How One Concert Accidentally Changed My Life – A ONE OK ROCK 2023 Tour Experience

So, ONE OK ROCK—one of my all-time favorite bands—just dropped their newest album, DETOX, and it is so good it practically melted my brain the moment it hit my playlist. I could go on about my obsession with it (and trust me, I will, in another post), but before I spiral into that, I want to talk about how my obsession with this band truly started.

All because of one concert.

I had always listened to ONE OK ROCK, but never really listened. You know the type—where their songs randomly pop up on your playlist, you vibe to The Beginning because of Rurouni Kenshin, and you hum along to Wherever You Are without even realizing it. That was me—casually aware, never fully invested. The kind of fan who confidently says, “Yeah, I like them,” despite only knowing about three songs and constantly mixing up the names of Ryota and Tomoya.

And then… 2023 happened.

It all started with one fateful DM from a friend:
“Hey, I have an extra ticket for ONE OK ROCK in Jakarta. You in?”

At that moment, I had two choices:
✔ Be responsible, save money, and politely decline.
✔ Completely ignore logic, say YOLO, and go.

Obviously, I chose chaos.

Little did I know that one impulsive decision would send me down a rabbit hole of obsession, endless playlist loops, and an alarming number of concert ticket purchases. Because this wasn’t just a concert—it was a life-changing event.

And this is the story of how a so-called “casual fan” got absolutely wrecked by ONE OK ROCK—one epic live performance at a time.

The Great Ticket Dilemma

Originally, the Jakarta stop for Luxury Disease Tour 2023 was supposed to be a one-day event, but because OOR fans don’t play around, the tickets sold out so fast that they added a second day. That left me with yet another decision to make:

• Option A: Accept my friend’s offer to go to Day 1 (Friday), which was already sold out.
• Option B: Buy a ticket for Day 2 (Saturday), which still has tickets available.

Logically, Day 2 seemed like the easier choice—it was on the weekend, meaning no stress about work, and I wouldn’t feel rushed. But then I remembered one very important detail: I had no one to go with.

And let’s be real—going alone when you’re not even that invested in a band yet? That’s a different level of dedication I simply did not have at the time. So, I made the only rational decision: stick with my best friend and go on Day 1.

I mean, I liked ONE OK ROCK, but I wasn’t at the level where I’d go full solo warrior mode for them. (Spoiler: that would soon change.)

Preparing for Battle (a.k.a. The Concert Setlist Deep Dive)

Since I had somehow committed myself to this concert, I figured I should at least pretend to be prepared. So, I did what any responsible fake fan would do:

✔ Listened to their newest album, Luxury Disease
✔ Went to Setlist.fm and compiled a playlist based on their recent setlists.
✔ Put the playlist on repeat like my life depended on it.

For one whole month, this playlist became my daily soundtrack. I played it while commuting, working, showering, and possibly even in my sleep. Not only did I get familiar with the new tracks, but I also started rediscovering their older songs.

That’s when Gravity hit me—literally and emotionally.

I fell hard for this song. The buildup, the emotion, Taka’s and Satoshi’s vocals—perfection. But there was just one problem: it was a Japan-only album track. Meaning? Zero chance of it being on the Jakarta setlist.

Did that stop me from hoping? Of course not.

Concert Day: The Calm Before the Emotional Storm

By the time concert day arrived, I thought I was ready.

Sure, I hadn’t memorized all the lyrics, but I figured I’d at least be able to blend in with the ONE OK ROCKers.

I was wrong.

Because the thing about thinking you’re ready for a ONE OK ROCK concert… is that you’re never actually ready.

#takaisnotyoongi and the Great Festival A Strategy

Since it was a workday, my best friend and I took our sweet time getting to the venue—Beach City International Stadium (BCIS). There was no rush. No frantic scrambling for front-row spots. No elaborate battle plans to secure a barricade view.

Because, as we jokingly reminded ourselves:

“Taka is not Yoongi.”

For context, we both considered ourselves devoted ARMY (BTS fanbase). Earlier that year, we had gone to two of Min Yoongi/SUGA/Agust D’s concerts, and BTS members’ concerts require military-level preparation, fast reflexes, and sometimes divine intervention just to get a glimpse of your bias.

But for ONE OK ROCK? We told ourselves we were just casually attending. Just here for the experience. Standing in the back of Festival A was totally fine. We weren’t that invested. (Spoiler: We were lying to ourselves.)

So, we arrived at a reasonable hour, grabbed some snacks, and chilled at the back of Festival A, casually waiting for the concert to start.

The Moment I Realized I Was Not Ready for This

At exactly 8 PM, the lights dimmed, the LED screens flashed to life, and the first notes of Wonder hit the air.

And that was the moment I realized—

I had grossly underestimated ONE OK ROCK.

See, I had never really bothered to watch their live performances on YouTube before (rookie mistake). I knew their songs, but I had no idea how insane their concerts were.

✔ The energy? Unreal.
✔ The crowd? Absolutely feral.
✔ The band? Mind-blowingly good.

Taka’s voice was somehow even better live, and his stage presence was insane—he knew exactly how to control the crowd. The entire band was so full of energy, moving non-stop, hyping everyone up.

And the fans? They weren’t just vibing—they were screaming every lyric like their lives depended on it.

By the time they launched into Save Yourself, my casual fan status was dangling by a thread.

A Singalong, A Surprise, and A Life-Changing Moment

One of the best parts of the concert was how interactive it was.

• During Your Tears Are Mine, they put the lyrics on the LED screen, and suddenly, the entire hall became an emotional phone flashlight-lit choir session. It was a moment.
• The acoustic set was stunning, and the band knew exactly how to bring the emotions up and down at the perfect moments.
• The setlist was already amazing, but then came the moment that truly wrecked me.

Near the end of the concert, after we had jumped, screamed, and nearly lost our voices to Stand Out Fit In, someone in the crowd suddenly shouted:

“WE ARE!”

Taka heard it, smirked, and said:

“Well, we’re gonna prove how much we love you guys. We didn’t rehearse this, but we can try it… chill chill….You guys sing it.”

And then—

The intro for WE ARE started playing.

At this point, the entire stadium lost its collective mind.

It was not on the setlist for the previous tour stops, so we never expected it. And yet, here it was, and we got to sing it as a choir, screaming every word back at the band.

It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime concert moments—the kind that sticks with you forever.

And that’s when it hit me.

I wasn’t just casually enjoying this concert.

I was completely, undeniably, hopelessly hooked.

The Night of Existential Crisis (a.k.a. Buying a Second Ticket)

After the final song, sweaty, exhausted, and completely emotionally wrecked, I opened my phone with one thought in my mind:

I need to see this again.

So, I did what any rational person would do—I immediately checked the website for Day 2 tickets.

And then I hesitated.

Because logically speaking:

1. I had already seen the concert.
2. It was the same setlist.
3. I would have to go alone.
4. I would be spending more money.

But emotionally speaking:

1. I DID NOT CARE.
2. IT WAS THAT GOOD.
3. WHO EVEN NEEDS LOGIC.

I tried to justify it by telling myself, “Hey, you’ve done this before. Going to basically the same concert time and time again for Yoongi and online BTS concerts”

But this wasn’t BTS. This was ONE OK ROCK. A band I supposedly wasn’t obsessed with.

…And yet, here I was. About to buy another ticket.

And that’s when I realized—

I was no longer a casual listener.

So, I did it.

I impulsively bought another ticket for Day 2. Festival A.

And little did I know—that was just the beginning.

Day 2: Fully Converted, Fully Committed

On day 2 I was prepared. That one-month playlist grind? Effective. I knew the songs, based on day 1, the lyrics of the songs actually were already ingrained in my memory (Japanese still tripped me up, but hey), and I was invested.

Remember how I said I didn’t need to be front row? Yeah, scratch that.

I did exactly what I said I wouldn’t do on day 1. I joined the five-hour pre-queue. Arrived at 2 PM. Lined up at 3 PM. Hundreds of people were already ahead of me.

Since I was alone, I had to plan strategically—no bathroom breaks, minimal drinking. But one hour before doors opened, desperation kicked in. I begged a staff member to let me run to the toilet and hold my spot.

Bless you, kind usher lady. You are the real MVP.

A Different Perspective, Front Row Realities: The Good, The Bad, and The People Filming a Netflix Special

Being near the stage was a completely different experience.

On Day 1, standing at the back, I saw everything—the way the lights hit the crowd, the synchronized hand gestures and jumping, the sheer power of thousands of people moving as one. It was cinematic.

On Day 2, I saw sweat.

Taka’s sweat.

Every expression, every interaction, every mic flip—up close and personal. I had officially entered main character mode.

And just when I thought the night couldn’t get any wilder—We Are was suddenly on the setlist.

Did they add it after Jakarta Day 1? Or We Are on day 1 was actually intentional?  Who knows. Did the entire crowd lose their minds? Absolutely.

The choir-like singalong hit just as hard, maybe even harder. People were screaming every lyric like it was the national anthem.

At this point, I wasn’t just singing—I was exorcising my soul through every lyric.

One thing I didn’t love?

People in the front row holding their phones way above their heads, blocking everyone behind them. Like, you’re literally at the barricade. What are you filming for? A netflix documentary?

Look, I get people wanting memories. I’m literally one of those people who needs fanvids to keep reliving the moment. I thrive on blurry concert clips with questionable audio quality.

But if you’re already at the front row… why is eye level not enough?

Why must you hold your phone as high as your parents’ expectations?

Please, let the rest of us see Taka’s sweat in peace.

That aside, the concert was just as fiery as Day 1, but this time—I was in it.

Jumping. Screaming. Losing my voice. Every song hit differently. Every moment felt even more electric.

And you know what?

I even knew which parts required crowd participation.

Real One Ok Rocker behavior, obviously.

The Inevitable Post-Concert Crisis

Then, Wasted Nights played.

Encore time. Wherever You Are. 

The dreaded Post-Concert Depression (PCD) began settling in.

So, naturally, I did the only logical thing—

I checked their South East Asia tour dates.

The problem? I was now dangerously invested.

I didn’t just want to watch this band again—I needed to. But logic (and my bank account) screamed no. I had just spent money on two concerts in a row. Surely, that was enough?

But here’s the thing about ONE OK ROCK: once they get you, they get you.

And that’s when it hit me—, I wasn’t just a casual fan anymore. I stan them hard. 

And I knew, deep in my heart…

This wouldn’t be my last ONE OK ROCK concert.

Because, well… that same year, in December, I somehow found myself at another OOR concert in the neighbouring country. 

But that is a story for another post

Moral of the Story:

Casual fans? Never safe.
ONE OK ROCK? Always lethal.
Bank account? Regretfully suffering.