On August 11, seven stars lit up the Racket NYC in Manhattan – but they weren’t in the sky. The shining stars were a group of ragtag guys known as EVNNEor “Evening’s Newest Etoiles”, consisting of members Keita, Park Hanbin, Lee Jeonghyeon, Yoo Seung-eon, Ji Yunseo, Mun Jung-hyun, And Park JihooThe project group of fan-favorite participants of the successful Mnet survival show “Boys Planet” debuted in September 2023 with their first mini-album Goal: ME, and recently released their third EP DRIVE or DIE.
The group recently started EVNNE SHOW(K)ASE TOUR IN AMERICA ,RIDE WITH EVNNE’,‘ There they were able to meet their North and South American fans, known as ENNVE, for the first time ever. Fans flooded the streets of the bustling Chelsea neighborhood in anticipation of the show, with passersby constantly asking what the long lines were for and who was performing that night.
The anticipation was palpable as ENNVE entered the venue. Fans chatted until the lights finally went down and enthusiastic cheers immediately replaced the conversations. The evening officially began as a video recorder on the screen introduced each band member and the crowd erupted into screams at each band member. Finally, the moment the fans had been waiting for had arrived. Bright stage lights came on, bathing the band members in a cool glow as the bass of their debut song “problem“ boomed from the loudspeakers.
Fans screamed along as Keita recited his iconic opening lines while the members danced against the multi-colored neon backdrop. Bold lights in shades of purple and blue illuminated the stage in contrast to the song’s thumping Baltimore/Jersey club beat, raising the crowd’s energy. Dressed in various team jerseys and baggy jeans, the members showed off their incredible performance skills and dynamic stage presence, wowing the crowd. As the beat transitioned into the chorus, fans cheered the members on with chants of “AYY! AYY! AYY!” The energetic performance brought just the right amount of heat to kick off the evening.
Then the group moved on to the next song: “KO (Continue)”, which contains elements of drum and bass and Jersey club. Reminiscent of a Mario Kart backtrack, “KO” was another lively song accompanied by colorful lights and lively choreography that showcased the group’s dancing skills.
After catching their breath, the members took the time to introduce themselves individually amidst the thunderous roars of the crowd.
“We are creating such incredible memories in New York and I hope you, my fans, create many great memories at our concert tonight!” Yunseo explained.
Announcing the next song, Jeonghyeon hinted, “The lyrics are what we want to tell you, ENNVEs!”
Afterwards, the members sat down on the stage floor while the cute intro to “I ” began. The quirky choreography full of enchanting floor work, adorable aegyoand various shapes of hearts had the audience screaming in cuteness aggression at every cute facial expression thrown at them.
After the sparkling love song, the group continued with “Bari Bom”, another sweet song about creating your own universe with your loved one. Since there was no choreography for the song, EVNNE took the time to interact with fans and dance silly around the stage. At one point, the members took turns doing a silly dance move, which the other members then imitated.
The concert then took a unique turn when the group conducted a question and answer session. Fans who had been waiting in line all day were given the opportunity to write questions on sticky notes for the members to answer. Keita, the leader of EVNNE, opened the session by answering, “Can you sing a song you wrote or your favorite song you wrote?” Fans were then treated to a short acapella snippet of one of Keita’s unreleased original songs: “Shadow”, which was met with cheers from the crowd and encouragement from the other members.
For some other questions, the members were able to perform short dance covers of songs such as “Go” from NCT127 And “Supernova” from aespaThey also taught a lucky ENNVE in the audience the choreography to “Trouble.” Seungeon, the group’s main vocalist, also entertained fans with a short cover of “Dangerous” from Charlie Puthand showed off his impressive vocal talent. The performance was popular not only with fans, but also with the members – after Seungeon’s performance, Yunseo pointed at Seungeon and declared, “That’s my friend, PERIOD!” The cheeky line then became a running joke throughout the evening, as Yunseo and fans alike kept shouting “Period!” between questions and songs.
This portion of the concert offered a refreshing change, allowing each member to interact with fans in an intimate setting while highlighting their individual talents.
The group got back on track and then got ready for the performance.SYRUP“ from their second mini-album Unseen, which Keita, Jeonghyeon and Yunseo co-wrote. Hanbin particularly stood out in this performance as he provided the track’s melodic bridge. The 90s hip-hop inspired track and fan favorite “Example“ came next, along with its intense choreography that highlighted the synchronicity of the members.
While EVNNE was given a chance to rest and change their outfits, a VCR played in the style of an adorable interview while fans waited. In the video, the members showed off their hidden “useless” talents and answered random, silly questions, such as who is most likely to fart in an elevator and pretend it’s not happening, who is most likely to hear “Okay, Boomer” in ten years, and who is most likely to lose an argument with an elementary school student. The hilarious questions and EVNNE’s answers had the audience laughing uncontrollably and provided a deeper insight into the group’s personal dynamics.
Eventually, the members resurfaced and donned their dapper outfits, which consisted of loose button-downs, soft sweater vests, and neat ties. As the group prepared to perform the English version of their latest theme song, “Evil Love”, a shower of blue light bathed the members in a frosty glow. Although Jeonghyeon is usually one of the group’s most powerful rappers, he opened the song with an opening riff that showcased his versatility. The wistful track had ENNVE singing along to every nostalgic lyric.
Next came “Nice thing”, a cheeky love song that highlighted the members’ adaptable stage presence as they glided across the stage with smug, confident expressions. They continued the energy with the bouncy track “XO,” which showcased Junghyun’s addictive lower vocal range. Fans screamed along to Jihoo’s memorable line, “Come on, just say it / Loud and mean it!”
“I think you’ve drained all my energy!” Hanbin shouted as the members took a drink break. He continued, “Please wait for us, because we hope to return to New York soon. The day was really, really, really fun!”
Seungeon added, “We will definitely come to New York so we can feel this passion again. You will come visit us again, right?” he asked, holding a hand to his ear to make sure he heard ENNVE’s loud agreement.
With this, Keita introduced the last song: “Ugly”, the high-energy EDM title song of their second mini album. This performance showcased Seungeon’s incredible vocal talent as he delivered the powerful high note of the song’s bridge. All of the members commanded the stage as they performed the song’s intricate choreography, especially lead dancer Hanbin, who was never caught without an intense facial expression or the sharpest of moves.
As the stage lights dimmed and the band members disappeared into the darkness, the fans wanted more and screamed for an encore and another song.
Of course, the seven guys delivered when they ran back to the stage. The encore began with “Firmly”, written by Keita. The members, now wearing their tour merch, pranced around the stage, waving their own lightsticks and interacting with the crowd. To end the song with a final bang, Hanbin took a water bottle and splashed the crowd, causing the audience to erupt in enthusiastic cheers.
The encore continued with the lively song “jukebox” and encores of “Role Model” and “Trouble.” Before the final song, the members took some time to address the audience individually and offer words of gratitude and anticipation for the future.
“This is my first time in New York and I think you made this night unforgettable for me,” Keita exclaimed with a smile on his face.
“I’ve only seen New York online, but I had a really great time here,” Junghyun added. “And we can get so much energy from you guys cheering us on passionately. Thank you for joining us tonight, and please keep supporting us!”
EVNNE ended the evening with the emotional ballad dedicated to ENNVE: “Even more.” Throughout the song, the members took a moment to absorb the energy and love in the crowd. “Let me be your star,” they crooned, holding their hands to their hearts as they were overwhelmed by their emotions.
As the song came to an end, the guys took the time to say goodbye to the fans on both sides of the stage. The venue staff kindly illuminated the crowd with stage lights, allowing the members to see how packed the venue floor and balcony were. The members were in awe and took in the love they received. With some final waves and finger hearts in farewell, the night finally came to a close as the members headed backstage.
EVNNE proved to ENNVE with their stunning performance in New York that they are already a star. There are only a few stops left on the EVNNE SHOW(K)ASE TOUR IN AMERICA ,RIDE WITH EVNNE’,‘ so don’t miss out and buy your tickets here! NYC ENNVE can’t wait to see these stars again whenever they return.
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