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| Photo Courtesy of Root Company |
Camden, which is famous for its rebellious spirit and rich musical roots, served as the perfect setting for Bang Yongguk on Sunday night. Taking place at Dingwalls, the venue has welcomed legendary acts such as Pulp, Oasis, and even Coldplay in 2011. As the final night of his III Europe tour, the atmosphere was set to be electric. While outside was a dreary day in London, inside was a lively, party atmosphere, and by the time the music began, Dingwalls had become Club Bang Yongguk, and the doors were well and truly open.
Of course no party is complete without a DJ, and the DJ warmed the crowd up before Bang Yongguk took to the stage, quickly turning the venue into a giant bass-booming club experience. The strobe-light show alone was enough to whip anyone up into a party mood regardless of age. As sirens blasted and bursts of red light flashed out into the crowd, it was clear we were in for a very good night indeed. Forget being in Camden; between the booming bass and crazy energy, it felt more like a dubstep-infused trip to Ibiza.
Starting the show with a fire in his step was RACE. With his solo journey starting back in 2018, he had plenty of solo material to draw from, and his carefully curated setlist did a great job of celebrating his best work.
Xie Xie lit the place up, and keeping the DJ on stage alongside him was a great decision. He acted as a hype man in the background ping-ponging energy off each other and into the crowd. The audience chanted along with “Xie Xie,” fully engaged. With energetic tracks like these, you’d wonder how they’d translate in a live setting. But his deep vocals not only met expectations but added a level of intensity that certainly didn't disappoint.
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| Photo Courtesy of Root Company |
The first introduction of the night was in stark contrast to what we just saw. Introducing himself with a shy and polite “Hello, I’m Bang Yongguk” was met not just by cheers but a roaring crowd. He spoke to his fans like a dear reunion with old friends, returning after a year since his last tour, THE COLOURS OF BANG YONGGUK, which also took place at Dingwalls. The audience enthusiastically asked how he was, creating a casual exchange that was refreshing from the sometimes stagnant narratives that can arrive from other music shows. After thanking everyone for being there with him all these years, the next song was the perfect choice.
Smoothly transitioning into Ride or Die, where he showcased how he has a unique way of blending his low, husky voice alongside an upbeat melody. As usual, the crowd sang along, and each time their voices grew louder, a cheeky and endearing grin would light up on the singer's face. It was heart-warming to watch, feeling like a warm place and a sense of unity between the artist and his fans, as if nothing else existed but this current shared experience.
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| Photo Courtesy of Root Company |
Off (a personal favourite) featured a tempo brimming with a fast, unrelenting energy. One that every time you hear it, it feels as if it’s the first time he’s unleashing those words. The chorus, especially, was a standout—the repetition of "Off." You never tired of hearing it; each burst got the crowd more hyped. Effortlessly bouncing to the words, he has a fluidity to how he performs, never sticking to a fixed routine, just freestyling and going with what works for him.
Switching from fast and furious to slow and beautiful, he delivered plenty of emotion with NUMB. Showcasing he’s not just a rapper but can also deliver impressive vocals. It was amazing to see how he seamlessly shifted from hyping the crowd with the previous tracks to maintaining that energy with his softer songs.
He briefly talked of a B.A.P. reunion, which practically raised the roof. But in the meantime, he encouraged everyone to continue supporting all the members, even though he was confident they already were. Which eased nicely into 2011’s I Remember (feat. Yang Yoseop). Just a few opening notes had the crowd go wild, marking it as a loved classic and a clear fan favourite.
Going on to take things slower with HIKIKOMORI into AM:4:44, which shifted the mood across the room. The latter track was pure poetry, filled with heart-breaking lyrics that are beautifully raw. In fact, it was so beautiful you could hear a pin drop, figuratively speaking, of course, as everyone was swept up in the emotion. Instead, cheers were reserved for the perfect moments; after finishing, he gently told a fan not to cry. Once again, he expressed deep gratitude for their continued support and that it’s because of their love that he can still be on stage singing.
On that note, he announced that it was time to switch up the vibe, and he did just that by asking the ladies to look into his eyes and raise their hands. Turning the dial up with Up, which saw him lean into a more playful side as he laughed and interacted back and forth with fans.
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| Photo Courtesy of Root Company |
As he transitioned into YAMAZAKI, the traditional sounds of the Japanese instrument Shamisen playing in the background blended perfectly with the DJ’s record scratches, creating an unexpected match made in heaven. Add to that the flurry of water being sprayed by the rapper across the audience, and it turned into a full-blown party—he truly knew how to connect with the crowd whilst also passionately rapping.
The highlight of the night came from the ultimate hype track, BUSS IT DOWN, which had the entire crowd shouting “Buss it, Buss it” in unison. The sultry atmosphere almost felt unholy for a Sunday evening. After the performance, he playfully commented on how wild everyone had become.
The audience were then treated to BAD (featuring YOUHA), where he got up close and personal with the crowd, allowing fans to sing into his microphone. Following up with Green, which was accompanied by a glowing green light show, complete with fans green lightsticks. He made a quick outfit change into his merch, going on to perform an encore of hits Ride or Die, MOVIMENTO, and Orange Drive.
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| Photo Courtesy of Root Company |
Dare I say that this was one of the strongest UK shows I’ve attended this year? Considering how many big productions have been put on, this intimate night proved that sometimes smaller settings are best. It was just the artist, his love for music, vibing with fans and enveloped in love and support, which truly is the key to success and longevity. That combination made for one hell of a good night.
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