Neo City – The Link

Neo City – The Link (or NCT 127 2nd Tour "NEO CITY – THE LINK") was the second concert tour headlined by NCT 127, the Seoul-based sub-unit of South Korean boy group NCT, in support of their third studio album ''Sticker'' (2021) and fourth studio album ''2 Baddies'' (2022). The tour ran from December 2021 until January 2023, with a total of 28 shows in 17 cities across Asia, North America, and Latin America. It recorded over 700,000 spectators from stadiums and arenas, making it NCT 127's biggest tour yet. It was the group's first in-person concert tour since Neo City – The Origin, two years prior, following the cancellation of Neo City – The Awards in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tour was featured in the Disney+ documentary series '' NCT 127: The Lost Boys'' (2023).

Background

On November 15, 2021, NCT 127 officially announced their return to touring with their reworked second world tour, Neo City – The Link, in support of their third studio album, ''Sticker,'' beginning in December 2021 in Seoul. The name of the tour, The Link, references the "NCT universe", wherein the audience members are linked through music and dreams. The Seoul concerts were the first to be held at the reopened Gocheok Sky Dome since the COVID-19 pandemic began, as well as NCT 127's first domestic concerts in nearly three years. Attendees were required to present proof of vaccination and a negative PCR test and observe social distancing at all times. Shouting was not allowed in the venue, and fans were instead encouraged to clap loudly. Only 5,000 people were admitted despite the venue being able to accommodate 20,000 to 30,000 people; however, the Seoul concert on December 19 was live-streamed on V Live (Beyond Live) for global fans and at CGV Cinemas in South Korea for domestic fans.

Two additional shows were announced for January 2022 at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. These were later canceled in December 2021 due to new border controls and restrictions implemented by the Japanese government in response to the Omicron COVID-19 variant. NCT 127 later performed five sold-out shows throughout Japan—at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, the Vantelin Dome in Nagoya, and the Kyocera Dome in Osaka—to a total of 220,000 spectators. The first concert at Tokyo Dome on May 28 was live-streamed on Beyond Live.

On July 2, NCT 127 held a sold-out concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore. On August 12, it was announced that NCT 127 would continue touring in September, starting in the Philippines on September 4 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila.

Following the release of NCT 127's fourth album, ''2 Baddies'', in September 2022, the set lists were revised to include material from the new album. NCT 127 debuted a new set list at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, completing the sold-out North American leg of their tour at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on October 6 and 13, respectively. On October 22 and 23, a special two-day concert was held at the Seoul Olympic Stadium, titled "Neo City: Seoul – The Link+" and featuring another new set list.

NCT 127 performed in Jakarta, Indonesia at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition on November 4 and 5, and later held a 3-day concert in Bangkok, Thailand at the IMPACT Arena from December 3 to 5.

In January 2023, NCT 127 returned to the United States for three more shows at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, and the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. They continued on to Latin America for their fifth and final leg of the tour, beginning with three shows at the Vibra São Paulo in São Paulo, Brazil. They later performed at the Movistar Arena in Santiago, Chile and the Movistar Arena in Bogotá, Colombia, with the latter making NCT 127 the first K-pop act to hold a large-scale concert in Colombia. The tour concluded with a show at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City, Mexico.

Concert synopsis

The concert's opening video features NCT. 127 introducing the "NCT universe". The nine members first appear physically on elevated platforms that are lowered for " Kick It" and "Lemonade". Next is "Earthquake", recorded by NCT 127 for the NCT album ''Universe'' (2021), performed on a tilting stage, in line with the song's themes, in its live debut.

After greeting the audience, NCT 127 performs a series of "brighter-themed" songs—"Elevator (127F)," "Dreamer," and "Love Song". For "Elevator (127F)", the set is transformed into an elevator setting, while "Love Song" is accompanied by rain sound effects and umbrella props in the choreography. The show then segues into a series of solo and unit performances. Taeil sings a reworked R&B version of "Another World" before he joins Haechan for "Love Sign," during which Haechan performs a solo dance break. Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, and Jaehyun subsequently perform a mashup of "Run Back 2 U" and its demo version "Bassbot," which the four performed years prior as part of the pre-debut project SM Rookies. NCT 127 reunites for "Music, Dance", "Highway to Heaven", and "Breakfast", with the latter song serving as a point of interaction with the audience, as NCT 127 invites them to move the group's official fanlight. After an intermission music video of "Running 2 U," Mark and Taeyong perform their solo songs "Vibration" and "Moonlight", respectively, before performing "The Himalayas" together. Taeyong begins "Moonlight" on an elevated stage shaped like the moon.

A video featuring "Lipstick" from the group's Japanese extended play ''Loveholic'' (2021) plays. Jungwoo then performs a dance to a remixed version of the song. The performance marks a change in tone in the concert from "day to night" as the group begins performing more sensual songs. NCT 127 regroups to perform "Focus", during which Johnny performs a solo dance break while shirtless in a closed room resembling a shower. Jaehyun performs his solo song "Lost" before the group returns to perform two ballads, "The Rainy Night" and "White Night". After a video intermission focusing on Doyoung, he sings "The Reason Why It's Favorite", a solo ballad version of their single "Favorite (Vampire)", written for him by songwriter Kenzie. The entire group performs the original version of "Favorite (Vampire)" and the 2018 single "Simon Says". For "Love On the Floor", the band performs on a stage that rotates 360 degrees and raises into a slanted protrusion. After "Bring The Noize", Yuta performs his solo song "Butterfly". Personal notes from the band are displayed on screen for the audience, and the group performs "refreshing" songs "Paradise", "Love Me Now", "Touch", and "Pilot" before ending the main set with "Sticker" and "Cherry Bomb".

On the concerts following the release of NCT 127's fourth studio album ''2 Baddies'', the set list is updated to include the albums' opening track "Faster" and its title track "2 Baddies". The two songs are performed after "Sticker" and before the encore.

A final intermission video plays prior to the encore that concludes the "NCT universe" storyline from the beginning of the concert. NCT 127 returns for the final time to perform "Dreams Come True". Each member gives their final speeches to the audience before the show ends with "Promise You", and the group departs the stage through lifted platforms.

Incidents in Indonesia

Bomb threat

On November 4, 2022, a bomb threat targeting NCT 127's concert at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition center was reported to the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Regional Police. The bomb threat was spread through a post on Twitter, which contains photos of a handwritten note that reads, "ICE BSD Nov. 4 S.O.S. 11 people 3 cars ith explosivesTNT, TATP", detailing the location, date, number of perpetrators, and types of explosive devices to be used on the bombing.

The police unit sent a bomb squad and K9 units to the concert venue to detect explosives, with later reports confirming that the concert venue was safe and that no explosives were found. Endra Zulpan, the spokesperson for the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Regional Police, announced that the individual who spread the bomb threat has been identified, and further investigations will privately proceed through questionings. Following the investigative reports, law enforcement authorities and the concert promoter, Dyandra Global, confirmed that the concert will push through as planned, with heightened securities placed around the venue.

Stampede and mass fainting

Following the bomb threat, a stampede and mass fainting occurred in the audience during NCT 127's performance. The stampede took place during the performance for "Paradise", where members of NCT 127 were throwing signed merchandises to the audience. Spectators at the standing section began pushing forward in an attempt to receive merchandises, resulting in audience members and barricades falling. At least 30 spectators were reported to have fainted.

The concert was later cut short and cancelled in an announcement by Dyandra Global and law enforcement officials, while the concert on the following day, November 5, continued with additional paramedics and security personnel. According to Sarly Sollu, Chief of the South Tangerang Police, several conditions were applied to the November 5 concert, including widening the gap between the stage and the audience, as well as withdrawing the merchandise throwing event.

Set lists

Tour dates

Canceled dates

Notes

References

{{NCT 127

2021 concert tours
2022 concert tours
2023 concert tours
Beyond Live
Concert tours of Brazil
Concert tours of Chile
Concert tours of Colombia
Concert tours of Indonesia
Concert tours of Japan
Concert tours of Mexico
Concert tours of the Philippines
Concert tours of Singapore
Concert tours of South Korea
Concert tours of Thailand
Concert tours of the United States