LIVE REVIEW: IVE at Moody Center
Photo Courtesy of Elina Carrasco
AUSTIN, TX | MOODY CENTER | JULY 29TH, 2026 | BY ERIC MARTINEZ
Embarking on the SHOW WHAT I AM tour, global superstars IVE made their Austin debut at The Moody Center. IVE, consisting of Gaeul, An Yujin, Rei, Jang Wonyoung, Liz, and Leeseo, took a much fiercer and more confident approach to their performances in support of the release of the group’s second studio album, Revive+.
At every turn, DIVE (IVE’s official fandom name) were suited in outfits paying homage to the group’s previous eras, all while grasping their IHABONG (IVE’s official lightstick) as the final accessory to their looks. After not attending a K-Pop concert in years, it was nostalgic to return to a fan culture that feels very different from that of other live shows. Soon enough, a carefully crafted VCR hit the stage screen, leaving fans in awe as each member was introduced, culminating in a burst of confetti.
With the crowd riled up, IVE strutted to the center stage as “GOTCHA (Baddest Eros)” echoed throughout the venue. My initial perception of the group shifted entirely, not even a few songs into their setlist, as they were showing a side of themselves I had never seen before. Once the performances started, it seemed like there was no end as the girls gave it their all and more with each song that followed. Liz, who I can confidently claim as my bias wrecker, caught my attention the most with her powerhouse vocals throughout “BLACKHOLE,” the lead single off their latest album. With much of K-Pop built around its choreography and visuals, hearing each member shine vocally made their performance all the more impressive. Shortly after, An Yujin shouted, “Austin DIVE! Make some noise!” as the idol and her fellow members made their return to the front stage for “My Satisfaction.” The performance went beyond expectations; their backup dancers had veiled themselves in long black capes to complement the dark and hellish take on the song before the group exited the stage, unbeknownst to me, preparing for their solo performances.
Opening with a subunit VCR, Jang Wonyoung, Rei, and Liz took turns controlling the stage with their solo songs, “8”, “In Your Heart”, and “Unreal”. The remaining half of the group, consisting of Gaeul, Leeseo, and An Yujin, returned shortly, performing their solo songs, “Odd”, “Super ICY”, and “Force”. Each song not only complemented them as performers, but also their personalities outside of idol life. Of the six, I was the most drawn to Rei’s “In Your Heart”, which may come off a bit skewed given that she is my bias! The stage production fit the cute aesthetic down to a T, and seeing Rei have fun on stage with the other dancers made watching her perform even more enjoyable. Ultimately, however, each member having their own dedicated song, all released within Revive+, being performed rather than a basic cover made this portion of the concert so much more unique. Beyond the spectacle, the solo stages gave DIVE a clearer look at the individuality within IVE. Without a doubt, this was my favorite segment of the night and rightfully made fans realize what SHOW WHAT I AM intended to accomplish.
Continuing through their setlist, IVE managed to find the time to take a moment to properly introduce themselves. The group also used this time to express their thoughts about the concert thus far and the expectations they had in mind, considering this was their first time in Austin! With mellow tracks like “WOW” and “Off The Record,” this served as a breather for everyone as the group shared intimate moments with DIVE throughout the venue. After the short break, the group strutted to the center stage once again, leading to one of their most trend-worthy songs, “LOVE DIVE,” a personal favorite of mine, before abruptly exiting the stage with their goodbyes. Their exit then ushered the venue into DIVE TIME, a camera-panning roulette moment for fans to show off their dance skills. This highlighted just how important fans are to an artist’s energy throughout the show, as the uproar from each fan moment fueled the group to return with a triumphant encore with hits including “SUPERNOVA LOVE Ft. David Guetta,” “KITSCH,” and an all-time fan favorite, “After LIKE.”
As the concert was nearing its end, IVE expressed their gratitude to Austin DIVE one last time, sharing how much of a memorable time they had in the city. The group mentioned how much more confident they felt with this tour as opposed to their first, but after the previous two hours, that definitely went without saying. With one final bow, the night was over. I had such an exhilarating experience, and I can’t thank IVE enough for making my first K-Pop concert in more than 3 years as amazing as it was.
Make sure to check out IVE’s latest studio album, Revive+, and don’t miss the opportunity to see them next time they’re on tour!
