K-pop Group KARD hits the stage at Louisville’s historic Palace Theater | Photos + Review

Date: July 25 2023 Venue: The Louisville Palace Theater Louisville, KY Review

Playground 2023 KARD World Tour | Fandom Name: Hidden Kard

KARD Members: J.SEPH(Kim Tae Hyung or 제이셉/김태형), BM(Matthew Kim/Kim Jin Seok or 비엠/김진석), Somin(Jeon So Min or 소민/전소민), Jiwoo(Jeon Ji Woo or 지우/전지우)

Kard opened with their newest EP single “Icky” from the 6th mini
album, followed by “Without You” from the 6th mini album “Icky”. They
took a break from their performances of those two songs to say their
hellos and talk a little bit with Hidden Kards’.

They got ready for some more jammed packed performances in the jaw-dropping
historical Louisville Palace Theater. It was built in the 1920s and
is one of the most mesmerizing venues I’ve been to, from the grand
lobby to the intricately adorned balconies and stairwells to the
vaulted ceilings with the “Spanish Baroque” architecture.

BM had asked what the best-fried chicken was and there were many answers being said
but I remember it being “Lees” was the winner of best KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken). BM asked how everyone was doing with the heat since it was almost 100° in Louisville, KY while Hidden Kard
was waiting in line for who knows how long before doors opened at 6:00
pm EST. BM said that he would rather be naked, buck naked because of
the heat. Somin and Jiwoo said that they liked the AC/Fan. J.SEPH said
he would run the AirCon and the fan.

The lighting for the show was vibrant with all of their songs. They played “Ring The Alarm” from
their 5th mini album ‘Re:’, “Hola Hola” from their 1st mini album
“Hola Hola” and “Oh NaNa” from their single K.A.R.D. Project Vol.1 “Oh
NaNa”. About midway through the show, they showed some photos from the
group’s early days. BM commented that he looked young and wanted that
photo to go away and tried to swat at it to get to pretend that it
wasn’t there and said he was wearing a bib because he kept getting
food on himself. While Somin pointed at it and everyone else laughed
WITH BM.

Somin and Jiwoo’s stage was next with “Fxxk You” from the 6th
mini album. BM was up next with “LIE” from his solo single “Lost in
Euphoria”. The visual effects and the lighting made it feel like you
are under the stars with the atmosphere in the venue followed by his
single “Broken Me” which had more of a dark storm feel with the
lightning in the BG. BM had invited J.SEPH back on stage for their
song “Been That Boy” off of the 6th mini album the visual effects in
the background were a forset that kind of reminded me of a mix of
Harry Potter and Twilight but on a different level since there was
BM’s abs on mostly full display. The BG effects also had a Matrix feel
to it with the glitch and had the words like a lyric music video feel. The
single “Rumor” from K.A.R.D. Project Vol.3 “Rumor” and Kard took a
breather for the last half of the show and they read some of the fan’s
signs and took some of the fan’s gifts they had for them.

Someone had made 4 crowns for the members out of playing cards. Some of the signs
were “HOT GIRLS LOVE J.SEPH”, and “BAD BITCHES LOVE KARD” BM asked if
everyone felt like a bad bitch and was met with loud screams, and
“J.SEPH KFC DATE?” J.SEPH’s response was “HELL YEAH!”

The last half of the show started with “Break Down” from the album
“Re:” which is a song that BM had said that Hidden probably remembers
from a breakup and said for everyone to treat their significant others’ with care. The
song is heartfelt and full of hurt while writing and it felt emotional
for me live. There was an amazing ASL Translator rocking out to the
music with them. They followed with “Gunshot” from the 1st single “Way
With Words”  which is one of my personal favorite songs from them when
it came out a few years ago. “Bomb Bomb” from their 1st Digital Single.
“Bomb Bomb” is a super upbeat and fun song that just makes you want to
get up and dance with the little Latin flavor and a little flash of
BM’s abs again (not that I was complaining).

They took a few minutes to each give their thank yous before the end of the show. Let me just
talk about “CAKE” for a second….babes it’s a song about cake 100% for
sure….moving on. The BG had police tape with CAKE on the tape and
some glitching word CAKE in red and blue which I thought added back
into from before with “Been That Boy” and the glitching style text
almost like a TikTok style and some flames because it was FUEGO. The
single “Dumb Litty”  is by far my favorite, the dance, music, and
the almost grunge style for the BG affects gave it a 90s hip-hop vibe turned to
graffiti. By the end of the song they got more into the atmosphere of
the crowd and they were W.I.L.D.

KARD gave the fans what they wanted which was the encore. Starting with EP “Ride on the Wind” from their 3rd mini album which is an upbeat, soft song that you want to Ride on the Wind
to but still has a beat you can dance to from the beats in BG of the
song. They brought out a Will of Song and whatever song it landed on
they would play. There was Enemy, Go Baby!, Hola Hola, and Red Moon.
Somin spun the Will of Song with a very determined look on her face
and Red Moon ‘won’ the spin. EP 4th mini album “Red Moon” went in a
slightly different sound for this album and it’s on the sexy side and they do it with such grace and charm. The song still has that Latin flavor. Now the song live sounds maybe 1 or 2
octaves lower than the Studio Version. The last song was “Icky”
again for the fans to learn/already know the dance to the song just for
the one part for them to record and post on SNS wrapping up the night
of a sweet WILD bliss until next time.

Kard isn’t considered the “normal” standard for groups because they are a CO-ED (boy/girl)
group. They really do have a well-rounded group put together. So
please give them a chance, listen to their songs, and catch them at a tour date near you
on their World Tour.

Photos + Review by Chyenne Conner | Photography

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