SM ENTERTAINMENT
NCT 127 performed at The Prudential Center in Newark, March 2.
The Prudential Center in Newark has always been NCT 127’s go-to venue in this area. The K-pop group was part of the lineup of the 2017 Kcon held there, and kicked off the North American leg of its first tour there in 2019. A planned date at Madison Square Garden in 2020 was scrapped due to COVID. When the group’s second tour stopped at The Rock in 2022, Doyoung, a lead vocalist, expressed hope that they would meet the audience again at a bigger venue next time. Mark, a lead rapper, brushed him off promptly but amiably, maybe out of humility or pragmatism or both. As it happened, the group returned once more, March 2, on its Neo City — The Momentum Tour.
NCT 127 had been quite active in the States — and in the tri-state region specifically — up until 2022, performing on “Good Morning America” and “The Today Show” and at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. In between songs in Newark, members asked if anyone in attendance was also present for a 2017 performance at the Williamsburg Apple Store. During this period, the group recorded two singles in English in support of U.S. promotions.
Inexplicably, the act has drastically scaled back stateside activities since. The English version of “Highway to Heaven” wasn’t even on the setlist on March 2. Not that it much mattered to the fans, many of whom seemed to have learned Korean lyrics phonetically and shouted along all through the show. The members’ every move elicited deafening screams. This was hardly surprising from the same folks who braved a 45-minute wait in the merch line.
Following the previous tour, the group had to contend with a drastic lineup change, from a nonet to a sextet. Two members had commenced South Korea’s compulsory military service while another quit amid a personal scandal. Soldiering on through temporary or permanent personnel changes has been a rite of passage for most K-pop acts that have attained success and longevity.
SM ENTERTAINMENT
NCT 127 at The Prudential Center.
It was somewhat of a relief that the current iteration has really pulled together and tightened up its act, after a few spotty previews at Korean TV networks’ year-end concerts. These guys proved they could truly sing and harmonize, especially on ballads like “Gold Dust” and “No Longer,” as well as every time the instrumentals dropped out and we got to hear them a cappella.
The talents of Mark, Doyoung and Haechan, another lead vocalist, are well established in the K-pop universe. Mark and Haechan are so crucial, they also make significant contributions to NCT Dream, a separate but equally successful group that headlined its own show at The Rock in 2023. Doyoung is a powerful singer who dependably delivers memorable ad libs and vocal runs; they have stood out consistently on every record and in every show.
The more utilitarian players in NCT 127, who were previously relegated to the background, had to step up — and they most certainly rose to the occasion. Johnny, the lone American in 127, finally got to properly showcase his commanding rap delivery. Yuta and Jungwoo unexpectedly impressed with strong vocals and range. Who knew they had these reservoirs of talent in them, all this time?
The 2022 tour Neo City — The Link afforded more opportunities for solo and subunit showcases. Judging from this show, the current active members certainly would have been up to the task. That might have added a few numbers to a setlist that already spanned nearly 30 songs, but nobody in the crowd would have complained.
The group released two albums following the 2022 tour, but this show placed heavy emphasis on Walk, which came out last July. Only the title track from 2023’s Fact Check made the setlist. It would have been nice to see the latter better represented, as fans had already seen half of the show’s song selections performed inside this very venue during previous tours.
Some of these catalog choices seemed odd, since they weren’t well-known singles. Perhaps they were picked to play to the strengths of the current iteration. To be sure, the members had to cover additional vocal parts and learn new dance formations. Truly to their credit, the performance was beyond just respectable. NCT 127 delivered a wonderful show — energetic, uplifting and superbly paced.
Though K-pop setlists seldom vary between stops on each tour, the Newark audience got a little something extra. It was NCT 127’s 100th concert, and staff members brought out a cake at the end to commemorate the occasion. Doyoung paused the photo-op suddenly, raced the length of the runway and picked up some fans’ cutouts of Taeyong and Jaehyun in military fatigues, to include these absent members in a group shot.
It has been a pleasure to witness NCT 127’s growth over the years, and how well they have adapted to the challenges so far. Here’s to another 100.
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