XDINARY HEROES - BREAK THE BRAKE WORLD TOUR IN PARIS - 11.11.2023


PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT


Korean rock band Xdinary Heroes are set to kick off the European leg of their “Break The Brake” World Tour this Saturday 11 November. Starting this week; the band will be playing their first European headline shows in Paris, London, Frankfurt, Madrid, Milan and Warsaw.


The tour is in support of Xdinary Heroes’ fourth EP “Livelock”, which was released last month. Ahead of the European shows; the six member band – made up of Gun-il, Jungsu, Gaon, O.de, Jun Han and Jooyeon – will perform at OVO Arena Wembley as part of “KOREA ON STAGE” on 8 November. Speaking to Hallyu Doing; the band said they’re thrilled to be playing in the UK, the “home of rock music”. 

Gun-il said: “I am thrilled to be on stage in London. London is one of the cities that I’ve always wanted to visit. Because I’ve been a big fan of many bands from the UK, the first thing that comes to my mind is ‘home of rock music’. Jungsu adds: “The first thing that comes to mind are the English bands. I’m really happy to be able to perform in the country where my favourite bands such as The Beatles, Oasis and Queen were born!”


XDINARY HEROES – “BREAK THE BRAKE” EUROPEAN DATES

11 November – Bataclan, Paris

13 November – O2 Islington Academy, London

15 November – Batschkapp, Frankfurt

17 November – La Sala, Madrid

20 November – Magazzini Generali, Milan

22 November – Progresja, Warsaw


ABOUT XDINARY HEROES

JYP Entertainment’s Xdinary Heroes, a six-member rock band, made a special debut in the K-pop scene in December 2021 with the digital single ‘Happy Death Day’. Since their debut, they have released a total of four EPs: “Hello, world!”, “Overload”, “Deadlock” and their most recent  “Livelock” – which was released on 11 October. The “Livelock” EP features a total of seven tracks, including the focus track ‘Break The Brake’. The song embodies a determination to move forward without constraints. Xdinary Heroes are known for their distinctive presence in the music industry through their unique style, inviting fans into an expanded realm with this EP, continuing their unstoppable race.

The Bataclan: Venue Configuration


The Bataclan needs no introduction, having become in recent years THE venue for K-pop groups or Korean solo artists making their debut performances! Here, the stage was occupied 80% by the band's instruments. Bass, guitar, and a large drum kit took center stage, while behind them, a big screen displaying "XDINARY HEROES BREAK THE BRAKE" was projected prominently. This same visual remained throughout the entire concert.


As for the staging, there were no particular features. The concert mainly focused on the band and its ability to showcase its musical talents. No unnecessary gimmicks, no pyrotechnics or confetti mixed with abundant light effects – here, the instruments are the "heroes" of the show.


A merch stand on the right side of the venue offered t-shirts, photocards, and other memorabilia. Musically well-highlighted, the sound was well-distributed and did not distort. In terms of quality, there was nothing to complain about; the venue consistently delivers excellent sound reproduction.

Let's the show begin !

Announced in October for a tour starting in early November, "Break the Brake" is the name of the tour, echoing the title of their latest EP/single released on October 11. Seven dates, seven cities, seven countries, plus a presence at the Korean on Stage by MMT (also the tour organizer) to celebrate the 140 years of diplomatic relations between South Korea and England. The stage is set; what will XDINARY HEROES, the "musical" group from JYP and the younger siblings of DAY6, offer? The audience was already there; the venue was 90% full, with over 400 VIP/Early attendees eagerly awaiting the group, singing the lyrics by heart.

Three ticket options were available: General standing, seated, or VIP, which allowed fans to meet the group and take a photo at the end of the concert—a always memorable souvenir highly valued by fans. The scene is set, and the concert starts on time, with the group taking their positions on stage: Gun-il, Jungsu, Gaon, O.de, Jun Han, and Jooyeon are ready to experience the warmth of the Parisian audience, kicking off their European tour!

1RST PART

Fans of Xdinary Heroes, you're in for a treat because almost the entire discography of the group will be performed tonight! Whether it's their First Digital Single, their latest EP, or covers, it's all there! Right on time, the concert kicks off with an iconic track: "Freddy" (from Livelock) that the audience was singing while waiting for the concert to begin. Without further ado and with smiles on their faces, the group alternates between the EPs "Deadlock" and "Hello, world!" with four songs: "Come into my head" (Deadlock), "KNOCK DOWN" (Hello, world!), "checkmate" (Deadlock), "Test Me" (Hello, world!). The energy displayed by the group is incredible, and the audience quickly embraces it, singing the choruses in unison. No time to waste, despite a few very French "pololos" and an impromptu cover of "Seven Nation Army" by the group, as a response to the ecstatic audience, we move on to "Hair Cut" (Overload) and "Enemy" (Livelock). "Livelock," the group's most recent EP (barely three weeks old at the time of the concert), is already known by heart by the fans.


We revisit "Deadlock" with "Man in the Box," released in April 2023 because yes, the group has been quite busy since its debut in December 2021! Despite the heat and fatigue (from playing their instruments full-on), the group shows no signs of slowing down and communicates their joy to the audience. "Ghost" (Overload) resonates in the Bataclan, and the audience is on fire. A double dose of "Deadlock" with "Dear H." and "Good Enough". We conclude this first part with a lively "Paranoid" (Livelock)!

2ND PART

For this second part, the big surprise is a cover of "WANNABE," a song by the female group ITZY, fellow artists of Xdinary Heroes at JYP. And what a surprise! The remix works well! The second cover is "The Great Escape" by the American alternative rock band BOYS LIKE GIRLS. And the boys have nothing to be ashamed of in their performance; they truly made the song their own! Bravo.

The concert resumes with "Bad Chemical" (Livelock) and "Freakin’ Bad" (Deadlock). The set-list is very extensive, and there is no drop in quality—quite impressive for such a young group. Next up are "Sucker Punch!", "Strawberry Cake," and "Pirates," all from "Hello, world!", their very first mini-album from 2022. The audience clearly craves more of "Livelock," but for now, we conclude the "Deadlock" section with "Bicycle." Now it's time for "Livelock"! No less than three songs to conclude this concert: "Break the Brake," "AGAIN? AGAIN!", and "PLUTO!"

ENCORE

It's almost Christmas, and three songs await us for this encore: "X-MAS" from "Overload." Then "Happy Death Day" (1st Digital Single: Happy Death Day), one of their most iconic singles, serves as an encore, with a repetition of their most famous song: "Freakin’ Bad." For this encore, the group lets loose, drops their instruments, and climbs onto the speakers to sing with the audience! Over two hours of concert, the group is happy, and the audience is asking for more. But it's time, the end, with the traditional group photo, the French flag. The lights come back on.

CONCLUSION

What dynamism! The group gave it their all and was thrilled to be there. A culmination of a promising start to their career, this first tour, serving as both a warm-up and validation of their stature, allowed them to engage with diverse audiences: K-pop fans, as well as rock enthusiasts. Europe and France particularly love this blend of genres! Musically, the sound was excellent, the group was fully invested, the audience was won over, and the setlist was well-balanced. In conclusion, a very successful concert!

SETLIST



ENCORE

Thank you to MyMusicTaste for the accreditation and their trust. 

Thanks to JYP Entertainment as well.

 Find all their tours and updates on social media.

crédit  Tour Poster: MMT & JYP Ent

Photos concert : K-Pop Concert Team