CORTIS adjusts setlist after criticism of ‘Put Your Phone Down’ tour performance
CORTIS adjusted their setlist on the second day of the ‘PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN’ tour in Incheon after fans criticized the first day’s concert for being short and repetitive.
The tour’s initial dates were held on June 18 and 19 at the Inspire Arena in Yeongjongdo, Incheon. On the first day, attendees complained the show lasted just 1 hour and 40 minutes, had no encore, and included minimal ments from the members.
Fans were particularly upset about song repetition. The setlist reportedly featured “Young Creator Crew” played five times and “REDRED” four times. Other tracks like “What You Want,” “GO!,” and “TNT” were also performed multiple times.
The source of the problem was the group’s limited discography. CORTIS currently has 12 released songs, totaling less than 30 minutes of music. Rather than include cover stages, the group repeated their own tracks, which drew backlash from attendees.
On the second day, CORTIS made immediate changes. According to audience reviews, the group performed seven fan-requested songs as an encore: “Mention Me,” “REDRED,” “ACAI,” “JoyRide,” “Young Creator Crew,” “GO!,” and “What You Want.” They also extended their ments.
CORTIS told fans:
“‘Put Your Phone Down’ is a spirit,”
Even after the changes, some repetition remained because of the small catalog.
Fan reactions were mixed. Some welcomed the quick improvements. Others questioned why the adjustments weren’t made for the first day’s performance.
Another criticism focused on the group’s repeated emphasis on creating a “mosh pit” atmosphere. During the “TNT” stage, dancers were placed in the audience to simulate a mosh pit. The mosh pit concept was mentioned twice on the fan communication platform Glow, raising concerns that the group was attempting to dictate the audience’s mood.
CORTIS debuted in August of last year with their first mini album ‘COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES‘ and followed up with ‘GREENGREEN‘ in May. Their agency has branded them as a “Young Creator Crew” that self-produces. With “REDRED” gaining popularity, expectations for the first concert were high.
CORTIS said:
“We are grateful and happy to be able to fill such a large stage less than a year after our debut. We exist because we perform. We cannot create such good culture and stages without you. Please stay with us.”
Member Geonho also previously commented on a fan platform:
“Thank you for creating our own culture with us.”
Following the final Incheon concert, CORTIS‘s James shared a message on Weverse thanking fans for their participation:
“Today, those who ran until their legs cramped, those who screamed until they were breathless, those who danced or just shook, those who met new friends and headbanged, those who enjoyed the mosh pit, those who threw confetti with the brightest smiles in the world, those whose videos were shaky and showed the back of someone’s head on the way home, and finally, those who enjoyed every moment with open hearts and eye contact—thank you very, very much, and let’s continue this tour with this momentum.”
CORTIS will continue global activities, including a solo stage at Lollapalooza Chicago from July 31 to August 1, where they will be the only K-pop boy group performing. Their North American tour starts on August 4 in Toronto, Canada. They will celebrate their first anniversary with a ‘PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN’ Birthday Party on August 22-23 at Korea University Hwajeong Gymnasium in Seoul.