KARD Served CAKE in New York City: A Night Worth the Wait

Review & photo by Crystal Li

KARD at Webster Hall, December 14th

KARD’s long-awaited return to New York City came with a few hiccups, but none were enough to dull the group’s energy or the crowd’s enthusiasm. After last year’s tour cancellation, the four-member co-ed group finally took the stage, determined to make the night count, even as logistical issues lingered behind the scenes. Before the show began, the promoters came on stage to welcome the fans and explained that the tour merchandise was still stuck in Los Angeles. They promised to ship items out to those affected, and their transparency was very well-received by the crowd. Throughout the night, technical difficulties with translation also arose, prompting LA native BM to step in repeatedly to help the members communicate with Hidden KARDs (KARD’s fandom name). Moments like these highlighted the group’s professionalism and desire to connect, no matter the circumstances.

The night opened with “Touch”, the title track of their latest mini album DRIFT,  before transitioning to “ICKY” and a nostalgic favorite, “Oh NaNa”. The tempo of the set dropped a bit as the members promised “Before We Go” and “Top Down” were the only chance for the fans to breathe for a bit, before the energy ramped up again with “Ring The Alarm”, BM’s solo songs, and subunits' performances from J.Seph & BM and Somin & Jiwoo.

With the show date close to the holidays, the members returned to the stage in their Santa outfits, performing  “Last Christmas” to wish fans a happy holiday. The third act, cited by the members as the “fan favorite”, consisted of KARD's biggest hits “GUNSHOT”, “Bomb Bomb”, and “Dumb Litty.” The night concluded with an encore performance of “ICKY”, leaving the crowd excited and riled up. But for most of them, the night did not end there: depending on the ticket they bought, some had a chance to meet their favorites backstage, or attend an official after-party at NOFLEX NYC.

I’ve followed KARD’s discography since their debut, and became more closely invested since 2019, when BM became more creatively involved in the production of their music. KARD’s work has always been bold, daring, electric, and at times sensual, and this setlist struck a great balance of their classic hits and their more recent works. The four-piece group will continue the U.S. leg of their tour in Atlanta before wrapping up in Dallas.