CLOSE YOUR EYES Turned Halloween in Chicago Into a Party

Picture a concert crowd where a sea of glowing lightsticks bobs between fox ears, witch hats, and full costumes. That was the scene in Chicago on October 31st, when K-pop group CLOSE YOUR EYES brought their first world tour, Beyond Your Eyes, to town. Fans had also organized a project that put a banner in the hands of every person in the building, so the whole room lit up as one.

If you’re new to the group, here’s the quick version. CLOSE YOUR EYES formed in 2025 on JTBC’s survival show Project 7, where contestants compete for a spot in a debut lineup. The seven members are Jeon Minwook, Ma Jingxiang, Jang Yeojun, Kim Sungmin, Song Seungho, Kenshin, and Seo Kyoungbae. They won their first music show trophy just days after debuting and many other accolades, some well-known ones including rookie of the year nominations at the Golden Disc Awards and the Hanteo Music Awards.

Their main concept is being “genreless,” meaning no two of their albums sound alike. Their newest release, 256th Note, even leans on jazz improvisation, which is rare in K-pop. The question going in was whether that restless approach would hold together on a stage. In Chicago, it did.

The night began with a black-and-white visualizer of the members, a hint at the monochrome theme and the outfit changes to come. Then came “Close Your Eyes,” a soft acoustic song about meeting again, which landed like a message to the fans. The lights dimmed, and a spotlight found one singer at a time before widening to the whole group. It’s an easy introduction for anyone seeing them for the first time.

From there, the group jumped straight into “X,” a groovier, more upbeat track. The setlist pulled from across their catalog, and the contrast between songs was the point. The choreography matched, with each member bringing a different energy. Kenshin slipped in quick viral TikTok moves while the others grinned and teased him. Ma Jingxiang, fresh off his rap verse, struck a memorable pose in the center. 

The best choreography idea was timing. In many formations, each member picked up the movement a half step after the one before him, so it rippled through the group like a round sung in canon. It echoed the jazzy feel of the new album, especially during the B-sides, and the crowd reacted to every wave. 

Between outfit changes, a video called “GENRE FOR CLOSER,” a nod to their fandom name, played on screen. The members sit in a circle in office attire, debating which genre to tackle next. Seungho kicks things off. Yeojun and Minwook toss out ideas like a detective game or social criticism, and Sungmin adds a joke about stealing Kenshin’s cheesecake. They settle on romance with a twist: each member plays a different kind of romantic lead from film and TV.

That led into a run of lighthearted songs, including “Snowy Summer,” a nostalgic track the members performed in holiday outfits. Earlier, they’d joked about trying Chicago’s famous pizza and thanked fans for spending Halloween with them. And just when the night seemed to be over, they ran back out for a surprise encore of fan favorite “SOB.”

A “genreless” group can sound scattered if it’s not done right. But listening to them live, it was clear that the costumes, the rippling choreography, and the running jokes gave all those styles a personality to hang on. CLOSE YOUR EYES made those genres feel like one show, effortlessly.

Groups from survival shows often work on borrowed time. And forming as a global project boy group, CLOSE YOUR EYES are reported to have a three-year deal. For those reasons, nights like this are worth catching while you can.