Concert Recap: KARD Bring Out Their Wild KARD in Chicago
On August 16, co-ed group KARD returned to Chicago for their third U.S. tour, Wild KARD, at the House of Blues. While the four membersโBM, Somin, Jiwoo, and J.Sephโare no strangers to the Windy City, it was clear, from the moment the lights dimmed and the howling screams increased, that this performance could and would shake the table for KARD and the fans alike.
Act I: Old Favorites, New Confidence
โKARD is in Chicago!โ rapper BM howled as the lights went up, revealing the group in all its glory. It was the moment everyone had waited for as they opened the show with KARDโs claim to fame, โOh NaNa.โ Although the group has always carried itself with swagger since appearing on the scene in 2016, the difference in confidence levels was starkly different.
Throughout the first set of the night, KARD started strong, playing classics from their early days to more current tracks, seamlessly weaving in and out of each dynamic number. From โDonโt Recall,โ โYou In Me,โ and โBomb Bomb,โ the set list is stacked and brilliantly executed the groupโs journey from rookies to seasoned performers.
Each memberโs distinctive personality was also displayed from the get-go as they fed into the crowdโs enthusiasm. BM was the fun-loving one, always ready to make the most out of his time on stage and keep the fans energized. Sominโs on-stage persona was effortlessly flirtatious and feminineโshe embodied cotton candy sweetness with a pinch of sensuality. Jiwoo, the youngest of the bunch, exuded style and prowess as she cooly nailed the choreography. Finally, J.Seph, who recently completed his Korean military service, probably had the most visible transformation since the groupโs first U.S. showcase in 2017.
Sporting a short haircut and eyebrow piercing, J.Sephโs lively presence (and acts of fan service) instantly shot through the roof the minute he stepped out. Eagerly waving to each person he made eye contact with, blowing kisses, sending playful winksโitโs evident this tour was something he had been anticipating for a long time, especially in Chicago.
As they ended the first set with fan-favorite, โDumb Litty,โ cheers erupted from the crowd, who shouted out their favorite parts of the song. At this point, excitement was at an all-time high, and it was already hard to see how the show could get any better; until it did.
Act II: Break It Down
The first few songs of the next set were all about showcasing KARD individually and in pairs. BM performed his latest solo singles, โSTRANGERSโ and โBad Intentions,โ Jiwoo sang a cover of โMy Medicineโ by The Pretty Reckless, and Somin and J.Seph partnered up to cover โBam Bamโ by Camila Cabello and Ed Sheeran. While each performance was captivating in its own way, it also allowed the audience to experience the members on a more personal level with styles that best represent their character and personality.
Although both BM and J.Seph are rappers and excel in hip-hop, BM was ultimately the one to showcase the genre during his solo stage. With maximum charisma, hype, and trendy dance moves, itโs no wonder heโs so likable and popular among K-pop fans across various fandoms.
Jiwoo, on the other hand, took on her alt-rock persona with conviction as she sauntered across the stage in โMy Medicine.โ Although the singer has yet to release an official solo track, itโs safe to say rock would be her calling. Lastly, J.Seph and Sominโs stage was as bright and summery as the Chicago weather that dayโnot a cloud in sight for either of them.
One of KARDโs most admiring qualities is their tight-knit bond and how well they bounce off each other. J.Seph and Somin were one of the best examples of the night, with Somin praising her partnerโs vocal skills as itโs rare to hear him sing. Itโs moments like these that make it so easy to adore a group, even more than you did walking into the venue.
After the solo stages, the group went on to perform together again with B-side tracks from their latest album, Re:, and conducted the coveted volume level test with the Chicago audience. โWeโve been taking this [sound level meter] around with us every city of the tour,โ BM announced as if he were a game show host. โAnd what it does is it measures the volume of the room.โ
Itโs a friendly competition the group started with this tour, specifically. The goal is to see which city can scream the loudest and earn the number one spot on KARDโs list of 2022 tour dates. As of August 16โbefore Chicagoโs attemptโthe top spot was held by Atlanta, which the Chicago crowd booed almost instantly. To BMโs amusement, he asked, โEven if itโs the same fandom?โ
They proceeded with the contest and within seconds, BMโs face said it all. โAtlanta hit number one with 126.3, and tonight, you guys hit 127.1 on the first try,โ he said. But for Chicago, that wasnโt enough, so he offered a second attempt to further the gap between the Windy City and Atlanta. In the end, Chicago beat Atlantaโs score with 128.1โbecoming the loudest U.S. city on the Hidden KARD tour (at the time).
After their next few performances, โGo Baby,โ and โGUNSHOT,โ the group gave their closing remarks on how they felt about this tour compared to the last. โI think in the previous tour, we were so in our own heads because of uncertainty and fear, but I feel like, on this tour, weโre really able to live in the moment,โ BM stated. โThat being said, donโt let your standards and ambitions cloud you and steal from you the gratitude of a beautiful moment.โ
While Somin and Jiwoo expressed their gratitude for the support, J.Seph spoke of his love for the city in general. โChicago is actually really familiar to me because one of my favorite musicals is Chicago,โ he confessed. โWhen I was in the military and watching clips of [the musical], I used to wonder all the time what I would look and what my fans would look like if I return to Chicago.โ He then ended with, โYou guys are so much more beautiful than anything I couldโve ever imagined, and every single one of you is so precious to us.โ
On that note, this segment ended with a performance of their latest single, โRing The Alarm,โ before the group bowed out.
Act III: The Encore and Finale of the Night
But in true K-pop fashion, the night is never over without an encoreโor three. The members traded in their individualistic tops for the official Wild KARD tour tee, creating a more uniform look among the group. As they sang through one of their new songs, โGood Love,โ โRide on the wind,โ and an encore of โDumb Litty,โ each of the KARD members interacted with the crowd more intimately than before. Grabbing fansโ phones to take selfies and videos, pouring out whole water bottles onto the first few rows, dancing and blowing more kisses, KARD had already won the hearts of new and old fans alike.
Truthfully, no one member stood out among the rest. The best thing about KARD is they each complement one another, bringing out the best in themselves as a whole and individually. And KARD has never felt more complete or whole as they did on this tourโtheyโre the ones worth showing up for.
Listen to KARDโs album, Re:, available on Spotify and Apple Music.
For more concert recaps, check out our recap of 2022 K-POP MASTERZ in Manila here!
