre-debut, Kai trained as a ballet dancer before moving into hip-hop, and some of that shines through as he moves comfortably across the stage with grace and confidence, putting his whole body into the choreography. He incorporates high jumps and rolls around on the ground, all while maintaining a stable voice.
“KAION” is a demanding show, and Kai uses his ments to catch his breath. After a particularly brutal transition during “Chapter 3,” he crouches in the middle of the stage to recover and hydrate. “I think I’m going to die. I just performed … the section of death,” he says, breathing hard. “Take a break because I need a break. But first, your eyes need to take a break!” He turns away, pretending to zip up his jacket. “Abs have to take a break, too. They gotta relax.”
Kai gets his well-deserved break during “Chapter 4: Welcome to the New Me,” his encore — but not before another dance break. This time, however, his fans are put in the spotlight. As the artist prepares backstage, random attendees are projected onto the big screen and dance along to his challenge videos from social media, trying their best to follow the iconic moves of “Mmmh,” “Adult Swim,” and “Rover.”
What’s Next? Teasing an EXO Reunion
To signal the start of the show, the theater fills with a throwback — EXO-K’s “Moonlight.” EXO-Ls, or EXO fans, show their excitement and sing along to the entirety of the song before the lights dim. Later in the setlist, Kai also incorporates several nods to past EXO performances.
Though several EXO members have had solo comebacks this year and started solo tours of their own, Kai’s travel allows international EXO-Ls outside of Asia to glimpse the band before a highly anticipated (and recently confirmed) group comeback in December once their youngest member Sehun returns from the military.
In between sections, Kai reminisces on the show and the past few months. “Time is just flying by,” he muses. “It’s such a shame, but at the same time, it’s a relief because we have a lot of things packed until next year. Can I give you a little spoiler?” he hints to screams. “Oh, someone already said it — EXO tour, and maybe an album release? And we’ll come back? So you have the most fun today, and we’ll be back very soon.”
As Kai nears the end of his show, he gets sentimental. “It’s been a minute since I did [my] debut …,” he chuckles. “[But] it’s still fresh to me. I did a lot of concerts, but something I felt today, this moment … I’m even more grateful and more happy.” He speaks sincerely, wiping at his eyes while he speaks. While he pauses to find his next words, shouts of “We love you” come from the crowd. “I’m not crying. You think you can make me cry?” he says indignantly before continuing his thought.
“When I first started performing, I only thought about me, me, me,” Kai shares. “And knowing you, meeting you, and making memories with you … it has become us.”
Kai’s final two encore songs are more relaxed, and the only ones that don’t have any dancing. As he sings, there are small signs that the idol is exhausted, but he’s still reluctant to leave his fans. Before his closing song, he pretends to cry and whine. “More than you guys, I think I’m more sad.” He seems to get emotional. Either that or he has something in his eyes, as he explains how precious these memories are to him. The translator interprets his words and he gestures playfully. “I think today, you guys loved me more. It’s really hard to win over me. But next time I’m here, I’m going to love you more. And to check that, you have to be here, right?”
He gets shy again, looking down at the ground as he speaks. “I’m going to go outside and look up at the night sky later. The lightstick you’re holding up now is my star,” he expresses, referring to the sea of Eribongs, EXO’s lightsticks.
Even after he wraps up his final song, Kai lingers on stage and opens his arms to the audience, miming a hug and pat on the head, an unspoken promise that he’ll be back. Next time, hopefully with all his members.
Setlist at Texas Trust CU Theatre
Chapter 1: A Stranger in the Mirror
- Sinner
- Mmmh
- Nothing on Me
- Hello Stranger
- Slidin’
- Ride or Die
Chapter 2: Reflections of Myself
- Vanilla
- Peaches
- Come In
- Adult Swim
- Wait On Me
- Pressure
- Walls Don’t Talk
- Bomba
Chapter 3: When All Selves Become One
- Confession (EXO song)
- Domino
- Reason
- Growl/Tempo/The Eve/Love Shot (EXO medley)
- Rover
Chapter 4: Welcome to the New Me
- Encore: Blue
- Encore: To Be Honest
