NCT 127 Celebrates Their 100th Concert in Newark

Photos by Jean Libert

NCT 127 returns to the tri-state area as a sextet for their 2025 tour The Momentum.

NCT 127 put the pedal to the metal, opening with “Gas” and “Faster” as the sea of green neo-bongs flashed in sync with the stage lights. The group last graced the Prudential Center stage in October 2022 as a nontet. Since then, the group has released three albums, including their most recent release WALK, which was the star of this week’s show. 

The crowd roared at the sound of the flute as “Sticker” began. After the performance, Doyoung, the #1 “Sticker” hater, playfully demanded fans tell him the reason they love the song. The group then revisited their third mini-album CHERRY BOMB from 2017, bringing back “Whiplash” which set the crowd on fire. 

Holding up posters and cutouts, fans made sure to show their love for Taeyong and Jaehyun who are currently completing their mandatory South Korean military service in the Navy and Army respectively. One fan held up two cutouts of the members in their military uniforms and was spotted by Doyoung, who picked them out of the crowd.

After “Meaning of Love,” the members headed to the main stage for the customary photo-op. The six of them stopped in their tracks on the runway as a video celebrating their 100th concert played on the main screen. Staff rolled out a table with a cake adorned with candles that spelled out 100. The members lit the cake for the photo-op and thanked the fans for being with them for their 100th Neo City concert. Realizing two members were missing, Doyoung ran to the extended stage to retrieve the cutouts, holding them up in the group photo with Jaehyun sitting on the leader's shoulders. Fans began chanting “NCT” which was met by Johnny chanting back “Czennie” to the crowd.

Unlike their last tour, The Link, this tour didn’t have any solo performances. Despite having to cover the parts of three members, Johnny, Yuta, Doyoung, Jungwoo, Mark, and Haechan put on a phenomenal show demonstrating their versatility with a setlist that ranged from rap-heavy songs to ballads. Vocal powerhouse Doyoung even took over some of Taeyong’s rap verses, showing that NCT 127 is a group that will flourish no matter what setbacks they encounter.