ROLLING QUARTZ Stand Up U.S. & Canada Tour 2025 May 22, 2025 Seattle, WA Review
ROLLING QUARTZ
Rolling Quartz made their triumphant return to Seattle last night, the first U.S. city they played on their previous 2023 tour. Over the span of two years, they have increased their fanbase (known as Diadems) exponentially, so much so that they performed in the much bigger El Corazon venue yesterday compared to its smaller sister venue The Funhouse next door.
A rocking five piece band from South Korea, Rolling Quartz are paving a path in the U.S. and Canada with this current tour. Many of the tours by Asian artists (with a few exceptions) are more like promotional tours. They play a handful of dates and then they’re either back home or off to another country. Not Rolling Quartz. This tour is a true testament to their passion for rock music and for bringing it to the masses here in the U.S. and Canada. The tour started on March 30th and is set to end in Vancouver, B.C. on May 23rd. They are playing a full blown, drive-the-van-and-trailer-to-the-next-city, type of tour. How very rock and roll!
The venue was already filled with VIP paying members once I arrived inside more than an hour before show time. As is the case with many concerts in their home countries throughout Asia, concerts tend to start early to be respectful to everyone’s responsibilities the next day (such as work). I actually love this perspective. I wish more bands would consider this for some of their own shows/tours.
At 7pm Pacific, each band member walked on stage, greeted the crowd with a smile and friendly wave, and went to their respective spots on stage.
Jayoung (Korean: 자영) – vocals; Hyunjung (현정) – guitar; Iree (아이리) – guitar; Arem (아름) – bass; and Yeongeun (영은) – drums.
Kicking off with a shortened version of, “The Star Spangled Banner”, the band then launched into their music video/single for, “Kickstart My Heart”, cover song by Motley Crue. By this point the venue had filled in considerably and the energy was contagious. The Diadems were chanting, hollering, clapping, and moving to the music.
The set list was filled with many original Rolling Quartz songs such as, “Higher”, “Blaze”, “Holler” (a personal favorite of mine), “Victory”, and “RE:BOLD”. There were also a select set of cover songs mixed in from such artists as Lady Gaga, Nickleback, and My Chemical Romance.
Each member had a solo spot to highlight their skills on each of their respective instruments. I love that they incorporate this into their setlist. I do wish moving forward though that they would reconsider how they do the guitar solo spots (three members are playing while two members are still on stage with nothing to do other than dance and bob their heads). While it’s fun and cute, I would rather they have a moment to take a break off stage while the other members perform. I think it would be more rock and roll that way. But, that’s just a very, very, minor quibble.
What I noticed this time compared to two years ago was just how confident the band was on stage. While they were great last time, they were so much more at ease last night and it showed in their playing and their performance. They were much more active on stage as a group now as well as their interactions with the Diadems. This long tour is really going to add to their growing reputation as an amazing live band. And live is where it's at for rock bands.
Rolling Quartz planted many seeds on this U.S. and Canada 2025 tour. Hopefully, they will return soon so they can see those seeds blossom into even more Diadems at each and every one of their shows around the world.
Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts Media
(This review was written by a credentialed member of the media who is an actual human being. No Artificial Intelligence programs were used in its creation.)
Connect with Eclectic Arts Media: Social Media and Email Links
Stand Up U.S. & Canada Tour 2025
El Corazon
Seattle, WA
Thursday - May 22, 2025
El Corazon
Seattle, WA
Thursday - May 22, 2025
Thank You For The Support Video From Rolling Quartz!
All Photos Generously Provided Courtesy of Iron Mike Savoia.
Journey (Tour Photographer): www.journeymusic.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/SavoiaPhotographyLive
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/SavoiaPhotographyLive
KISW 99.9FM Blog: www.audacy.com/kisw/authors/iron-mike-savoia
On The Blue Cruises (since 2014): www.otblue.com
(Rolling Quartz Live in Seattle, WA on May 22, 2025. Photo courtesy of Iron Mike Savoia)
Rolling Quartz made their triumphant return to Seattle last night, the first U.S. city they played on their previous 2023 tour. Over the span of two years, they have increased their fanbase (known as Diadems) exponentially, so much so that they performed in the much bigger El Corazon venue yesterday compared to its smaller sister venue The Funhouse next door.
A rocking five piece band from South Korea, Rolling Quartz are paving a path in the U.S. and Canada with this current tour. Many of the tours by Asian artists (with a few exceptions) are more like promotional tours. They play a handful of dates and then they’re either back home or off to another country. Not Rolling Quartz. This tour is a true testament to their passion for rock music and for bringing it to the masses here in the U.S. and Canada. The tour started on March 30th and is set to end in Vancouver, B.C. on May 23rd. They are playing a full blown, drive-the-van-and-trailer-to-the-next-city, type of tour. How very rock and roll!
The venue was already filled with VIP paying members once I arrived inside more than an hour before show time. As is the case with many concerts in their home countries throughout Asia, concerts tend to start early to be respectful to everyone’s responsibilities the next day (such as work). I actually love this perspective. I wish more bands would consider this for some of their own shows/tours.
At 7pm Pacific, each band member walked on stage, greeted the crowd with a smile and friendly wave, and went to their respective spots on stage.
Jayoung (Korean: 자영) – vocals; Hyunjung (현정) – guitar; Iree (아이리) – guitar; Arem (아름) – bass; and Yeongeun (영은) – drums.
Kicking off with a shortened version of, “The Star Spangled Banner”, the band then launched into their music video/single for, “Kickstart My Heart”, cover song by Motley Crue. By this point the venue had filled in considerably and the energy was contagious. The Diadems were chanting, hollering, clapping, and moving to the music.
The set list was filled with many original Rolling Quartz songs such as, “Higher”, “Blaze”, “Holler” (a personal favorite of mine), “Victory”, and “RE:BOLD”. There were also a select set of cover songs mixed in from such artists as Lady Gaga, Nickleback, and My Chemical Romance.
Each member had a solo spot to highlight their skills on each of their respective instruments. I love that they incorporate this into their setlist. I do wish moving forward though that they would reconsider how they do the guitar solo spots (three members are playing while two members are still on stage with nothing to do other than dance and bob their heads). While it’s fun and cute, I would rather they have a moment to take a break off stage while the other members perform. I think it would be more rock and roll that way. But, that’s just a very, very, minor quibble.
What I noticed this time compared to two years ago was just how confident the band was on stage. While they were great last time, they were so much more at ease last night and it showed in their playing and their performance. They were much more active on stage as a group now as well as their interactions with the Diadems. This long tour is really going to add to their growing reputation as an amazing live band. And live is where it's at for rock bands.
Rolling Quartz planted many seeds on this U.S. and Canada 2025 tour. Hopefully, they will return soon so they can see those seeds blossom into even more Diadems at each and every one of their shows around the world.
Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts Media
(This review was written by a credentialed member of the media who is an actual human being. No Artificial Intelligence programs were used in its creation.)
Connect with Eclectic Arts Media: Social Media and Email Links
(Rolling Quartz Live in Seattle, WA on May 22, 2025. All band member photos courtesy of Iron Mike Savoia)
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