`Texas has been a steadily growing market for KPOP music, with many acts visiting Dallas on tours. That being said, it was only a matter of time before Houston received some of the KPOP love and 12 member boy group Topp Dogg was happy to spread it for the city’s first showcase, the first in a series of three US shows.
Fans began lining up outside Bayou Music Center in downtown Houston well before the door opened at 6:30. You could definitely feel the excitement in the air, with fans displaying handmade banners and signs to photographers. Several fans also prepared for a flashmob, dancing to some of Topp Dogg’s more popular songs. An actual line was formed around 5:45, however the setting sun and dropping temperature did not damper anyone’s spirits.
Once inside, the seating filled up quickly, with most of the available seats filled. The show started with a short video, followed by Topp Dogg running out to their newest song, Annie. This cute 90’s throwback song was filled with lots of quick movements and energy from the boys. From there, they introduced themselves as a group and then individually, expressing their excitement of being in America for the first time.
The rest of the night was filled with fun and games with some fans getting to go on stage and play with the boys themselves. The members hand-picked fans for the onstage game, charades. The set list included solo songs from members Jenissi and Kidoh, who recently released his first solo ep. The dancers of the group also got to display their talents in a cover of Talk Dirty by Jason Derulo, featuring vocals from leader P-Goon and rapper A-tom.
After the show fans with VIP seating were treated to a poster signing and/or a hi-touch. Each of the boys tried their best to personalize the experience for each fan, despite the language barrier.
Even if you are not a fan of Topp Dogg, this showcase is still important for the future of Kpop in the Houston area. The willingness of an audience to show up for a group in a different city shows promoters that there is a demand to be met. However, after attending this showcase it would hard to not be a fan of Topp Dogg. Topp Dogg promised they would come back soon and from the response of the crowd, they would be welcomed back with open arms.
Photos: B. Tse Photography
Sponsor: Jazzy Group
— Ke’Anna Bullard
User Review
( votes)Related Articles
Rain’s Still Raining: Encore Tour—My Unforgettable K-pop Adventure
Why Rain? Why Now? As a longtime K-pop fan, Rain has always been my gold standard for performance and charisma. Since his debut in 2003, he’s set the bar for what it means to be a “power idol”—and at 41, he’s still redefining what’s... Read More
Celebrating Culture and Community at Houston’s 2025 Night Market
Credits for the video: Music – “Evening Melodies” by MsBlink “Carmina Burana – O Fortuna” by Carl Orff (The song is permitted for non-commercial use under license Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported... Read More
RM’s Historic APEC Speech – Pop Culture Meets Diplomacy
Late last week, BTS leader RM (Kim Namjoon) delivered a historic keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, becoming the first K-pop artist to address the global economic forum. His remarks centered on culture, creativity, and... Read More
First American Faces of K-Pop: Korean-American Idols Who Bridged Two Worlds
Before K-pop became a worldwide phenomenon, a few Korean-American artists were already helping bridge the gap between Korea and the United States. Their fluency in English, Western influences, and cross-cultural appeal helped shape the early sound... Read More
Sixteen Years of Celebration: Honoring the Tradition of Korean Festival Houston
Courtesy of KFestHouston on Instagram Did you know that there are well over a dozen Korean interest festivals across the United States annually? It’s certainly a positive tradition and something that contributed to my growing interest in South... Read More
5 Best Historical Kdramas
Embark on an epic journey through five of the most compelling historical K-dramas. These popular series blend intense political drama and sweeping romance with fresh fantasy elements like time-travel. Prepare to be captivated by the fate of kings,... Read More
5 Best School K-Dramas
School settings in Korean dramas have always provided the perfect stage for youthful romance, intense rivalry, and thought-provoking social commentary. Over the years, several titles have captured both domestic and global audiences, blending... Read More
Who is Cortis? – HYBE’s Latest Boy Group
CORTIS is a newly debuted 5-member K-pop boy group under BigHit Music (HYBE) that launched with the pre-single “GO!” and officially debuted on August 18, 2025, with the digital single “What You Want.” The group name — short for “Color... Read More
Spoiler-Free Review: KPOPPED – A Cross-Cultural Collaboration at Its Core
PSY performance on the KPOPPED stage in Seoul, S. Korea Courtesy of KPOPPED and Apple TV+ Apple TV+’s KPOPPED premiered on August 29, 2025, as a celebration of crosscultural music, bringing together K-pop groups, Western music icons, and fresh... Read More
Leave a Reply