K-pop Stray Kids take a stand for creative control at Prudential Center on Maniac tour opener

Here's something you don't see everyday at a K-pop concert: a performer stressing the importance of creative control for the group.

But Bang Chan of the Stray Kids did just that at the group's sold-out Tuesday, June 28, show at the Prudential Center in Newark.

“Ever since our debut, we've always been making our own music, right?” said the frontman. “We think that's really important because if we're going to be onstage, if we're going to be performing, we're going to be singing and dancing, so we should at least be singing and dancing to our own songs!”

The crowd erupted.

The group, whose North American “Maniac” tour returns Prudential Center on Wednesday, June 29, are part of the South Korean JYP Entertainment stable, but they do apparently write a lot of their own music and lyrics.

On Tuesday, these were not eight guys on stage working through dance routines on set pieces. There was a live singing and an extended improvisational segment with a real band.

One group member even discussed what key a song was going to be sung in. Didn’t expect that.

The music for the opening show of the group’s North American tour ranged from EDM to hip-hop to ballads to arena rock - and even a bit of taiko drumming on “Thunderous” and New Jack Swing on “Back Door.” The eight members bring in a lot of different influences to the music.

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Such nuances could easily be lost in the screams, mania, dancing and the dazzling video displays the show included. Stray Kids fan are called “Stays,” and the concept is a welcoming place for those who feel disenfranchised or disaffected with their home circumstances.

The parents who accompanied many of the teen girl fans probably felt like strays in the arena.

Mom and Dad, you could be doing a lot worse.

Secondary market tickets are available for Wednesday's show starting at $99.50 via Ticketmaster.

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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Stray Kids open Maniac tour at sold out Newark NJ Prudential Center