NCHIVE (NCV) - Concert Belgique
An electric return of NCHIVE to Belgium that set the audience on fire!
NCHIVE was back in Belgium for a new date, this time in Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, after a first visit to Brussels last year. A new opportunity to find the group on stage, in a human-sized venue where the proximity to the audience contributed greatly to the atmosphere of the evening.
And the least that can be said is that the members quickly succeeded in raising the temperature, already particularly high in the venue. Before their arrival, the audience was able to enjoy an opening act provided by dancers, who performed several acts to very current tracks. From “Bad” by ATEEZ, to “Green green” by CORTIS, this appetizer allowed the room to gradually warm up. But it was truly as soon as NCHIVE (NCV) entered the stage that the atmosphere took on another dimension.
The group chose to open the concert with “Inception”, taken from their first mini-album “ACHIEVE”. A particularly judicious choice to launch the festivities: already powerful on the album, the song takes on a whole new scale live. We discover a side of the group that testifies to an interesting evolution, with a musical and stage maturity that seems to be affirming itself. The involvement of the members in the creation of their music is not new, but it is felt here with particular strength. Certain performances can even recall, by their intensity and energy, those of groups like STRAY KIDS. From the very first seconds, the audience responded, singing along to the lyrics and accompanying the group with enthusiasm.
The rest of the concert confirmed this first impression. Between “Explode”, “Go & stop” and, of course, “Racer”, the track that marked the group’s debut and remains one of its emblematic tracks, NCHIVE delivered a particularly energetic performance. The choreography, precise and perfectly executed, testified to true collective work. Even if the vocals relied on a soundtrack, the members fully invested themselves in their performances, without ever giving the impression of resting on their laurels. The suffocating heat of the room did not spare them either: from the first songs, they were already dripping with sweat. Yet, their energy never faltered and they continued to give the best of themselves until the end.
It is also this generosity that made the concert enjoyable. The members seemed genuinely happy to be there, and their pleasure at meeting the Belgian public again was felt. Interactions multiplied throughout the evening, between glances, smiles, playful gestures, and small interactions with fans. One felt a true connivance between the members, but also a desire to share this moment with the people present in the room. This proximity worked all the more because the audience already knew the songs and did not hesitate to participate from the first minutes.
Beyond the performance as a group, the concert also allowed for a better understanding of the personality of each member and the place they occupy within the group. HA.L, the charismatic leader, notably took charge of a good part of the speaking turns. Probably the most comfortable in English, he naturally played the role of intermediary with the public, while multiplying small attentions intended for Belgian fans. The few words in French, the “Wait for us!”, “Wait, wait, let us speak!” and other attempts to make themselves understood brought a particularly adorable touch to these exchanges.
Beyond his assurance on stage, HA.L thus showed an accessible and warm side that contributes to his charisma. E.aN, on his side, cultivates a slightly more rebellious image, with a stage presence that corresponds perfectly to this bad boy side. But behind this attitude also reveals a warmer facet, which brings a nice contrast to his personality. As the main vocalist, he was also able to highlight his vocal qualities, while asserting his identity on stage. KANGSAN, the group’s rapper, also made a lasting impression with a particularly convincing performance. His solo passage made it possible to emphasize his ease and energy, while his stage presence was fully expressed throughout the concert. YUCHAN also distinguished himself by his assurance and precision. Attentive to details, down to the execution of the choreography, he possesses a presence that does not go unnoticed. JUYOUNG brings, for his part, a sweetness that contrasts nicely with the energy of some of his comrades. More discreet, he stands out notably through his luminous smile and that little shyness that makes him particularly endearing. Vocalist of the group, he also possesses an artistic side that can be found in his interest in drawing. His personality brings another color to the whole and participates in the balance between the members. Finally, N, the maknae, overflows with sparkling energy. Sometimes mischievous and playful, sometimes very focused on his performance, he naturally passes from one register to another. His interactions with the public also contributed to the “lighthearted” atmosphere of the evening. With HA.L, he is among the members who communicated the most with the fans, multiplying small words in French and playful gestures.
This desire to highlight each personality was also felt in the construction of the concert. The members benefited from several individual moments or in small groups, allowing performances to vary and to occasionally leave the collective format. After KANGSAN‘s rap passage, E.aN was notably able to occupy the stage in turn. Duo performances also punctuated the evening, notably with HA.L and N, as well as JUYOUNG and YUCHAN. The latter notably offered performances more focused on dance, offering another way to discover their stage qualities.
After a particularly intense first part of the concert, NCHIVE returned to the stage for the encore. The members reappeared with items from their merchandise, in an atmosphere that recalled those moments of proximity that are frequently found during K-pop concerts. And since we are in October, the group chose to surprise the fans with “1st NChristmas”, their Christmas song. An unexpected choice at this time of year, but one that brought a particularly cute touch to this encore. Far from being content with a few additional tracks, the members then extended the festivities. “Inception” was notably replayed. The group also performed a track whose chorus repeated the word “Fire” several times, on which occasion the members went down into the audience. They thus made a tour of the room, getting closer to the fans and allowing even the people placed a bit further back to enjoy this proximity.
In this human-sized space, this moment perfectly illustrated one of the highlights of the evening: this desire not to be content with performing on stage, but to truly share the concert with the public. And even on the very last song, the exchanges with the public continued. This time, it was mostly with the front rows that the members shared this moment. In turn, they took the phones of several fans to film themselves singing, take selfies, or film their own comrades during the performance. It was quite spontaneous and above all very natural, with this impression that they simply wanted to keep a memory of this moment with the fans too. A sequence that ultimately summarized the spirit of the concert quite well: a lot of energy on stage, but also true proximity and a desire to share the moment directly with the public.
And finally, the concert did not really end when the last notes resounded on stage. As is often the case during K-pop events, fans then had the opportunity to extend the experience with different benefits and privileged moments: individual selfies with the members, Polaroids with the full group, or individual photos. And there again, what particularly struck us was the energy that the members continued to give despite the fatigue. The concert had already lasted more than two hours, without a real break, and yet they were still completely invested in these meetings with the fans. One found exactly the same desire for proximity as during the concert. They took the time to exchange, smile, pose, and enjoy these few moments with the people who came to see them. The energy therefore never really dropped, even after more than two hours of performance. It was quite touching to see that they genuinely wanted to maintain this link with their public until the very last moment.
It is also necessary to emphasize the work of MMS ENTERTAINMENT in the organization of the evening. Everything seemed very well-timed, both during the concert and during the various activities offered afterwards. The volunteers, the photographers, and the entire team really participated in the success of the event. Despite the number of people to manage and the sequence of different stages, everything went very smoothly. One felt a true involvement of the whole team so that the fans could fully enjoy their evening and so that the members could, themselves too, live this encounter in good conditions.
In the end, it was really a very beautiful moment, with this impression of leaving the venue already wanting to see them again. And there also remains a little frustration, because NCHIVE is typically the kind of group whose career one would like to see take on another dimension. They have the talent, the energy, and above all a real identity, but they clearly deserve to be better known and to shine more widely.
This desire for recognition, the members do not hide it. On several occasions during the concert, they mentioned their ambition to reach the Billboard, with that famous “We want Billboard” launched to the public. They also encouraged the fans to listen to their new album and support it on platforms. At one point, they even announced with enthusiasm that they had just gained about 2,000 additional listeners on Spotify. It was quite revealing of their mindset: behind the pleasure of going on stage and meeting their fans, there is also this real desire to make the group grow and gain visibility.
And that is probably what makes this evening even more endearing. We saw artists happy to be there, but also artists who still have an enormous amount of things to prove and who hope to cross new steps. After seeing them so invested for more than two hours, then continuing to give their time and energy to the fans after the concert, one can only wish them this recognition. They clearly have this desire to grow, and we sincerely hope that they will have the opportunity to touch an ever wider audience and obtain the place they deserve.
A word from our reporter: “It was an exceptional and deeply touching experience. NCHIVE possesses an overflowing passion and an incredible sense of sharing with their public, proving that they have everything it takes to conquer the biggest global stages!”
Reporter: Muhiddin Gundogdu
Translator: Shawn
Photos: Muhiddin Gundogdu
Source: KSTATION TV
