Bunnies have taken over the south finish of Grant Park. Because the minutes earlier than NewJeans’ debut US stay efficiency tick away, crowds of followers sporting white and pink rabbit ears, fluffy bunny hats and different equipment resembling the furry creatures transfer in the direction of the T-Cellular Stage. It’s the Ok-pop woman group’s debut US stay efficiency – changing into the primary feminine Ok-pop act to carry out at Lollapalooza within the course of – and warrens of followers (often known as Bunnies) and the curious unconverted are able to see in the event that they stay as much as the excessive ranges of hype that encompass them.
The quick reply? They greater than do. Though the 5 members are clearly and understandably nervous for his or her Lollapalooza debut right this moment (August 3), they handle to rewire these jitters into breezy, vibrant performances. Probably the most refreshing issues about NewJeans is how relaxed and laidback they make their songs and aesthetic really feel, even when it’s simply as stylised as every other artist’s output, and so they imbue that sense of low-key, informal power into their set right this moment.
If NewJeans’ Lolla efficiency is a primary correct introduction to the group Stateside, then they construction it in a manner that appears like essentially the most enjoyable catch-up session on their story to this point. Each music they’ve launched but (save for his or her Coca-Cola collaborations) makes it into the setlist, carried out in nearly the precise order they had been launched, taking the competition from their extremely promising starting to their newest pop peaks.
Within the first half of the set, their early materials is given new ranges of oomph because of a stay band. ‘Hype Boy’ is acquired with a deafening roar of pleasure that’s matched within the giddy chants the members yell on the finish of every verse line. ‘Cookie’, in the meantime, is given a rock makeover that feels just like the bodily embodiment of the bunny cranium and crossbones necklaces the members put on round their necks – sparkly and candy, however with a bit additional punch.
The ‘250 Remix’ of ‘Harm’ brings a twinkling delicate second to the primary minutes of the set that highlights the right pacing on show right here – spikes of fervent pleasure adopted by stunning breathers. The cycle restarts after, with NewJeans’ boundless enthusiasm sweeping you up and away. For the ultimate songs of the band phase, the group flip ‘Ditto’ and ‘OMG’ from membership hits into competition anthems, the stay devices twisting their pulsating beats into sensible new configurations.
As ‘OMG’ involves an finish, the 5 members line up behind one another and take turns in entering into the proverbial highlight, blowing kisses or making their very own gestures to the group as they do. Then, they skip off stage as a video montage previewing what’s nonetheless to return takes over the screens till, moments later, the group return, handheld mics swapped for headsets. Now, it appears, they’re able to step into Severe Pop Star mode.
The songs from their newest EP ‘Get Up’, launched final month, deserve nothing much less and so they carry out them impeccably right this moment. However, at the same time as they’re nailing their performances, NewJeans nonetheless discover methods to inject their secret ingredient into issues – the infectious spirit of youth. It’s one thing that may be felt all through the set and takes it from completely executed to hovering as much as dizzying heights. Dancers be part of the group for ‘Tremendous Shy’, serving to make the choreography look greater and bolder than it will with simply the 5 on stage, however someway additionally making it really feel such as you’ve stumbled throughout a (very, very proficient) impromptu dance sesh.
That feeling continues a music in a while ‘ETA’, dancers off stage as soon as once more. As NewJeans bounce into formation within the observe’s opening notes, Hyein and Haerin share a excessive 5 as Danielle booms: “Lolla, let me hear you scream!” The humongous crowd in entrance of them immediately obliges, as they do moments later when the ladies lead them in an a cappella return to ‘OMG’’s refrain, the singalong so loud, Minji instinctively places her palms to her mouth in shock.
It’s not a one-off occasion of the viewers shouting again each phrase – that bellow is a continuing all through and solely grows louder as NewJeans proceed to bewitch Chicago. Even throughout interlude music ‘Get Up’, the passion is at fever pitch, these current taking advantage of each second of the set.
By the point the group publicizes that we’ve come to the top, any shakier, nervous moments from earlier appear a lifetime away. As an alternative, they appear fully settled on stage and as in the event that they’ve been commanding audiences this massive for years. A charismatic model of ‘ASAP’ brings issues to an in depth with but extra flawless stay vocals, wrapping up NewJeans’ first US efficiency in gorgeous type. As competition debuts go, this greater than justifies the frenzy round them and means that, as soon as they’ve obtained extra expertise beneath their belts, they’ll be unstoppable.
NewJeans performed:
‘Hype Boy’
‘Cookie’
‘Harm’
‘Consideration’
‘Ditto’
‘OMG’
‘New Denims’
‘Tremendous Shy’
‘ETA’
‘Cool With You’
‘Get Up’
‘ASAP’