A completely sold out show in one of the most iconic cities in the world, headlined by one of the most talented Korean solo artists in the industry today? Yeah, Eric Nam did that.
Fans lined up for hours outside New York City’s Webster Hall (a landmark and historical venue for concerts and events alike) on Tuesday, February 18, ready and waiting for the show to begin later that evening. The lit marquee on the facade of the hall displayed “ERIC NAM” in big bold letters, not to be missed by any bystander or passerby.
It’s been almost two years since Eric graced us with a concert in New York City, and his “Honestly” North American Tour in 2018 left us with unforgettable memories. We had high expectations when his 2020 tour was announced and it was so, so much more than we could ever imagine.
Following the amazing performance that took place that night, here are a few awards from Eric Nam’s “Before We Begin” show that are deserving of a “Congratulations.” Unlike the breakup-based meaning of congratulations that weaves between the lyrics of his latest single, this congratulations calls for hearty celebration.
Best Supporting Act goes to: Frenship
The show opened with LA-based pop-duo Frenship, poised at mic stands placed front-and-center on the stage. Their electro-pop infused tracks filled with steady, grounding beats and soothing vocals had the crowd swaying in unison. With a guitar and electric bass in hand, James Sunderland and Brett Hite set an easy-going mood that would continue for the duration of the show.
Gold Medal for Highest Jump goes to: Eric Nam
Someone please ask Eric what his leg day routine is because this man can jump. Eric’s music never fails to make fans move to the beat, yet there are some songs that make you absolutely lose control. Take “Idea of You” as a prime example. Produced by Russian EDM DJ Arty, the track’s build up from Eric’s soft vocals to the hard and heavy synth drop at the chorus had the whole venue rising up to new heights (both literally and figuratively).
Sexiest Stage Award goes to: “Body”
Let’s be real: we all were looking forward to this performance. The lyrics are extremely descriptive (and up to your imagination), and it’s only fair that there’s choreography that perfectly matches the message of the song. Thankfully, Eric Nam served us with everything and more. Every body roll prompted well deserved deafening screams from the crowd. Legend says with each body roll Eric did, a faint voice could be heard in the distance coming from the general direction of Eric Nam’s mother (and if you listen closely enough you could make out the words “God is watching”).
Best Backup Vocals Award goes to: Nam Nation
Eric is one of the most prime Korean-American solo artists to date, but even the best soloists need solid backup sometimes. Here’s where Eric’s fans came in: their perfectly harmonized backup vocals drowned out the music coming out of the large speakers hanging from the ceiling. And just when we thought that Eric would conclude the ever so lovely "Cave Me In" he surprised the crowd by conducting an acapella sing-along of the closing verse. “I want it, I do,” filled Webster Hall in perfect pitch — a heavenly choir led by no other than Eric Nam himself. We wanted it (we did), we got it, and we loved every second of it.
Most Supportive Fan Award goes to: Mama Nam
Eric dove into many brief “Ted Talks” during his show, making the performance a lot more intimate than what we asked for (though we aren’t complaining). Through all his talks, a commonality was apparent: his mother. Eric talked about his mother’s disapproval of his multiple body rolls on stage (Mama Nam, we love you! But we will agree to disagree on this one!), but one very important mention of his mother talked about a conversation that felt all too familiar especially in Asian households.
“Eric,” Nam starts out in his best motherly impersonation, “Every time I see you on stage, I have extreme anxiety. I just know you’re gonna mess it up. I just feel like you’re not gonna hit any of the notes!” This prompted a collection of gasps and laughs from the crowd, unsure whether to take that as a joke or at face value. But Eric explains that this is his mother’s way of showing that she cares, and that she supports him despite focusing on a career path that did not seem conventional to his mother at the time. It was an insightful, sentimental memory that Eric trusted to share with his fans, and also showed us how much of a Mama’s boy he really is.
Best Hype Crew Award goes to: Eric’s Backup Dancers
Let’s give a big congratulations to Pauler, Tristan, Paul. and Mikey for being the most energetic and experienced backup dancers on the “Before We Begin” tour. Yes, they only appeared for a number of songs, but their presence on the stage made a huge impact on the production and performance of the show as a whole. Not only did they skillfully land every move in the choreography, they did it with smiles on their faces and with passion in their hearts. We love a Nam tour family!
Most Motivational Backstory Award goes to: Eric Nam
He was just a young man from Atlanta, Georgia who dropped everything to move to Korea in hopes of pursuing his dreams as an entertainer. Now, he’s one of the most coveted solo pop artists, loved in the USA, Korea, and everywhere in between. Eric shared a snippet of his story on stage that night, turning the mood into something more sentimental and sincere than how it initially began. We got a peek of how driven he is when it comes to achieving his dreams and how appreciative he is of those that supported him along the way.
Gotta Capture Them All (and succeeded by a mile) Award goes to: Bobo, Eric Nam’s tour photographer
If you follow Eric Nam on social media, you’ve probably seen Bobo’s work. An extraordinary photographer, he more than successfully captures in still images what it feels like to experience an Eric Nam show live and in the flesh. The colors and dynamic moments documented in his photos are incredible, utilizing star filters and prisms for the ultimate dreamy effect (that perfectly complements the Dream that is Eric Nam). We all have him to thank for documenting the memories made on the “Before We Begin” Tour so far.
Best Atmospheric Building goes to: Max, the Lighting Guy!
We can’t end this recap without a special mention to Max, also known as “The Lighting Guy,” as introduced by Eric Nam at the conclusion of his show. His lighting design is some of the best we’ve seen by far. Max’s ability to match hues to the mood of the songs and his skill in operating the lights to complement the build up of beats and significant lyrics ties the entire production together into a successful performance. Shoutout to Max during “Potion,” when the LED rods in the background would fill up during the lyrics “pour it up” emulating the visual of a glass being filled. Genius.
The Man That We Stan Award goes to: Eric Nam
“Before We Begin” read like a love letter — not just from Eric to his fans, but from Eric to himself. The experience from beginning to the end was a celebration of music: music that Eric poured his heart and soul into, and in turn wanted to share with his fans. Eric, if you’re reading this, just know that you could have ten shows in a row and fans would undoubtedly fill the venue every single time. Nam Nation loves you, please never forget it!
Congratulations on your successful show at Webster Hall in New York City. Congratulations on sharing your story and having it reach ears that are willing and loving to listen. Congratulations on being so unapologetically you, because that in and of itself calls for a celebration everyday.
This show was only the 11th out of 26 shows on the North American leg of Eric Nam’s “Before We Begin” World Tour 2020. If you have yet to secure your tickets to the remaining shows, head here now: ericnam.com
Thank you to EN Management for the chance to cover the show!
Article + Photos by: Karen May
