K-pop stars put on a night to remember

With K-pop acts coming to Thailand every week, it can be hard for fans to keep up. But there are some gigs that you don’t want to miss out on. If you didn’t make it to last month’s concert by NU’EST W, then you missed one of the best shows of the year.

NU’EST W are a sub-unit of NU’EST, consisting of four members - the leader JR, 23, Aron, 25, Baekho, 23, and Ren, 22. Since arriving on the scene in 2012, the band have had their ups and downs. But their recent chart-topping hits “Where You At” and “If You” from their EP W, Here have made them one of the most popular current acts in K-pop.

On the back of this success, the guys are touring Asia. And Thai fans can be thankful that event organiser Feoh Co. Ltd. managed to bring them to Thailand for NU’EST W Concert: Double You in Bangkok.

KICKING INTO ACTION

At ThunderDome on April 8, the fans screamed wildly when the guys came onstage in sleek white suits and kicked off the show with “Where You At” followed by the dance songs, “Face” and “Action” from their first release Action.

The evening’s 22 songs showed that all four members are great performers. But the powerhouse of the group is Baekho. The main vocalist mesmerised everybody in the hall with his beautiful performance of the ballad “Thankful for You.” Throughout the evening, he showed off his wonderful voice and range, as well as his ability to captivate an audience.

JUST LIKE A DREAM

The show came to a memorable and emotional end with “Hey Love” and “Thank You.” Before saying goodbye, Ren said he’d been interested in Thailand since he was a child and always dreamed of playing here. Now, his dream had come true. He thanked the fans for their warm welcome and promised to give even better performances in the future. Then leader JR took the time to thank everybody who worked on the show, from the stylists to the production crew to the executives at their music label, Pledis Entertainment. Finally, the band bowed to every corner of the hall before leaving the stage.

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The day before the concert, the guys met Thai press at Dusit Thani Hotel for a press conference. Here are some highlights.

What has impressed you most about Thailand?

Baekho: I visited Krabi. It’s such a beautiful place.

Is there any Thai food that you'd like to try?

JR: Thailand is famous for its street food. I’d like to try some of the fruit I’ve seen in the fruit carts.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Baekho: I enjoy travelling. If I have a couple of days off, I like to go abroad. But if time is limited, I’ll travel around the country.

Aron: When I’m not sleeping, I’ll meet up with friends. We like to try food and drinks at popular cafés or restaurants. If I’m by myself, I’ll go and see a movie.

JR: I like to stay home. I usually watch films or play games.

Is there any activity you’d like to do in Thailand?

Aron: I’ve seen photos of people having a water fight during the Songkran Festival. They made me want to take part.

Can you tell us about any special moments you’ve had together over the years?

Aron: When I moved from the US to South Korea, I could barely speak Korean. But everybody took good care of me. I remember they made me feel warm during my first Christmas in Seoul.

What makes JR such a good band leader?

Aron: He’s generous and responsible. He respects us and listens to our opinions.

Is there any song on the new EP that you would especially recommend to listeners?

Baekho: “Good Love” is Aron’s solo single. I hope fans like this song because I co-wrote the lyrics and music. I think the song is adorable because of Aron’s personality.