Kalai Chik
While still in their pre-debut phase, K.A.R.D performed in Vancouver, Toronto, Chicago, and Houston before rounding off their North American tour in Los Angeles. The co-ed K-pop group took the internet by storm with their addictive songs and hypnotic, synchronized choreography. Despite no full-length album or broadcast performances on Korean television, K.A.R.D has proven their popularity with millions of views on their music videos and now, a North American Tour. In short, the group has definitely redefined the meaning of “debut.” Even though they were internally weary from their quick tour, K.A.R.D made sure to bring their end their final stop with a bang.
At first glance, it’s hard to imagine a budding group with few songs in their repertoire to hold an hour and a half slot, but they did. They opened with the English version of their latest song “Rumor” to the crowd’s deafening screams, which nearly overpowered the speakers.
The group split up into duo performances with the ladies, Somin and Jiwoo, rocking their cover of Ariana Grande’s “Side to Side.” Notably, their performance radiated with a different energetic aura compared to their male counterparts, which could be attributed to their previous experience: Somin previously debuted as part of two other groups and Jiwoo was a longtime FNC Entertainment trainee. This is not to say the men were lacking; they enchanted the crowd with their singing and rapping in a flirtatious performance. Despite his shyness, B.M would acquiesce the fans with quick glimpses of his abs throughout the show. In a speed dance challenge, J.seph couldn’t keep up with the choreography and was forced to perform a sexy dance as punishment, which he performed with no hesitation to the delight of fans. On paper, the issue with a co-ed K-pop band is members of the opposite gender dancing in close proximity, which fans may typically not favor. Not with K.A.R.D though. The members comfortably danced together with ease and flair, which emphasized their seamless teamwork.
During the show, K.A.R.D. took the opportunity to get closer to their fans with a Q&A session, sharing answers to fan questions and providing some blush worthy fan service. B.M, being the Los Angeles native, was comfortable talking with the crowd, yet didn’t steal the spotlight from his bandmates. Every member of K.A.R.D. shined with their unique personalities and stories, charming the crowd. The playful discussion ended with a question about what the K.A.R.D fan club would be called. B.M. teased the audience that it would be kept a secret (for now).
Closing out with an encore of “Rumor,” but in Korean, the members strutted back onto stage in their tour shirts and performed the choreography in a more relaxed manner, focusing more on interacting with the crowd. With a tearful goodbye, fans now anxiously await K.A.R.D’s official debut in July.
