Four Factors That Made MAMAMOO and the 4WARD Tour in New York Unforgettable

Photos courtesy of artist management.

There are K-Pop concerts, and then there are MAMAMOO concerts. A dozen years have passed since their debut in 2014, yet year after year, the four women of this quartet continue to fill venues with their infectious music. With vocals that literally cause goosebumps, their charismatic show cemented their reputation as amazing live performers who love being with their fans. Just finishing off the 4WARD tour stateside, and prior Asia, they head to Australia next. Taking a moment, we step back to relive moments from their August 12t New York UBS Arena stop and highlight four factors that make MAMAMOO live a must-see destination. With Solar, Moonbyul, Wheein and Hwasa at the helm, the show was worth every minute.

UNDENIABLE STAGE PRESENCE

One might chop it up to their veteran status, but to this viewer who has seen them perform live since 2016, there’s just a magical quality to the quartet that has been there since their origins. Sexy, cute, strong and dynamic, they've always shown their confidence in a manner that stood out from most girl groups. The chemistry between the members is solid and distinctive. They may be sexy, but usually with a playful twist and shying away from the cutesy tropes. Never afraid to laugh at themselves, they remain one of the most candid groups as well with a quiet confidence that has stayed with them through their time. Seen from the very start of the show with their powerhouse opening of their hugely popular “Mr. Ambiguous,” the ladies demonstrated exactly who they were. You could see their individual style in their bedazzled white outfits. Completely different in styling, their outfits compliment their uniqueness. With their cute moustache dance moves and their playful expressions, the ladies owned the stage and the songs that followed. “Egotistic” brought on the drama while “Piano Man” brought the swagger. “Décalcomanie” delivered the vocal intensity that had you screaming out the lyrics, “I feel good.”

VOCALS THAT DON’T QUIT

 When MAMAMOO comes up, one of the first things that always comes up is their vocals. With vocals so strong you get goosebumps, there’s never a question about whether they’re singing live or not. Almost always with a hand mic, the ladies control the flow of their voices, and as good as they may sound recorded, they’re a group that sounds even more brilliant live. Even Moonbyul, the rapper, has a voice that’s no joke. You can see in “Egotistic” as they pass the mic to each other, how each of their unique tones complement each other. The husky tones of Hwasa’s voice are balanced by Solar and Wheein power. And the ladies have no issue showing off their range as the tempo slows down. With “I Miss You” and “Starry Night,” the audience got a chance to hear the group's extraordinary vocal blend even further. Solar, arguably one of the best vocalists in K-Pop, belts sent shivers in her solo and hits in every one of their songs. She barely overshadows Wheein, who is a power vocalist in her own right. With songs such as “Wind flower” they did what they do best, they had their voices complement, challenge, answer and elevate each other.

KILLER SOLOS

With a discography so broad as well as established solo careers, it’s not surprising that in this tour they would take time for individual solos. Each one of them have solo tracks that have become hugely popular. Hwasa is probably the most well-known of the quartet for her solos. Though her solo discography is broad, she chose her more recent, “So Cute,” as her song of the night. The song’s video with thirty-one million views, is testament to its popularity. Though it doesn’t show the range of her vocal ability, the melody and message is endearing and she played it to its fullest by taking the stage to the floor and engaging with all the fans while never missing a beat.

Wheein’s solo was a favorite that this fan was looking forward to listening to live. “The Symphony of Fxxkboys” came out earlier this year and hit a chord with many listeners. Hearing the whole venue sing out the lyrics “the symphony of f**ckboys,” was cathartic. Moonbyul changed up the vibe with the upbeat rhythm of “Hertz,” and also headed to the floor singing and  rapping, bringing her distinctive charisma to the fans directly. The final baton was handed to Solar, who closed the solos with her stunning vocals with “Blues.” The sultry sound brought chills and clearly showed off the range of her vocal ability. The performances illustrated the strength of a group whose members never need to disappear into a collective.

THE MOOMOO CONNECTION

 From the group name to the fandom, the play on the word “moo” (which is a daikon radish in Korean), has always been an integral, yet fun, aspect of the group, most visibly seen with their lightsticks that bear its shape. Over time, the connection has become even stronger as the fandom has grown alongside the group. The mutual admiration, respect, affection and sense of humor, has made the connection between fandom and artist tight and this was seen continuously at the show and on tour. From the first moments of the concert, the members emerged from the audience area and made their way to the stage. Their desire to be with their fans and to interact with them would be an integral part of the show as they repeatedly went to the floor to dance, sing and engage with MOOMOOs.

The animated VCRs have become a staple of MAMAMOO concerts bringing fun shared moments of inside jokes and humor to the intermission. The “Little Fairy Friends 4” interlude cleanly segwayed into a fun trot-inspired version of  “Taller Than You,” that was unexpected, hilarious and something not to be missed. Following was “Sleep in the Car,” and a lively medley featuring “AZE GAG,” “Waggy,” “NEW YORK” and “Freakin Shoes.” The fun energy was infectious creating a vibe closer to a giant party than a conventional concert making the large UBS Arena feel considerably more intimate. The rest of the show continued in this vibe through songs such as “4 Flowers,” “AYA,” “HIP” and “Dingga,” with “HIP” clearly standing out as a danceable favorite.

MAMAMOO's career has stretched across more than a decade, and the four members have become established artists in their own right with maturity and confidence. Women who know who they are and what they are doing which is refreshing in this world where often artists are too managed and structured. This performance, and the tour, only proved again that they remain one of the strongest girl groups ever to enter the K-Pop sphere. At UBS Arena, the chemistry and connection never felt manufactured. The humor wasn't forced, the affection wasn't calculated, and the vocal performances were anything but routine. This same energy and vibe would follow through every stop of their tour. With the capability of turning a large venue into a room full of friends, MAMAMOO left behind something much that permeated the air stronger than the cheers and barking. It was a feeling of pride and connection, not only to the artist, but to the music and the other MOOMOOs who filled the room.

The night wasn't simply a showcase of four extraordinary vocalists. It was a celebration of four women who have spent twelve years building a musical identity that has never depended on fitting neatly into a box. Twelve years into their career, they have nothing left to prove. And yet they continue to prove it anyway, in a manner that belongs only to MAMAMOO.