Epik High was here and we love love love it!

On November 30, Epik High performed a dynamic and explosively fun show at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City. Just a month ago, the Korean hip-hop trio was also part of the line-up for Hallyuween 2022. This time, the stage was solely theirs and the Filipino (High Skool) crowd enjoyed every minute of it.

“Epik High is here!”, Tablo announced before introducing themselves at the beginning of the show. Exactly as their tour and album title go, that declaration was precise yet meaningful. After capping off rounds of successful shows in North America, Seoul, Australia, and other parts of Asia, it was Manila’s turn to get the full Epik High Experience.

SEE ALSO: INTERVIEW: Epik High on their Career, Future Plans, and How They Wished to be Remembered

When the lights dimmed, the succinct “Here” followed by “Prequel” was enough to get the crowd going. To add to the fire the 2006 setlist staple “Fly” formally started the party. People were already waving their hands in the air, vibing hard to their music, and this energy continued to flow throughout the evening. The fierce “Rosario” and “Burj Khalifa” were met with roaring sing-alongs during the chorus.

“We stopped by about a month ago, but honestly, it was a little too short. We missed you very much. We’re happy to have you here all to ourselves. We don’t have to share you with anyone. We have your attention. You have ours. You have our love. Good to be back,” Tablo told the crowd.

Being in an Epik High concert was a unique experience. As much as their show inspired a spectacular hip-hop dance pit, it was also a comedy of epic (or epik) proportions. In the middle of performances, the trio pulled their own shenanigans onstage, poking fun at each other every chance they got.

In the middle of their set, Tablo revealed that they were playing a game with one simple rule: the last person to drink water gets to order the other two around. Having won the game, Tablo ordered Mithra Jin who is the maknae (or youngest) of the group to perform the K-pop ritual aegyo (wherein the person has to act cute).

DJ Tukutz was ordered to give the crowd “The Full Tukutz Experience” or “TKX” for short. He was more than willing to oblige as he showcased not only his skills as a DJ, but also as a rapper who doubles as a substitute vocalist, and his formidable breakdancing chops.

Epik High’s classic hits were also given their time in the limelight — “Love Love Love”, “One” and “Fan”, a combination that only served to amplify the audience’s energy.

The group also took their special time to thank the crowd with the additional effort of looking somber while a cheesy melancholic song was in the background (reminiscent of the kind you hear during a sad scene in a soap opera).

“We are very grateful for the beautiful night that you gave us tonight. We hope that we made you jump, we made you laugh, we made you smile. For just a little bit of time, we made you forget all the problems in your life. We hope that the memories we made together will last until we meet again,” Tablo said in between smiles, stifling his laughter. “Even though we can’t solve any of your problems, we hope that we helped a little bit. And I want you to know that you being here tonight helps us deal with our problems as well,” he continued this time, with a sincere tone.

The upbeat techno fury unleashed by “High Technology”, “New Beautiful” and “Don’t Hate Me” immediately dispelled the bittersweet mood.

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It was my third time seeing Epik High live. The first was during their Parade Tour stop in Manila in 2015 and the second was during their set at Someday Theater Pleroma in Seoul in 2019. In all the shows I had attended, they had consistently made it a fun, fulfilling experience for every person in the crowd. It’s like attending a rave dance party where you just lose yourself in their beats, their music even if you don’t fully know every song that plays – which is quite frankly one of the best ways to enjoy a concert.

Their latest tour is the most enjoyable one so far. Maybe one reason for it is the band’s and the crowd’s renewed energy after being held back by the pandemic for almost three years. Surely, though, the new additions to Epik High’s repertoire from their two-part eponymous album “Epik High is Here” has given their music more color and layers. It’s admirable how Epik High has been in the Korean hip-hop/pop industry since 2003, yet they still manage to keep releasing fresh, innovative songs and collaborations with other artists. It’s even more amazing how they can keep performing with passion, energy, and humor during their live shows.

by Sandra Mae Laureano

Epik High – Epik High is Here Tour in Manila Setlist
Here
Prequel
Fly
Face ID
Rosario
In Self-defense
Burj Khalifa
Super Rare
Eternal Sunshine
BLEED
Love Love Love
One
Fan
High Technology
New Beautiful
Don’t Hate Me
NO THANKXXX
Born Hater

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The Epik High is Here in Manila was presented by MakeItLive Asia and CK Star Entertainment. Special thanks to MakeItLive Asia for the invitation to the event.