Kpopmap
September 6th was on record one of the hottest days in London for 2023 – which does not matter considering how hot it got the moment KARD landed in the Big Smoke for the penultimate stop of their European tour, "Playground 2023".
"Playground" is a signal for carefreeness, joy, and enjoyment and KARD served exactly that – and more. The venue was hot before the four members of one of the most successful co-ed groups in K-Pop hit the stage and we were in for a ride. The queue for their show started at 8 AM in Camden Town, with all the colors of the rainbow in hair and outfits brightening up an already sunny day. Poison green however was the colour of the night, along with the theme of the latest KARD album. The venue was packed and the heat was up even before KARD hit the stage, with people singing along to the lyrics of the songs playing in the background.
When the members entered the scene, the crowd cheered for BM, J.Seph, SoMin, and JiWoo as they took their positions to start off with the very successful hit 'ICKY'. The day before, BM had been teasing the London crowd about singing along with the 'sexy British accent', and the crowd lived up well to the expectation. Singing along every line, the group was welcomed on stage with a bang.
Kpopmap
Kpopmap
Going straight from the lime green light of ICKY to the playful colors of Without You, the members instantly performed the choreography well and the crowd kept cheering. It is remarkable to note that all the photographers and press in the pit were dripping in sweat, so I can only imagine how physically challenging this gig was for the members, who didn’t seem to need to take a breath between the demanding choreographies. SoMin and JiWoo came out in the most glittery and dazzling eye makeup, stealing the show with their different vocal capabilities, while the venue roared every time BM or J.Seph rapped and hit the middle of the stage. As for me, before the second song ended, I was already feeling like I didn’t have enough eyes to look at all of them at the same time.
Kpopmap
Kpopmap
After a warm welcome and a few words from the group, 'Ring The Alarm' came on, once again a crowd-favorite for sing-alongs. Impressively, Hidden Kard (their fandom) did not disappoint – people were singing along, dancing, and screaming, and BM’s demographic survey revealed that the crowd was aged 12 all the way to 50, confirming the wide appeal and diversity that KARD has among their fans. As I walked through different parts of the venue, I did not see a single person look away from the stage – everyone’s eyes were peeled on the dynamic performances.
Up until the first VCR break, the quartet performed their most dynamic songs. After getting a glimpse of a few of the members’ photos – and an explanation behind them – we were then treated to individual unit songs. Among the fan – and my personal – favorites, 'Fxxk you' for the girls’ unit and 'Been That Boy' for the boys’ unit, KARD showcased the group’s individual talent and colours. Even though BM was met with screams that could be heard all the way to South London, it was not until J.Seph hit the stage to perform that I was fully aware of how loud the fans can be for the duo. Once again, it is impressive to see such different people work so well in the group, and more so witness how talented they are in a more intimate and individual setting.
The heat was turned up even more as KARD then came on stage to showcase individual sexy dances – and JiWoo stole the show with her incredible dance performance – making the crowd scream ecstatically. The common theme for London was also to throw bras on stage, so the members took advantage of the props to incorporate them into their performances. Famously, the “please do not upload on Twitter (X)” moment came for BM when he sang 'ICKY' in a British accent, marking the moment of the night.
Kpopmap
Lastly, it was time for dessert, as the fan-favorite and recently viral challenge song 'CAKE' came on stage, and the hot-o-meter could not go any higher. Sexy dance is a natural for KARD without being overwhelming – it is just enough to serve heat and power as the members performed and the crowd not only sang along but also danced along to the sensual rhythm. As we thought that the night couldn’t get any hotter, KARD then performed a very wet 'Dumb Litty', showering the crowd in much-needed water, only to prove to everyone how much they can make the temperature rise just with their presence in the room.
The concert ended with the group performing 'ICKY' once more – and how could they not? One time is definitely not enough. This time KARD were wearing their merch and sang along with the audience that followed along to the dance – which BM was kind enough to teach us just before the song began. SoMin also came out with the Union Jack and the group showed their appreciation for the British crowd which waited 6 whole years to see their favourites on stage. With a promise to return and with the Scoville Scale exploding, KARD finished their show in the most dynamic way. Despite having a full two-hour restless show, it felt like it was gone in a heartbeat.
Most importantly, the security escorted the fans out of the venue singing 'CAKE' long after the song was performed – and this was definitely a win. Amazing show, 10/10, would recommend.
Press unlimited hearts and cheer for the artist!
Comments