There is little in this world that can get in the way of K-pop boy group NCT 127.
For those unaware, NCT serves as the acronym for Neo Culture Technology, with 127 being the longitude of their homebase of Seoul, South Korea. Since selecting the name in hopes of representing their city, the octet has brought a piece of home with them to every show, including to their Prudential Center concert. Their March 2nd performance marked not only the second stop of the group’s Neo City – The Momentum tour, but concurrently, the 100th concert of their career.
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Since their debut in 2016, it’s been impossible to ignore NCT’s presence in the industry. Often scrutinized for making what many consider to be ‘noise music’, they’ve taken these comments in stride. It’s quite admirable—at every corner of their discography, these boys are unabashedly themselves, making electro hip-hop track ‘Gas’ the perfect opener for the night.
Needless to say, it’s always been all gas, no brakes from these gentlemen. They turn it up a notch by following up with ‘Faster’ and ‘Bring the Noize’, both complete with samples of revving engines, shrill whistles, and discordant metal clanking.
It’s truly a pleasure to witness NCT 127 in action. With leader Taeyong and vocalist Jaehyun absent (both currently completing military service), the remaining members face the tasks of filling their shoes and giving a stellar performance, which they fulfill with ease.
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Once the lights go up, members Johnny, Yuta, Doyoung, Jungwoo, Mark, and Haechan struggle to introduce themselves over the sound of cheering fans, christened NCTzens shortly after their debut. NCTzens are a fiercely loyal bunch, and many at the show are accompanied by the octet’s official fanlight, transforming the venue into a sea of neon green.
To many, NCT 127 is blinding neon-green lights, disorienting melodies, and blaring synths; but for every song that demands your attention for its ostentatiousness, there is a song in their discography that is quite possibly the closest you can get to R&B perfection in the K-pop world. The first few bars of ‘Designer’ deceive listeners, and while it could be easily mistaken for yet another hip-hop track, the song swiftly transitions to R&B, teasing at the flip side of their discography.
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A steady vinyl crackle opens ‘Orange Seoul’, a stellar jazz-tinted R&B track that presents the opportunity for both rappers and vocalists to share their talents in earnest. A few songs later, vocalist Doyoung chaffs the crowd for their enjoyment of ‘Sticker’. He’s all smiles, though his teasing is warranted: the song polarizes listeners with a jarring recorder melody, and has consequently become a discography staple.
Fan favorites of the evening include a melodramatic black-and-white film style production of ‘Rain Drop’, and ‘Whiplash’, a song making its return to the stage after a one-off performance in 2018. With a final encore of ‘Dreams Come True’ and ‘Promise You’, the members gather together for their final remarks, expressing their gratitude for being able to celebrate their 100th show with fans that evening.
NCT 127 have always been trailblazers, even if they’ve walked their path alone at times. Over the course of their careers, they have helped to establish a new precedent—one that many have been hesitant to follow. They’re lucky to have found a family in each other, and their bond has only strengthened with time.
It’s imperative to expect the unexpected from NCT: they are mavericks in their own right, and their continued innovation will undoubtedly leave a lasting mark on the industry.
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Words + Photography: Natalia Kabenge
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