Evnne have recently made their Australian stage debut in Melbourne, as part of their Set N Go world tour.
The 4th generation seven member K-Pop boy group is composed of contestants from 2023 reality competition show Boys Planet, consisting of members Keita, Jihoo, Jeonghyeon, Junghyun, Sungeon, Hanbin, and Yunseo. Debuting shortly after the show’s winners with their EP Target: ME and title track ‘Trouble’, Korean idols have seen surprise success on Australia’s iTunes charts with their sophomore album, Un: SEEN.
Opening the evening with a soundcheck performance for the SVIP tier fans, Evnne spoke briefly about Australia’s wildlife in between songs, throwing finger hearts and warmly waving at fans. In their racing-themed outfits, Evnne struck a youthful and bright chord on stage.
As the 170 Russell Melbourne venue began to fill, Ennve (fandom name) trickled in with handmade signs bearing slogans like “poke your cheeks” and the group’s official lightstick, blinged out with gemstones. When the concert kicked off, a racing VCR played on the big screen on stage to announce Evnne’s arrival. Opening with a rock version of their song ‘Ugly’, Evnne set the tone for the show early, slickly displaying their dynamic and energetic choreography that had the Melbourne crowd cheering in excitement.
Immediately, my attention was taken by the deft rap abilities of Evnne’s leader and only foreign member, Keita, and the surprising rap skills of vocalist Jeonghyeon. After performing their debut song ‘Trouble’, Evnne then took a break for the first of their talking segments, introducing themselves individually and thanking Aussie fans for their iTunes chart success. After acquainting themselves with the Melbourne audience, Evnne performed their songs ‘XO’ and ‘Syrup’. The youngest group member and lead rapper Jihoo, was captivating to watch during these performances, showcasing his natural charisma and dynamic facial expressions.
After another speaking segment, the vibe of the show shifted into a more mellow and light-hearted energy. As animated VCRs played on the big screen for their songs ‘Boom Bari’, ‘Pretty Thing’ and ‘Jukebox’, the members of Evnne casually performed an adorable dance where one member made a move and the rest copied.
Apart from these playful stages, Evnne performed their tight choreography with power and vigour. Focused more on power and energy, there were moments where the members were slightly out of sync, but not enough to ruin their performance. Of all seven members, Keita, Jihoo and Hanbin stood out the most no matter what they were doing; whether they were dancing, singing, rapping, or talking, these boys were always smiling and looking like they were having the time of their lives in the intimate Melbourne venue.
Like many K-Pop groups, Evnne provided a varied set with unit stages that focused on specialty skills, allowing for each member to shine. Starting with Evnne’s core rap line, Keita and Jihoo performed the cypher ‘Set N Go’, self-composed by the duo and they did a decent job of showing off their individual flow, engaging stage presence and chemistry, bouncing off each other well.
Following the rap unit was the performance unit, where Hanbin, Junghyun and Jeonghyeon performed solo dances. Leaning into their sexy personas, the performance line executed fluid movements that contrasted vividly with their sharp point choreography. After their solos, the trio came together for a hip-hop routine that had the Melbourne crowd hyped up and on their feet. After bringing up the energy, the vocal unit took it back down again with a ballad duet. Although pitchy to start, Seungeon and Yunseo eventually found their footing and delivered a sorrowful, heartfelt performance that sent the Melbourne audience into a hush.
In between the unit performances, Evnne continued to perform group favourites including high-octane ‘Crown’, the catchy ‘Hot Mess’, and ‘I <3 U’, the latter of which came with a cute dance and the members surrounding Keita for a wholesome group hug. But it was the speaking segment that came after these performances which really made an impact.
A much beloved aspect of K-Pop shows is the “aegyo”, wherein the group members act as cute as possible. Usually, it results in collective embarrassment as each member tries to outdo the last with increasingly cringe baby voices. As awkward as it sounds, a member’s willingness to do aegyo says a lot about them and, as a bonus, the Melbourne fans absolutely loved it. Each member’s aegyo drew cheers and laughter from the audience and their fellow members, with Jihoo remarking that he was “already cute”, a line that even had me cracking a smile.
As the end of the show drew near, the second-most memorable moment occurred. While Evnne performed ‘Badder Love’, Junghyun was struck by a sudden leg cramp and was briefly assisted by another member before being taken by their tour staff. Ever the professionals, the remaining six members of Evnne persisted to show their incredible skills and adaptability, flawlessly covering Junghyun’s vocal parts and dance positions. It all happened so quickly that I almost didn’t see it, but I was immediately struck by their class and professionalism. Rejoining the group after the track, Junghyun was able to successfully finish the concert alongside his fellow members.
Concluding the concert with a medley of K-Pop covers including ENHYPEN’s ‘Sweet Venom’ and Seventeen’s ‘Pretty U’, Evnne rocked the Melbourne stage one more time with their debut Japanese songs ‘Keshiki’ and a reprise of their hit tunes ‘Trouble’ and ‘Crown’, encouraging Melbourne patrons to jump up and down and enjoy their final moments at 170 Russell together.
Evnne animatedly and successfully completed their first ever concert in Australia. Thoroughly impressing Melbourne fans with their high energy and fun performances, Evnne’s music is as infectious and their racing theme is refreshing. I’m certain that this Australian visit and concert tour will be the first of many to come.
Proudly presented by Box Live and Jellyfish Entertainment, Evnne performed the first of their two-city Set N Go Australian leg at Melbourne’s 170 Russell on Thursday May 15th. The tour then concluding at Sydney’s Liberty Hall on Sunday May 18th.
For more information, visit:
https://the-boxlive.com.au/f/evnne-au
https://www.instagram.com/evnne_official
https://www.instagram.com/boxliveau
Photography by Grant Alexander.
