GHOST9 Heats up a Snowy NYC, Reviving Live K-Pop in the Big Apple

As the snow fell on Sunday, January 23, many firsts were happening in Webster Hall in New York City. It would be the first K-Pop live concert in the Big Apple since COVID put a hiatus on all shows in 2020. It would be the first tour and the first east coast stop for a rising K-Pop group. It was also the first time for their fans to reunite with friends and to feel the excitement of being around each other in almost two years.

The honor of these firsts fell in the hands of a rookie group who not only picked up the gauntlet, but proved that they were worthy of this honor. GHOST9, a seven member group under Maroo Entertainment, debuted during the heart of COVID in September 2020. They might have been new to this N.Y. stage, but their ability to move seamlessly through their sets and their comfort level on stage showed a maturity that belied their rookie status.

As fog rolled onto the stage, the members came out through the blue light in princely white jackets and leather trousers. It would be their leader, Junhyung, and his stunning visuals who would start the show with the intro to “Vision.” His smooth vocals contrasted against the excited cheers, but the energy of the song would pivot the septet into their synchronous choreography and would soon have Shin flying over Junseong. Transitioning quickly into “Think of Dawn,” it was Prince’s turn to elevate, falling backwards into the arms of his team as the music pulsated, proving GHOST9 was ready to deliver. Junseong would shortly express that, “It feels different to perform our debut song in front of Ghosties,” a realization that they’ve been waiting since debut to perform in front of live audiences. “Reborn” and “Trigger'' would follow. “The two songs really show our strong energy,” said Jinwoo, and Ghosties were in complete agreement.

Each member shared how happy they were to be in New York. Jinwoo emphatically exclaimed, “New York is the city that I really want to be in!” Prince interrupted Junhyung’s intro, teasing him and stating that aside from being the leader, he was also in charge of keeping them in shape. “Do you want to show them how sexy you are?” Shin, the “Dancing God” as proclaimed by Junhyung, showed that his skills were not only in his feet with a quick hambone demo. Junseong introduced himself as the “future TikTok star” (go follow him!). Maknae Jinwoo gave an adorable thumbs up, while Kangsung told the story of his new NYC squirrel friend. Also sharing his love for basketball, Ghosties were treated to a jump shot demo. Closing out the intros, Woojin quickly rapped and Prince smoothly had them transition into the next song.

Playtime arrived with “Flying at night,” and they were young boys again. Paper airplanes in hand, they playfully moved through the choreography singing with youthful cheer. At “It’s like a paradise,” the planes went flying into the hands of eager Ghosties. Playtime was still on with “Up All Night.” The upbeat song had everyone dancing. “Monday to Sunday” would bring the level down a notch before “Antenna.” It was in “Antenna” that the vocalists were able to shine. Junseong opened the song with his clear voice, and one by one the members came in, demonstrating that they could all sing no matter their role. Junseong and Junhyung, with their power vocals, brought the song to another level. Junseong ad-libbing “New York” into the end of the song added a punch that was already embedded into the hearts of Ghosties in the room.

Before heading into “Control,” the title track of their new mini-album, the members attempted to teach everyone some of the main dance points of the song. The short bit of choreography for “널 지휘하는 maestro" and the head turns at “So Beautiful” had many hopelessly lost, but the effort was acknowledged. “Control” and “TRIANGLE'' were next, showing sharp dance movements, strong beats, and ranges of vocals before transitioning into the melodic “SPLASH.” “Control” and “TRIANGLE” showcased their growth and maturity since debut. “W.ALL” and “SEOUL,” an anthem to the home city, would finish off the main part of the show.

The encore had the crew back in their black GHOST9 t-shirts performing “Way to you” before their final words. Enamored with the slogans and signs, they pointed out many, asking everyone to raise their slogans. The time and love that Ghosties had put in for them were definitely noticed. Junhyung then had them go down the line with the final farewells.

Shin: “I want to thank you for coming today, I’m very touched and I love you. 감사합니다 (gamsahabnida), 사랑해요 (saranghaeyo)!”
Junseong: “Yo, New York! This concert, can we do it again? I want to thank everyone that came today, I’m very happy. Thank you guys!”
Jinwoo: “Yeah, I think, this city’s so amazing - you know. This city’s so amazing.I love this city. Thank you for coming. Take care of yourself.”
Kangsung: “Ok, I've been waiting for today for a very long time, that’s why today feels like a dream. I wanted to do a concert… I love you and thank you for coming.”
Woojin: “It was great [being] here with all of you, I hope we can meet again next time. Thank you.”
Prince: “To be honest, before I left for the tour I was very worried. But seeing you guys on the tour today, all my fears are all gone! Yay! I'm so happy that we get to make unforgettable memories and I hope to even see more Ghosties next time too. Thank you all for coming.”
Junhyung: “I don’t know how to express my feelings because I’m really emotional right now. Ghosties that came here today, I love you guys so much. I heard it was snowing outside, right? Even though snow is coming down, you guys came to see us - wow. I’m so grateful for that.”

Though closing the night with “COSMOS,” the guys weren’t ready to leave yet. Wrapping up the show, the boys were seen throwing signed balls to the crowd, taking selfies, and giving the type of fan service that K-Pop fans have grown to love but had been widely absent due to universal circumstances. It was nice to have the spirit rekindled. The excitement, the random moments of aegyo, and the impromptu shouts out to N.Y. by GHOST9 awoke what had been dormant in so many for too long and reminded everyone present that nothing beats listening and watching performances live regardless of masks and vaccine mandates. It was a long drought, and it was clear that these guys had been preparing for this tour and the chance to finally meet their American fanbase. Though satisfied momentarily, everyone was ready for more.

We look forward to seeing GHOST9 perform in NYC again and are more than ready for more live K-Pop in the Big Apple.