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9 Things I Learned While On Tour With GOT7

February 2, 2017/in Events, Fan Account /by Tam Huynh

When JYP Entertainment debuted idol boy group GOT7 three years ago, never did it cross my mind that I’d be seeing them perform in North America on a yearly basis, let alone 5 times in a span of eight days. Wait, what? Yup, you read that right. This writer recently attended all five stops of […]

8 songs to hype you up for Paloalto’s ‘Unite’ North American tour

January 31, 2017/in Events /by Alexis Hodoyan-Gastelum

As 2016 was drawing to a close, Korean music fans were already aware that the first half of 2017 would be hectic in terms of concerts. And as 2017 dawned, it showed no signs of slowing down. US fans will probably get more than their fair dose of K-pop shows — but what about K-hip-hop? […]

9 Things I Learned While On Tour With GOT7

February 2, 2017/in Events, Fan Account /by Tam Huynh

8 songs to hype you up for Paloalto’s ‘Unite’ North American tour

January 31, 2017/in Events /by Alexis Hodoyan-Gastelum

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9 Things I Learned While On Tour With GOT7

February 2, 2017/in Events, Fan Account /by Tam Huynh

When JYP Entertainment debuted idol boy group GOT7 three years ago, never did it cross my mind that I’d be seeing them perform in North America on a yearly basis, let alone 5 times in a span of eight days. Wait, what? Yup, you read that right. This writer recently attended all five stops of GOT7’s Flight Log: Turbulence in USA 2017 fan meeting tour. The tour started in Miami on Jan. 21^st, followed by Washington D.C. on Jan. 22^nd, Chicago on Jan. 25^th, Houston on Jan. 27^th, and ended in Los Angeles on the 29^th. And after attending the same show five times, you pick up a few things. In my case, this is what I learned while on tour with GOT7.

[Disclaimer: I paid for my own flights, living accommodations, and show tickets. Press access was only provided for Miami.]

Idols Are Human Beings Too, You Know

We’re dealt with various cards during our lifetime, some good and some bad. What you and I experience throughout our lives might not be anywhere close to the kind of extreme and rigorous practice idols take on and live through mentally, emotionally, and physically on a daily basis. But no matter the situation(s) and how different their life may (seem to) be, at the end of the day, idols are still human beings, just like me and you. Miami, the first stop, was a clear reminder of that.

As soon as the lights hit the stage and the seven members appeared, you could instantly tell from their facial expressions that they were all running extremely low on energy. Who can blame them, though? Considering the countless back-to-back schedules they had for weeks on end prior to that nights show. Even though they all looked like they could use some sleep, well, month’s worth of sleep actually, the guys still powered through and tried their best to to put on a lively and interactive fan meet. Fans wanted leader JB to sing “Holic,” his recently released unofficial Soundcloud solo, but he wasn’t in the best condition and had a sore throat and said he’d sing it at a later time (four cities later and I’m still waiting for a live version!). Despite their fatigued start, they quickly gained momentum by their next stop.

Dab Dab & Sexy Dance

These are words that I can guarantee you will always hear at a GOT7 U.S. show, whether it be five months or three years from now. Within the last 12 months, member Bambam has gained himself the title of Dab King and undeniably lives up to that name every day. And of course, without a single drop of hesitation, introduced himself as “Dabdab” instead of Bambam at the group’s Miami stop. There’s been countless occasions where the crowd has chanted for him to dab and he’s replied with a “dabbing is so old now,” but that never stops him. Oh, but what’s better than a dabbing Bambam? The hyung-line (older members/brothers), especially Jackson, insisting on maknae and dance machine Yugyeom to do his sexy dance, is what. Even though the members are always egging him on, they still manage look away and cringe in embarrassment as soon as he starts to pop his chest. You can almost always expect a sexy dance solo from Yugyeom almost immediately after a Bambam dab-off. While Bambam and Yugyeom are continuous victims of the hyung-line, dabbing and doing sexy dances, don’t seem to bother this maknae duo whatsoever!

Derp Kings & Self Shippers

Time and time again, GOT7 has proven themselves to be the kings of making derpy faces. Whether it’s a penalty for losing a game or because they simply feel like it, just like clock work, these guys will surprise you with their infinite amount of derpy facial expressions. It was in the middle of a game during their Houston stop, Bambam aligned himself with the cameraman in the pit and started making one of many of his notorious faces to which led JB to come over and also start doing the same.

Also on KultScene: Why Experiencing GOT7’s Turbulence In USA Fanmeet May Be Better Than A Show

And just when you thought you had these guys all figured out, just when you thought you’re over being surprised with the things that come out of their mouths, GOT7 goes ahead and self proclaims their “ship” names for one another! What?! That’s so wild right? When have you ever met a group who openly talks about these kinds of things? As soon as the members mentioned it, l you could hear the fans break out into massive shrieks and then almost simultaneously hear immediate laughter on stage from the members in acknowledgement of the names “MarkBam,” “MarkJin,” and my new favorite “Parkson” (Park Jinyoung, Mark, and Jackson).

AmeriThaiKong & Jinyoung?

GOT7 is known as an international group; eldest member Mark Tuan is Chinese-American, Jackson Wang is a Hong Kong native, and Bambam hails from Thailand. Usually, if English needs to be spoken, you can count on these three to deliver and be the group’s very own translators. But wait a minute, it looks like they’ve gained themselves a fourth English speaker, Park Jinyoung. I may not know him on a personal level but Jinyoung’s always come off a studious fella; he’s mentioned his love for reading, enjoyment of studying, and wandering curiosity. That all showed as he made a conscious effort to speak in English during each of his closing statements for every leg of the tour. Jinyoung surprised the crowds with his almost fluent and strong pronunciation every time he spoke. It’ll only be a matter of time before he can hold an entire conversation [in English] with Mark, Jackson, Bambam, and even fans.

Comeback and KCON 2017

At the end of each stop, the members hinted that although they’re leaving us [tonight], we shouldn’t be too sad since they’ll be “coming back” soon. Interpret that however you will, but it has been four months since the group released and finished promoting Flight Log: Turbulence, so it’s only Korean music scene norm that they’re in the process of making another comeback. As much as we all want them to get some much needed TLC and vacation time, we’re all just as psyched about their new music (especially with all the teasing JB and Youngjae have been doing with their Soundcloud accounts). To top off it off, Mark mentioned during his speech in LA that they might even be coming back for KCON, which lead the crowd to erupt in ecstatic cheers. If all of this is indeed true, you all better start saving, like yesterday.

“If You Do” Is Iconic

In a previous review, I mentioned that “If You Do,” was GOT7’s best song to date, and 16 months later, I still strongly stand by that statement. I’ve seen them perform this song live eight times since it came out and have absolutely loved every single second of it, all the eight times. It’s no doubt that this song was an extremely pivotal moment for a lot of fans. “If You Do” transformed these seven delicate and goofy guys (which in reality they still are) into one hell of a charismatic bunch. If you weren’t a part of the fandom before this song came out, then you were definitely in when it was released. As if this song wasn’t already the creme de la creme in my life, I enjoyed it a hundred times more when Team JMJ (JB, Mark, and Jinyoung) danced to the slo-mo version of “If You Do” as part of their “random play dance” segment in Houston. Just when I thought it couldn’t have gotten any better, it did.

L.A. Knows How To Turn Up

The crowds in Miami, Washington D.C., Chicago, and Houston were loud, but L.A. easily took the cake home for the most “turnt up” crowd. Could it be that it was the last stop on their tour? Or maybe because it’s Mark’s hometown? Or even perhaps it was the fact that Elliott Yamin (placed third on American Idol, Season 5) was there and we all got to hear Youngjae sing “Wait For You” sort of as a dedication song? Regardless of the reasonings, the Pasadena Convention Center was on fire from beginning until end.

Also on KultScene: Which GOT7 Member Are You?

Although the L.A. show was shorter than the four cities prior to it, GOT7 made sure to never let there be a dull moment, whether that meant Bambam and Yugyeom dancing to “Juju On That Beat,” when Mark was sprawled out on the stage in defeat from not being able to name the correct song, or every time the members rushed over to Danny Lim, the MC for the tour, during a game, corner and surround him, causing him to burst out into laughter every time. But what really determines L.A. as the winning city? Probably when Mark got a bit choked up during his closing statement, thanking everyone for coming out, because every audience member knew how much it meant to him to be back on his home turf and being able to perform in front of his family once again.

GOT7 adores IGOT7’s

This isn’t breaking news because if you’re an ahgase (their fanclub name), then you should already know that you’re the apple of these guys’ eyes (no matter how crazy some of you may be). Fans have heard time and time again from GOT7 about how grateful they are for this fandom and for all the love and support they’ve been shown, but most of us have only ever heard these things online, as we’re watching an awards/music show or celebrating an anniversary. In reality, it’s a completely different feeling when you’re hearing and seeing something over the internet versus when you get to witness and experiencing it in the flesh. Just like anything else in life, really, you can’t get the full effect and truly tell how someone or something may be until you’re actually given that opportunity to see it upfront. There might be people out there who consider some members to be cold and standoffish, but in fact — and I’ve been lucky on numerous occasions to witness this — all seven members are well beyond affectionate and remarkably lovely people.

Sometimes when you go to any kind of show, at the end, the artist usually thanks the crowd and in some instances, they feel like empty words. But whenever GOT7 says it, especially when Jackson comments and asks things like, “Did you guys make sure you ate before coming here?”; address situations on how you need to take care of your own health and not worry about them (GOT7) because they can take care of themselves; make sure that you work on your own happiness first and then you can worry about others , shows you how mindful he is of the fans, and it’s something that sticks with you and will forever be ingrained in your head.

2017 WILL Be GOT7’s Year

Every fan wants their faves to be able to say “this is our year” and actually accomplish it. Sometimes it works out, other times it doesn’t. However, considering the firm rate that GOT7’s been peddling at, with the year only just beginning and having just finished a five city US tour, leaving us all in anticipation for a new album and future concert(s), my biased heart truly believes that 2017 will indeed be GOT7’s year. The group is headed at a solid pace to truly making it theirs.

I crunched a few numbers together and found myself running on tens hours of sleep in a span of nine days days and had flown for a total of 8,274 miles. With all of that mileage, I could’ve made my way over to South Korea, WITH a layover! But that trip can wait a bit longer. Flight Log: Turbulence in USA 2017 not only allowed me to see the extraordinary performers that GOT7 are again, but this tour also gave me the opportunity to visit cities I usually wouldn’t think of visiting otherwise. In addition to traveling to new cities and experiencing new things, this tour also gave me the chance to do one of my favorite things, and that’s to meet up and spend time with friends, both new and old! Don’t you love how music can bring people together?

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Were you at any, if not all, of the stops? Share your experiences in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

8 songs to hype you up for Paloalto’s ‘Unite’ North American tour

January 31, 2017/in Events /by Alexis Hodoyan-Gastelum

While it may be called a “North American Tour,” it only has four stops. And while more would be appreciated, we’ll take what we can get. The first is on Feb. 3 at San Francisco’s Origin, then it’s LA’s Club Bound on Feb. 4. A week later, the shows continue on Feb. 10 in New York at Space Ibiza, and finally in Vancouver, Canada on Feb. 11 at Privé Nightclub. Tickets range from $20 for GA to $60 for VVIP with a meet and greet to +$300 for bottle service. Each date varies in prices, so keep in mind the change. All shows are 21+, however, the meet-and-greet is 18+ — so keep that in mind if you’re planning to go! For more information, check out the event page on Facebook.

And just in case you needed a warm up for what will undoubtedly be a lit night, here are eight Paloalto songs to hype you up for the shows:

1. “Moneyflow” by Paloalto, Zico, and Song Mino

The rap competition program Show Me the Money is always a great avenue for rappers, known and unknown, to collaborate and release fire tracks. So when Paloalto and Zico teamed up on Season Four, it was pretty obvious that their songs would be awesome. “Moneyflow” features both rappers plus contestant Song Mino. Paloalto always finds interesting ways of switching it up when it comes to beats, and going the rock route with “Moneyflow” fit Zico and Mino like a glove since their flows can go mosh pit hard without seeming fake.

Also on KultScene: A teenage fangirl’s farewell to 2NE1

2. “Turtleship” by Paloalto, G2, B-Free, Okasian, and Zico

For “Turtleship,” Paloalto released a version with his Show Me the Money team, but for the remix, the Hi-Lite CEO called on his label makes G2, B-Free and Okasian, plus Zico, for an even more lit rendition. Let’s get one thing out of the way: the original didn’t need to be upgraded, but with such a sick beat, why not expand the roster to see what even more rappers can spit on it? Even if it’s only under two years old, “Turtleship” is an instant classic.

3. “Good Times feat. Babylon”

As Korean rap becomes more popular, many rappers have begun to sound alike. However, Paloalto has his very own, difficult to replicate — or follow — flow, and this is perfectly exemplified in “Good Times.” It’s uplifting yet chill vibe makes the track a must for just about any day playlist.

4. “Fancy feat. Dean and Sway D”

What happens when you mix one a great rapper with one of the smoothest R&B vocalists? Gold, that’s what. Pure. Gold. Paloalto teamed up with Dean (oh yeah, and Sway D) for “Fancy,” aka, one of the chillest bops of 2016. Although it’s unlikely that Paloalto can pull off this song live in its perfect entirety without Dean, you need it in your life. You’re welcome.

5. “Would You Be My feat. Beenzino”

Throwing it a bit back, “Would You Be My” is an interesting indie rock and boom bap hybrid that we don’t get to hear in hip-hop a lot. But considering that Beenzino is the featuring rapper, of course it had to get experimental. It’s a stripped performance that allows their verses to take center stage, and it works perfectly.

6. “Au Revoir feat. CokeJazz”

Another laid-back, striped track playlist-worth is “Au Revoir” with CokeJazz. Before becoming a rapper, Palo aimed to be a songwriter, and fans constantly see glimmers of this when he focuses on the lyrics rather than the fanfare of the beat — like some other rappers, *cough* *cough*. “Au Revoir” is breezy and overall a feel-good jam.

Also on KultScene: 5 reasons to go to Hyuna’s North American tour

7. “Dark Panda” by Paloalto, Hyorin, and Zico

2015 gave us plenty of Zico and Paloalto collaborations. And while they’re all great in their own right, “Dark Panda” takes the cake for being one of the most interesting. They signed up Sistar’s Hyorin to put some R&B soul on the track and she took it right into bliss. Musically, it’s complex and, well, dark; and the contrast between Hyorin’s moans, Zico’s fast verses, and Paloalto’s wavy flow make “Dark Panda” and experience in its own right.

8. “Victories”

Paloalto’s most recent track mixes perfectly his signature sound of contrasting chill yet bumpy beats and flow shift. It starts out mid-tempo and then it slows down the pace a bit before going up again at the hook, and this just goes on and on for a four minute musical rollercoaster. Like everything he does, “Victories” is a chill experience sprinkled with mild turn up moments to go crazy in when performed live.

However, if you must know the actual set list for the tour, Paloalto recently announced it on Instagram:

song list of Unite US Tour

A photo posted by Paloalto 팔로알토 (@paloaltongue) on Jan 30, 2017 at 10:34am PST

What’s your favorite Paloalto song? Share your picks in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.