Since her debut, hannah bahng has built a devoted fanbase. It didn’t take long for her to return to the U.S. to reunite with her fans — also known as blues. Following The Abysmal Tour last year, she’s back on the road with an even larger tour spanning more than 20 cities across North America. The Misunderstood World Tour supports her latest EP, The Misunderstood.
The last time hannah visited New York, she performed at a small, intimate venue downtown. This time, she took the stage at the iconic Irving Plaza to accommodate a larger audience. Outside, the venue’s marquee lit up with her name and the words “SOLD OUT” — one of the many sold-out shows of this tour.
Before the show began, attendees passed the time browsing merch and snapping photos with hannah’s cardboard cutout. As the stage crew prepared the set, a neon Zymmie sign lit up the wall — the mascot character hannah designed herself.
From the moment hannah stepped on stage to perform her single “what never lived,” she left the audience speechless with her rich, soulful vocals. Accompanied by guitarist Liam Fennell and drummer Puma, the performance gained even greater musical depth. Picking up her guitar from its stand, hannah joined Liam for the song’s solo. Since the show took place the night before Halloween, she chatted about braving the rainy weather to shop for her costume. She mentioned how nice it was to see her “beautiful blues” again, and gave an honorary shout-out to those dressed as Pokémon characters.
Just as she did on her previous tour, hannah transformed the concert into an interactive experience for her fans. She invited her friend Sarah Roh onstage and asked her to choose the “perfect blue” from the crowd, ultimately selecting a lucky fan dressed as Blastoise. hannah appeared in an Eevee onesie (the Halloween costume she’d mentioned earlier) and the two danced together to the Pokémon theme song, creating a fun and unforgettable moment for everyone in attendance.
More surprises followed as hannah performed two covers — Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time” and Billie Eilish’s “WILDFLOWER” — each infused with her own unique style. She also gave fans a special treat by teasing an unreleased track titled “Malibu,” hinting at a new project that will eventually appear on a future album.
From one song to the next, the air grew thick with emotion. As the show neared its end, hannah poured her heart into a powerful rendition of “MISUNDERSTOOD.” When the final notes faded, the crowd began chanting her name. Minutes later, she returned to the stage to close with her debut single “perfect blues,” as the disco ball cast shimmering light over the dancing audience.
From her breathtaking performances to her lighthearted Pokémon banter, hannah’s show was a truly joyful experience for her blues. The tour is far from over, so make sure to grab tickets to a show near you while they last!
Photos and words by Angela Leung
