Concert Review: MAMAMOO - "MY CON" in New York
I have been a big fan of MAMAMOO since the beginning with "Mr. Ambiguous" and "Piano Man" - their vocal abilities were strong from the start and they had a fun sound. I got to see them in 2016 at KCON, so I was very excited to see them 7 years later for a headlining show! Read below for my unbiased review...
As noted in my TXT concert review, I love UBS Arena and was very excited to be back at the venue only a week later! Thanks to my friend Jeff Benjamin, I got to hang out at the Verizon Lounge to chow down on signature chicken fingers and hang out with other MOOMOOs and PR superstar Kerry. The venue decorated their space with donuts and also provided chalk for fans to write some fun messages on the campus!
The four members of MAMAMOO - Solar, Hwasa, Wheein and Moonbyul - had only just arrived from South Korea a few days prior to the show. Despite a touch of jetlag, the powerhouse group quickly absorbed the energy radiating from the passionate MOOMOO fans as they launched into "1, 2, 3 Eoi!" with their signature harmonized intro and accompanied by eight female dancers.
The stage had a simple setup with massive screens. It was effective production with dynamic lighting, but what really made the show shine throughout was the use of live band arrangements and new mixes of the group's discography. I often complain on the podcast, and of course throughout the 'A K-Pop Rant: PLEASE SING LIVE!' episode, about the need for K-Pop artists to not only emphasize live vocals, but to use a live band for their concerts. Though MAMAMOO did not have a live band with them, they did the next best thing - live band tracks! This instantly increased the energy throughout the entire show, and fans shrieked with excitement as the girls added new dance breaks, new intros, new outros, and extra interaction space throughout their hit-filled setlist. My favorite arrangements were for the end of the main set, with the orchestral version of "Starry Night" leading straight into a dramatic version of "Wind Flower" with an extreme build and high energy ending.
About that setlist - the group made some changes from the Asian leg of the tour for the American shows. They cut the fluff, so to speak - and essentially performed a greatest hits show, with a few choice b-sides. This decision kept the momentum very high throughout and made the show not only great for the longtime MOOMOOs, but also brand new fans that aren't as familiar with their music. The highlight of the show, which I wasn't expecting to enjoy as much as I did, was when the members of MAMAMOO took turns singing each other's solo tracks, culminating in a medley of more solo songs sung together as a group. I normally don't love the solo sections of K-Pop shows as they can sometimes feel a bit too long, but MAMAMOO was a different story. Every single member showed new sides to themselves, and I was most impressed with Moonbyul's vocal ability. As the group's rapper, she doesn't get to sing very often - but she was very strong, with a powerful tone and great pitch.
Of course, MAMAMOO has always been known for their vocals (and even do some harmonies, though I wish they did way more!), and they did not disappoint during this show. Despite some sound issues with Solar's mic, every single member sounded fantastic. Solar's powerful belts were satisfying, Wheein showcased a beautiful range of breathiness and pure chest voice, Hwasa's signature tone was sultry and expressive, and as mentioned, Moonbyul's singing was strong and her raps full of energy. I did find it a bit odd how some songs in the set had louder backing tracks, while others had none at all. The mics were ON and they set a standard that all K-Pop groups need to meet.
Overall, I had an amazing time with MAMAMOO - and they were having an amazing time too! I wasn't sure if arenas were ambitious for the group - but the MOOMOOs proved me wrong. Can someone explain the barking that is now happening at every K-Pop show? I don't get it - but Moonbyul loved it...to the point where the other members had to tell her to stop! Can't wait to hear what the group does next - they are at a point where they can call the shots, so am very interested to hear what type of sound they go for next, both as a group and solo.
- Chris
Setlist:
- 1, 2, 3 Eoi!
- Mr. Ambiguous
- AYA
- ILLELLA
- Decalcomanie
- HIP
- Taller Than You
- water color (Wheein solo performed by Solar)
- Eclipse (Moonbyul solo performed by Hwasa)
- HONEY (Solar solo performed by Wheein)
- TWIT (Hwasa solo performed by Moonbyul)
- Medley: Spit it out / Make Me Happy / LUNATIC / Maria
- Paint Me
- Star Wind Flower Sun
- Egotistic
- gogobebe
- Starry Night
- Wind flower
--- - Travel
- Yes I am
- L.I.E.C
- Um Oh Ah Yeh
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On April 19th, Webster Hall was filled with “FLO Lifers” eagerly awaiting the UK girl group FLO who are currently embarking on their “FLO Live” tour. Formed 2019, FLO consists of Jorja Douglas, Renee Downer, & Stella Quaresma. The group’s style distinctly derives from R&B and Hip-Hop from the 1990’s and early 2000s. For a more in-depth analysis FLO’s sound and trajectory watch here (https://youtu.be/i18hpBoW4EU)/ <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i18hpBoW4EU" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Before FLO took the stage, Samaria, an Oakland R&B singer, opened the show. Samaria started with a simple backdrop featuring her name, keys, and drums. The audience seemed familiar with her music and if they were not, they were supportive and living in the moment. Samaria interacted with the audience well and related to them on the basis of terrible ex's and a journey through a toxic relationship. Samaria’s songs had interesting cadences, but what was missing for us was backing vocals on the track to delineate verses from choruses. After doing some research we found that the “Out of the Way” singer has a sound also inspired by 00s R&B, with a some tracks tracks full of fun guitar licks and drum patterns reminiscent of Timbaland, but none of those instruments were present in her performance. Her backline consisted of a keyboardist and a drummer. Although Samaria sounded good, at times the keyboard’s volume was overpowering. She worked the stage, nonetheless and good job. 7.5 out of 10 ! ()SCORE
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https://www.instagram.com/samaria/?hl=en
Next up was the much-anticipated FLO, and the girls opened with "Not My Job." They were all dressed in black with cute cutouts, and their outfits were shimmery (I love sparkle!) which was a welcome change from their wardrobe at the MOBO awards. Their faces were beat (we love a “natural glam”),
their vocals were tight, and their choreography was utilized well to highlight grooves. The chemistry between the girls was undeniable, and their vocal blend was seamless— absolutely chill-inducing. Jorja's thick vocal tone took the songs to a soulful place, and Stella's airy delivery allowed her to float at the top of the group's harmonies. Renee's smooth, warm alto voice added a coolness to their sound and gained a lot more stability in live singing. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention FLO’s band! The band consisted of some past schoolmates, which added another layer of charm to the whole set!
The absolute highlight of the show was "Losing You” In this live arrangement, the girls emoted and connected with the audience on a deeper level. Chris loved harmonized adlibs, brand new bridge and extra outdo including a guitar solo. As a special treat, FLO performed a cover of Jamelia's version of "Superstar" by Christine Militon. Even though a majority of the NYC crowd had no clue who Jamelia was and didn't know the song, the girls did teach the chorus before singing the song, so some fans were able to follow along. Chris and I certainly knew the song and even received compliments on synchronized impromptu choreography.
Speaking of choreo…
The girls' choreography was something we were curious to see, and they did not disappoint. They danced well, and they were given grooves as opposed to sharp movements that really complemented each member's personal style. In terms of technique, they aren’t K-pop idols so we weren’t expecting crazy formations and “point dances,” but you can tell they put in the work to provide another layer of entrainment to the experience. There was even some chair-ography for their performance of "Change," a new track about a lover's inability to "do the work" necessary to improve the condition of the relationship.
The girls did perform their latest single, "Fly Girl" ft Missy Elliot, and although Missy Elliot was present in the audience, she did not join the performance.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/flolikethis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@flolikethis</a> big up to Flo out here in the states on the road working hard! Keep doing yall thizzzzle!!!🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flygirl?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flygirl</a>💇🏾♀️💃🏾💅🏾 <a href="https://t.co/Qtgr2f2KBl">pic.twitter.com/Qtgr2f2KBl</a></p>— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) <a href="https://twitter.com/MissyElliott/status/1649101483621728272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Fans (the FLO Lifers) were absolutely living their best lives! They knew all the words to FLO’s songs—the BGV's and the ad-libs. It was a room full of genuine love and screams! FLO closed the night with their debut single, "Cardboard Box," and this performance featured a heavenly bridge section.
Overall, the show was good, and for this to be the group's first headlining tour, we were impressed with the girls’ improvement from performances like the MOBO Awards, where nerves played a noticeable factor. FLO is worth the hype for sure, and we cannot wait to see the new era of girl groups being led by FLO. For their NYC debut, we rate them a 9 out of 10! FLO Lifers left Webster Hall with unforgettable memories and high expectations for FLO's future performances.