Live Review: The Volunteers at Jangchung Arena
by Vy Le | September 22nd, 2026
Via @the__volunteers
The Volunteers just wrapped up their three-night show, Our Life Is A Constant Western Film, in Seoul last weekend, and I was lucky enough to catch the last one.
The Volunteers is a three-piece band made up of vocalist and front person Baek Yerin, guitarist Jonny, and drummer Chiheon. They released their third full-length album, Our Life Is A Constant Western Film, on September 14, then followed it up with a three-night run at Jangchung Arena in Seoul.
Via @the__volunteers
I've been a fan of Baek Yerin since 2018, before the band even existed, so seeing them live has been on my bucket list for a long time. I went to the final show on the 20th, and it didn't disappoint.
This was my first concert in Seoul, so a few things were different from what I'm used to in the US. Physical tickets are still a thing here. To pick yours up, you have to show your ID, and the staff asks you a few questions about yourself to make sure you're actually the person who bought it. I got to the venue two hours early, expecting long lines for tickets and merch, but there was barely anyone in either one. Most of the popular merch was already sold out, but I still managed to grab a t-shirt and a sticker pack.
Doors opened an hour before showtime, and they let us in at 5:00 PM on the dot. Another thing that surprised me was that there was no bag check or metal detector, which I've gotten used to at pretty much every show I've been to in the US, Singapore, and Vietnam. Jangchung is an arena, so it's spacious, but it's not so big that you can't see anything from the upper sections. Before the show, staff walked around holding signs saying no photos or videos from that moment until the encore. And they mean it. If they catch you trying to take pictures of the stage, even before the show starts, they'll tell you to put your phone down. Loudly.
The show kicked off around 6:05 with a video of a desert. Then the music started, and the band members came out one at a time and started playing. They opened with four songs from the new album: "That's My Girl," "White Truck," "happysad," and "Angels." Out of those four, "happysad" stood out the most to me. I'd noticed before the show that they were using a fog machine to create haze, but I didn't think much of it until this song. The haze mixed with the teal lighting looked like a real-life Lightroom preset, and honestly, I've never seen anything like it.
Via @the__volunteers
As for the music, Baek Yerin amazed me every time she sang. She sounded so much like the recordings that I might've thought she was lip-syncing if it weren't for a few tiny slip-ups. Hearing songs I've loved for years performed live was such an amazing feeling. I love the contrast between Yerin's soft vocals and the heavily distorted guitar. I got really emotional, especially during "Summer." The lyrics hit me so hard in that moment.
“Don't you let me slip away
When I fight for silly things
Don't show your back to me
When we fall down together
Don't you let me get away
When I pretend to be OK
Promise I'll be true to you”
My one regret is that I didn't buy tickets for two nights instead of one. I just wish I could see the show again.