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This was a showcase as part of an event called K Culture Planet, run by the Korean Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), a Korean government initiative. Tickets were free, but limited, with about 2000 people in attendance. More on that later.
Carriageworks Bay 17 is entirely flat, no elevation at all. With the floor divided into 3 sections, and everyone holding their phones up, it wasn't a great view in section B where I was standing. There was a massive screen, but alas it only showed the performers for part of each song - the visual effects and backgrounds were cool but I would rather see them dancing! Still, for a free show, can't complain too much I guess.
After an introduction from the President of KOCCA and a brief sizzle reel, ONF took the stage first. This was their first visit to Australia so I was very glad to see them and hope they can come back for a full show. Their brief half hour set was good, but you KNOW they have so many more bangers. The setlist included Beautiful Beautiful, The Stranger, Bye My Monster, Ugly Dance and a couple others whose titles escape me.
They were charming. Wyatt especially was appreciated loudly when he flexed, unbuttoned his vest, and finally discarded it. He was also the quasi-MC, speaking the most in English. Seungjun was a cutie who talked a lot, Yuto a cutie who talked little. Changyun is always cute and so handsome and I guess he is my bias lol. MK can really sing and Hyojin is so handsome.
Then there was a break of about 15 minutes where they just showed k-content ads. Gotta get that sponsor money!
NMIXX came on to huge screams. The cheers for ONF were good but definitely this was an NMIXX crowd, with them riding high on their Blue Valentine success. When Lily asked if this was anyone's first time with NMIXX a lot of people said yes which surprised me, because they played the Hordern a few months ago in a much bigger show!
Great setlist: they played Blue Valentine, Spinning on It, Dice, Love is So Lonely, Dash, Know About Me, and Love Me Like. I could see even less than I could during ONF, but I can confirm all of them are very beautiful, Lily is a delight, Haewon is my cutie, and Bae's current styling is just chef's kiss perfect.
Both groups were compelled to mention the K Culture Planet thing. "I hope you enjoyed the K Culture exhibition!" And in ONF's case, when they took the audience photo, ONF said "ONF" and we had to say "K Culture Planet". I refrained lol.
So let me explain the K Culture Planet thing. KOCCA set up this very basic exhibition the week preceding the show where you could go get promoted at (for various k-things - beauty, drama, fashion, etc) and then spin a wheel to win free tickets to the concert. To me it seemed very massively underadvertised and underattended.
It just seems crazy to me you would fly out NMIXX for one night and ONF right before their comeback to this tiny showcase. If KOCCA was really serious about promoting Korean culture, note that NMIXX played a show to 5000 a few months ago and Twice played to over 20,000 people the weekend before - you cannot tell me this tiny event preaching to the converted moved the needle at all in comparison to those huge platforms. I benefited, so I'm not mad about it, it just really seemed more of an excuse for KOCCA to justify their budget!
Carriageworks Bay 17 is entirely flat, no elevation at all. With the floor divided into 3 sections, and everyone holding their phones up, it wasn't a great view in section B where I was standing. There was a massive screen, but alas it only showed the performers for part of each song - the visual effects and backgrounds were cool but I would rather see them dancing! Still, for a free show, can't complain too much I guess.
After an introduction from the President of KOCCA and a brief sizzle reel, ONF took the stage first. This was their first visit to Australia so I was very glad to see them and hope they can come back for a full show. Their brief half hour set was good, but you KNOW they have so many more bangers. The setlist included Beautiful Beautiful, The Stranger, Bye My Monster, Ugly Dance and a couple others whose titles escape me.
They were charming. Wyatt especially was appreciated loudly when he flexed, unbuttoned his vest, and finally discarded it. He was also the quasi-MC, speaking the most in English. Seungjun was a cutie who talked a lot, Yuto a cutie who talked little. Changyun is always cute and so handsome and I guess he is my bias lol. MK can really sing and Hyojin is so handsome.
Then there was a break of about 15 minutes where they just showed k-content ads. Gotta get that sponsor money!
NMIXX came on to huge screams. The cheers for ONF were good but definitely this was an NMIXX crowd, with them riding high on their Blue Valentine success. When Lily asked if this was anyone's first time with NMIXX a lot of people said yes which surprised me, because they played the Hordern a few months ago in a much bigger show!
Great setlist: they played Blue Valentine, Spinning on It, Dice, Love is So Lonely, Dash, Know About Me, and Love Me Like. I could see even less than I could during ONF, but I can confirm all of them are very beautiful, Lily is a delight, Haewon is my cutie, and Bae's current styling is just chef's kiss perfect.
Both groups were compelled to mention the K Culture Planet thing. "I hope you enjoyed the K Culture exhibition!" And in ONF's case, when they took the audience photo, ONF said "ONF" and we had to say "K Culture Planet". I refrained lol.
So let me explain the K Culture Planet thing. KOCCA set up this very basic exhibition the week preceding the show where you could go get promoted at (for various k-things - beauty, drama, fashion, etc) and then spin a wheel to win free tickets to the concert. To me it seemed very massively underadvertised and underattended.
It just seems crazy to me you would fly out NMIXX for one night and ONF right before their comeback to this tiny showcase. If KOCCA was really serious about promoting Korean culture, note that NMIXX played a show to 5000 a few months ago and Twice played to over 20,000 people the weekend before - you cannot tell me this tiny event preaching to the converted moved the needle at all in comparison to those huge platforms. I benefited, so I'm not mad about it, it just really seemed more of an excuse for KOCCA to justify their budget!
