Manila was Up All Night with N. Flying as they performed a solid two-hour set at the New Frontier Theater on September 1, 2019. The Korean rap rock band, composed of Lee Seunghyub (vocalist/rapper/leader), Yoo Hweseung (vocalist), Cha Hun (guitarist) and Kim Jaehyun (drummer), left a lasting impression as they dished out their hits one by one with some special twists for Filipino N. Fias (the name of their official fanbase).

Their Up All Night Tour marks their second visit to the Philippines –the first one being their participation at the K-Pop Republic 2 with other K-pop groups in 2017, but this is their first time to be the main act.

Having made their debut in Japan on 2013 and subsequently in Korea on 2015, N. Flying are steadily developing their own brand of music which can be described as pop-rock infused with elements of rap with the splash of color and charm that K-pop has to offer. Although essentially considered as an idol group, the band members are highly proficient in playing their musical instruments, and are active in the production and composition of their songs. While they had experienced a few setbacks due to a few lineup changes over the years, their concert here proved that they are more than capable of holding it together.

N. Flying’s stage was simple – the typical rock band set-up with guitars, drums, amps and a piano. The backdrop was a stylized lettering collage of their title tracks interspersed with some of their lyrics. The band kicked off with “Up All Night”, “R U Ready?”, and “Preview”, immediately propelling the audience to get up, jumping and singing along to the beats, various lightsticks and banners raised high.

“It’s like you’re all performing with us,” Seunghyub said after seeing people’s reactions.

Indeed, N. Fia’s passion was on a different level, going the extra mile to make the band feel their love. All throughout the concert, they stood up as much as they could, cheering their hearts out. N. Flying, on their part, exuded the same (if not more) energy and excitement their fans had. It was amazing to witness how the members, particularly the vocalists Seunghyub and Hweseung, kept an outstanding rapport with the audience, consistently keeping everyone engaged as they performed. Moreover, it is worth mentioning that the strict enforcement of the no-picture taking rule made the show more intimate. The band members seemed to be really immersed while playing.

The band also showed their mellow side. Having a catalog of songs with loud riffs and upbeat melodies, they slowed things down with their softer tracks “Like a Flower”, “Crossroad” and “Spring Memories”. “Since it’s always summer in Manila, we plan to make you feel different seasons through music. It will be great if you try to imagine the seasons through our songs,” Seunghyub said.

Another remarkable thing about their show is the presence of an adept translator (well versed in Korean, Filipino and English) who conveyed their words to the crowd very well. This made their ment/speech more relaxed and more natural. The band members also did their part in studying the Filipino language with the phrases “kamusta”, “maraming salamat po”, “gustong-gusto kita” and “mahal kita”. Jaehyun, the band’s drummer, mentioned that he had tried the famous Jollibee chicken and the local kakanin (rice cake) sapin-sapin.

N.Flying had another surprise exclusive for Filipino fans: They performed an impressive cover of the 1995 Eraserheads classic “Ang Huling El Bimbo”. Hweseung took the lead in singing and playing the acoustic guitar, nailing every note and word in the song. Seunghyub revealed that Hweseung practiced so much while they were in the hotel, he couldn’t sleep. Even on the way to the concert, he was still singing the same song.

This was followed by a short Queen medley. Seunghyub donned the mustache and the mic stick a la Freddie Mercury, a comical move, but his vocal prowess shone through. Cha Hun, the band’s guitarist, also showed off his exceptional skills during the guitar solo in “Bohemian Rhapsody”, earning him an encore set due to the crowd’s approving cheers. The setlist also included their hits “How R U Today?”, “Rooftop”, “The Real” and “Fall With You”.

Filipino N. Fias also prepared a project for the band. They organized a banner project with the words “You are my universe, shine for me” which are lyrics from the track “Rooftop”. The members noticed this and thanked the crowd for it.

“Ever since I was young and played drums, I had a lot of dreams. Every time I perform, you make me feel different. This is the feeling that I will never be able to feel again. Thank you for making me feel this happy. I will never forget this. I was able to see your bright smiles. Let’s all smile and make happy memories together, okay? Jeongmal jeongmal mahal kita, (I really, really love you)” Jaehyun told the crowd near the end of the concert.

“You used to say ‘Please come to Manila’ during our Insta-live and V-live broadcasts, and now that we are here, it feels like a miracle. I really wanted to communicate with you more so I’m active in doing those broadcasts. Even if we are far away, I want to be connected with you. I will keep doing my best to show better stages. I will never forget you. Let’s try to make great memories together,” leader Seunghyub expressed. “This voice right now is coming from the sky, but I really mean this. I really, really love you, N. Fia!”

Seeing N. Flying’s Up All Night Live in Manila was a good experience. Their live performance was a significant level up to their recorded albums. Their passion for performing live and their earnest desire to connect with their fans is impressive and in a way, inspiring. It’s interesting how much higher N. Flying can soar from here on out.

More bonus: There was a quick high touch session for everyone who attended plus photo-ops for VIP ticket holders. Totally a great way to cap off a great night.

Special thanks to Three Angles Pro!

by Sandra Mae Laureano

Setlist – N. Flying “Up All Night” Live in Manila – September 1, 2019

Up All Night
R U Ready?
Preview
Anyway
Lovefool
Don’t Mess With Me
Like a Flower
Crossroad
Spring Memories
Ang Huling El Bimbo – Eraserheads cover
Queen medley – We Will Rock You, Don’t Stop Me Now, We Are the Champions, Bohemian Rhapsody
Flowerwork
Endless Summer
How R U Today?
Rooftop
Sunset
Leave It
The Real
Fall With You

Encore:
Say Goodbye
Hot Potato
Don’t Forget This