Welcome to KARD’s PLAYGROUND

All photos by Khanh Tran

Touching down for the third time in the nation's capital, KARD returned once again for their 2023 PLAYGROUND World Tour.  

Kicking the fun off in Latin America just a few weeks back, the group arrived stateside in New York on July 17, ready to get the U.S. leg on a roll. Approaching Wednesday the 19, it was time for D.C. Hidden Kards to experience the PLAYGROUND tour for themselves. Setting the stage at MGM National Harbor, droves of fans came out to support the group, many of which were at their second or third stop of the tour and still excited for what was to come.

As fans excitedly began to fill the venue, The Kraze made their way to meet the group and get an inside scoop with the sensations themselves. Make sure to check out our interview to see what we talked about and what you can expect next from the quartet! As the interview came to a close and we wished good luck to the group, you could hear the passionate singing and chatter of fans awaiting the show.

The enthusiasm of eager fans resonated throughout the venue, energizing the audience and creating a wave of excitement for the show that was about to unfold. Posters and fan-made banners littered the audience, a colorful display of encouragement, inside jokes, and pick up lines dedicated to the group. 

At 7:30 on the dot, lights went down and the audience erupted into screams as strobe lights and graphics splashed on the backdrop. The addicting beat of their recent release “ICKY” came through the speakers, and the members went straight into the track. Without missing a beat, they continued into songs “Without You” and “Ring The Alarm” before introducing themselves.

As the four members introduced themselves, it was clear that tonight was going to be another extraordinary show. They continued into “Hola Hola” and “Oh NaNa,” and for those who have been fans of the group for a long time, this was a special treat. The tracks were a blast from the past and a surprising precursor to the solo and unit stages coming up.

The first unit was members Somin and Jiwoo with the track “Fxxk you” accompanied by sexy choreography that mirrored the theme of the song. Following them was BM with singles “Broken Me” and “LIE,” with the final unit stage of the night being BM and J.seph’s song “Been That Boy.” Each stage brought their own aura and vibe to the venue and showcased the members individuality.

As the unit section ended, fans got the opportunity to watch a VCR from the group that conveyed the meaning of PLAYGROUND. For many people, a playground represents freedom, childhood, naivety, fun, and positivity. KARD explained that the tour is named PLAYGROUND for that exact reason: they want this tour and every show to be a chance for fans to let loose and forget about all their worries—be naive like a child. 

After an hour of intense tracks, the group returned to the stage to perform “RUMOR” and “Don’t Recall” to slow things down a bit. As the show was about to pivot, they brought out four mics for tracks “Break Down” and “GUNSHOT,” which signified the transition into the next segment of the show. This segment was referred to by BM as everyone getting lit.

Though the show started on a 10, the group was prepared to pull out all the stops going into “Bomb Bomb,” latest release “CAKE” (which genuinely had the venue shaking), and “Dumb Litty”.

If the excitement for “CAKE” was not clear, as the show drew to a close, the group revealed a wheel that would decide the encore song and immediate screams for “CAKE” echoed through the venue. The fans could not get enough of the track, but unfortunately the song was not an option.

The crowd waited in anticipation as the spinner finally landed on “RED MOON.” Closing out the show with a final performance of “ICKY” and “Ride on the Wind,” KARD’s time in D.C. had come to an end, but the group promised to return. With their vibrant performances, infectious music, and passionate fans, it is no surprise KARD is on their third tour in D.C. and hopefully soon their fourth.