"A concert!!!...AT 3AM?!?!"
Following a brief moment of dismay towards the announcement of a domestic in-person concert came the realization of a livestream opportunity for global fans. Ahgases have waited patiently for the members to regroup again, and the comeback announcement had brought nothing short of delirious excitement.
The term "homecoming" was especially fitting, for it implied a grand return: GOT7's return to a scene where they rightfully belonged. Whether it be performing on stage in front of screaming ahgases or broadcast channels via YouTube content, they would, after this long, grueling period, be seen together - seven as one unit - once more.
Following a brief moment of dismay towards the announcement of a domestic in-person concert came the realization of a livestream opportunity for global fans. Ahgases have waited patiently for the members to regroup again, and the comeback announcement had brought nothing short of delirious excitement.
The term "homecoming" was especially fitting, for it implied a grand return: GOT7's return to a scene where they rightfully belonged. Whether it be performing on stage in front of screaming ahgases or broadcast channels via YouTube content, they would, after this long, grueling period, be seen together - seven as one unit - once more.
For the boys, "HOMECOMING" meant a lot more. Their home was the warm embrace of ahgases, a place where their work was appreciated, efforts were supported, and love was given, unconditionally. Despite being renowned worldwide, they remain the humblest of artists: While BamBam worried over whether the fandom would remain after their group hiatus, Jinyoung claimed himself to be a "nobody" who could only shine as much as ahgases allowed him to. These comments summoned an aching heart - Do they not know how awesome they are?! Of course we'd stay!
True ahgases will remain for certain and, what's more, support the members' individual pursuits to foster a stronger sense of awareness in the global music market.
True ahgases will remain for certain and, what's more, support the members' individual pursuits to foster a stronger sense of awareness in the global music market.
A self-proclaimed regular observer of Twitter happenings and collector of data, BamBam was quick to ask the crowd of their ahgase seniority status. Majority had participated in their last world tour of 2019 - myself included - with a handful seeing the group in person for the first time. Interestingly, he also noted the possibility of those joining the fandom after JYPE era. He noted that a number of articles had circulated upon news of GOT7 going separate ways from their parent company, and that he wouldn't eliminate the possibility of those articles stirring up interest in the group and their past endeavours.
I had purchased my ticket a few days after the release date, reassuring myself that my Saturday plans would not interfere with the decision. In reality, I was terrified.
I was terrified of being unable to arrive home early enough.
I was terrified of being unable to fall asleep.
I was terrified of not being able to login to the KAVECON portal.
I was terrified of internet lag and laptop memory issues impacting the stream.
I was terrified of being unable to fall back asleep to lug myself to pilates class, which was too late to reschedule without a fee.
Though the sleepy polar bear delivered me back to my point of residence later than desired, then tacked on additional time for a sluggish farewell, I didn't end up eating any earlier than a normal day. The last third of the Green Apple Soju assisted in setting a tranquil tone before bed. Around 10:20 PM, I set my alarm for 2:55 AM and crawled underneath the covers, dreading what four hours would do to me.
I managed to wake up on time. Brushing away crusty eyes with water, I dragged myself to the login page and readied myself beside Larry, ahgabong in hand. At 3:05 AM, the event commenced.
I was terrified of being unable to fall asleep.
I was terrified of not being able to login to the KAVECON portal.
I was terrified of internet lag and laptop memory issues impacting the stream.
I was terrified of being unable to fall back asleep to lug myself to pilates class, which was too late to reschedule without a fee.
Though the sleepy polar bear delivered me back to my point of residence later than desired, then tacked on additional time for a sluggish farewell, I didn't end up eating any earlier than a normal day. The last third of the Green Apple Soju assisted in setting a tranquil tone before bed. Around 10:20 PM, I set my alarm for 2:55 AM and crawled underneath the covers, dreading what four hours would do to me.
I managed to wake up on time. Brushing away crusty eyes with water, I dragged myself to the login page and readied myself beside Larry, ahgabong in hand. At 3:05 AM, the event commenced.
The last real-time coverage had been for the You Calling My Name showcase, in which only half could be viewed before departing for work. Before that was the 7 for 7 showcase over Thanksgiving long weekend. But this would be neither a showcase nor a basic V Live - it was a concert to commemorate their return as 7.
The setlist would be as follows:
The setlist would be as follows:
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Ment #1 lasted roughly one hour. The members re-introduced themselves to a crowd of excited ahgases, then proceeded to share stories based on keywords. These words were printed on strips of green paper (naturally), folded to resemble eggs, and rested in a brown, nest-like contraption until picked. There were no MCs present for the event, though BamBam effortlessly took up the role of guiding the flow of events, nudging where needed. Jinyoung and Youngjae served as facilitators of the games portion, with Youngjae, now equipped with over a year of Radio DJing experience, redirecting distracted thoughts back to the topic at hand.
Ahgases had the opportunity to hear about alcohol tolerances and funny side stories. We learned that Jinyoung now likes soju and whiskey with chicken feet, Youngjae the classic Korean combo of samgyeopsal + soju, Yugyeom's indifference toward soju and recent interest whiskey, Mark's Asian flush, Jay B's memorable Suntory experience, Jackson on Hennessy + 고령주, and BamBam on beer and ambiance.
Particularly memorable from the setlist was Playground, which had persisted as my ringtone from the moment I had entered the fandom to my inevitable phone retirement in 2019. The track brought back memories of their older tracks and albums - all of which I have collected, minus the repackaged editions. For those inquisitive about the current ringtone, it is none other than FACE (for there is never a single moment I do not miss GOT7 and their faces.)
Ahgases had the opportunity to hear about alcohol tolerances and funny side stories. We learned that Jinyoung now likes soju and whiskey with chicken feet, Youngjae the classic Korean combo of samgyeopsal + soju, Yugyeom's indifference toward soju and recent interest whiskey, Mark's Asian flush, Jay B's memorable Suntory experience, Jackson on Hennessy + 고령주, and BamBam on beer and ambiance.
Particularly memorable from the setlist was Playground, which had persisted as my ringtone from the moment I had entered the fandom to my inevitable phone retirement in 2019. The track brought back memories of their older tracks and albums - all of which I have collected, minus the repackaged editions. For those inquisitive about the current ringtone, it is none other than FACE (for there is never a single moment I do not miss GOT7 and their faces.)
The concert was seemingly neverending, for my room had been dark to start but nearly fully illuminated by the end of the livestream. With shorter periods of fantalk in the second and third hours of the show, we were able to witness tearjerkers like Miracle (Oh BamBam and his inside jokes) and Thank You, along with the first performance of Breath with a live audience.
Impressive to me was the ceaseless appeal and dynamism of Jay B's and Youngjae's voices. Their vocals were as clear and robust as ever. Similarly, Jinyoung exhibited no shortage of skills, gleefully showing off choreography from their debut days and hitting falsettos with a smile. Despite his time away from Korean, Mark's recollection of the language and old choreography was also very impressive. Needless to say, BamBam was flawless in the execution of every department - reasonably so, given his frequent schedule performance and MC activities in both Korea and Thailand. I will note Jackson and Yugyeom's loss of vocal capabilities during the concert. While Yugyeom was experiencing hoarseness from vocal strain, Jackson seemed to require a longer period for familiarization of the Korean language and reaching the key demanded by group tracks.
Needless to say, the most impressive aspect to note was the group's growth over the past 2.5 years. Whether operating solo or together as seven, their progression as artists is undeniable. Their sound has matured, and so have their outlooks in tackling the future. Ahgases have also grown with them: a commenter noted that they had become a fan in their last year of elementary school (age 12 in Korea) and that they were now graduating high school (age 20 in Korea).
Impressive to me was the ceaseless appeal and dynamism of Jay B's and Youngjae's voices. Their vocals were as clear and robust as ever. Similarly, Jinyoung exhibited no shortage of skills, gleefully showing off choreography from their debut days and hitting falsettos with a smile. Despite his time away from Korean, Mark's recollection of the language and old choreography was also very impressive. Needless to say, BamBam was flawless in the execution of every department - reasonably so, given his frequent schedule performance and MC activities in both Korea and Thailand. I will note Jackson and Yugyeom's loss of vocal capabilities during the concert. While Yugyeom was experiencing hoarseness from vocal strain, Jackson seemed to require a longer period for familiarization of the Korean language and reaching the key demanded by group tracks.
Needless to say, the most impressive aspect to note was the group's growth over the past 2.5 years. Whether operating solo or together as seven, their progression as artists is undeniable. Their sound has matured, and so have their outlooks in tackling the future. Ahgases have also grown with them: a commenter noted that they had become a fan in their last year of elementary school (age 12 in Korea) and that they were now graduating high school (age 20 in Korea).
I identify with this progression completely. Without GOT7, I would not be who or where I am in present day. Their contributions to my development and wellbeing have been tremendous, and only persist as such with their sheer existence. As much as Jinyoung appreciates us allowing him to shine, I can confidently declare this gratitude to be two-way.
FANCON, a brand new logo, and the release of GOT7 the album signifies a new start to the group as artists in their own right. Welcome home, GOT7. (I wonder why you didn't sing My Home after all.)
FANCON, a brand new logo, and the release of GOT7 the album signifies a new start to the group as artists in their own right. Welcome home, GOT7. (I wonder why you didn't sing My Home after all.)
Music show promotions will not be taking place this time around due to schedule conflicts, however I will proceed to keep up with their radio and YouTube appearances as they emerge.
And don't worry Youngjae, we aren't going anywhere. This love is for you guys and you guys only.
And don't worry Youngjae, we aren't going anywhere. This love is for you guys and you guys only.
Around the 6:40 AM mark, I dragged myself back to bed and set my alarm for 2 hours later. Groggily dismissing my alarm twice, I reluctantly stripped away the sheets at 9 AM in preparation for pilates.
The class would, once again, be led by the studio owner. My go-to instructor was nowhere to be seen!
As with the previous week, we would commence with a warm-up of stretches: hamstring stretches with the heel placed at the edge of the Bosu and child's pose on the Carriage.
The class would, once again, be led by the studio owner. My go-to instructor was nowhere to be seen!
As with the previous week, we would commence with a warm-up of stretches: hamstring stretches with the heel placed at the edge of the Bosu and child's pose on the Carriage.
We would then, again, proceed with an odd class format. The objective became clearer, despite the consistently unclear instructions and wrist-wrecking stances. Rather than precision and joint alignment, the owner appeared to be targeting overall core stability while promoting posture and spinal mobility rather than treating pilates as a form of training for rehabilitation and endurance. Beyond form corrections for pelvic tilts (imprint vs. neutral spine) and lower back via muddled verbal directions, there were few notes for the rotation and reducing range of motion where needed. When the verbal directions lacked the detail for comprehension, she would take to physical measures instead, pressing onto my back intensely in efforts to initiate the correct movement, much to my shock.
Countering each exercise was a stretch for release, primarily focusing on the back and chest. Lower body exercises were near-nonexistent. Most of the routines were also executed at surprisingly low spring levels, which meant little challenge for any part of the body beyond the arms.
Countering each exercise was a stretch for release, primarily focusing on the back and chest. Lower body exercises were near-nonexistent. Most of the routines were also executed at surprisingly low spring levels, which meant little challenge for any part of the body beyond the arms.
Placing the hands on the "rails" of the Reformer was another example of a risky wrist move. Curling the hands into fists placed tremendous pressure on the knuckles. My neighbour, who could persevere through the pain in her palms no longer, reached for grippy cloth to protect her hands.
I was later informed of our regular instructor's illness-induced absence. I relayed my hope for the instructor's speedy recovery, partially for herself and partially for me.
I was later informed of our regular instructor's illness-induced absence. I relayed my hope for the instructor's speedy recovery, partially for herself and partially for me.
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In place of fatigue, hunger caught up with me after the class. Having somehow managed to scrape together six hours of fitful sleep, I had preserved enough alertness to proceed with unplanned detours. The first was to LUNA Bakery.
Items of sweet, carby nature are commonly sought after when in a floaty, half-awake state. LUNA Bakery's proximity to Studio Bon made it the obvious candidate for post-pilates exploration.
This visit saw the acquisition of Rice Financiers, a rice flour twist on the French pastry, and two styles of traditional Korean rice cakes.
This visit saw the acquisition of Rice Financiers, a rice flour twist on the French pastry, and two styles of traditional Korean rice cakes.
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Both rice cakes were priced at $3.75 apiece. I had reached for the Mugwort Fig Sweet Rice Cake (쑥 무화과 찰떡) first, given a positive impression from the last visit. It was subtly sweet and exceptionally sticky on my ungreased ceramic plate, but delicious nonetheless. The Black Bean Honey Rice Cake (서리태 콩 꿀 설기) was an add-on item originally intended for my Wonderland companion, for it seemed the most promising in terms of flavour balance and authenticity. He never received it in the end, so I enjoyed the honey and crunchy black beans in his stead.
While the difference in construction is unknown to me, 찰떡 appears as a softer, stickier rice cake with properties normally associated with glutinous rice flour, albeit less sweet than Chinese desserts involving the ingredient. In contrast, 설기 is fluffier and less dense, boasting cake-like qualities with the chewiness of rice flour. More investigation is needed to deduce definitive differences.
While the difference in construction is unknown to me, 찰떡 appears as a softer, stickier rice cake with properties normally associated with glutinous rice flour, albeit less sweet than Chinese desserts involving the ingredient. In contrast, 설기 is fluffier and less dense, boasting cake-like qualities with the chewiness of rice flour. More investigation is needed to deduce definitive differences.
Admittedly pricey, the Rice Financiers were $3.50 each. The Coffee and Yuzu flavours had been obtained as to compare powder-based and liquid-based customizations. Moistness was observed in both. The Yuzu rendition bore noticeable specks, likely that of brown butter; the same speckled cross-section was not discernible in the Coffee version, however. Neither revealed the same toasty nuttiness as regular financiers. In addition, the surface was damp instead of crisp, and the crumb dense instead of light.
That said, we enjoyed these to a greater degree than the rice cakes. The Yuzu was refreshing, while the Coffee was decadent with bits of chocolate folder within. Neither were particularly satiating, allowing sampling of the rice cakes in the same sitting.
That said, we enjoyed these to a greater degree than the rice cakes. The Yuzu was refreshing, while the Coffee was decadent with bits of chocolate folder within. Neither were particularly satiating, allowing sampling of the rice cakes in the same sitting.
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My next stop was Galleria. It doubled as a prospective destination for lunch takeout and POI for churro-flavoured Turtle Chips.
I scoffed at the costliness of the "Well Being Gimbap", though wouldn't have minded it as lunch beyond its price. Churro- and injeolmi-flavoured Turtle Chips were procured at the supposed discount rate of $3.98 per bag. A tinier bag of Sweet Vanilla was considered, but ultimately returned to its cardboard container out of lack of economic efficacy.
With a penchant for Gyros and Souvlaki, I had contemplated even the mediocre finds of Jimmy the Greek and Mr. Soulaki in nearby food courts. Eventually, I settled on Me Va Me, which was situated in the same plaza as Palgong's Steeles West location.
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An order of Chicken Shawarma Pita with Tahini Sauce was relayed to one of the two visibly irritated members of staff behind the Me Va Me Express counter. Service levels varied drastically from the courteousness of the York Mills outpost. Yet, conclusive for both wrap choices was the inevitable leaking of sauce from within. The pita, though, was far more delectable than the tough Laffa ochungg and I had the misfortune of dragging our teeth through last summer. The combination of a crisp shell and soft, supple interior made the experience significantly more enjoyable. The salted, pickled radish could have used some moderation, but the wrap was quite tasty overall.
The portion was gargantuan for its price, so I reserved half for a later meal. Supper saw sauce seepage rectified via reheating in a toaster oven. It was much better.
The portion was gargantuan for its price, so I reserved half for a later meal. Supper saw sauce seepage rectified via reheating in a toaster oven. It was much better.
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The coveted Mint Chocolate Smoothie was obtained from Palgong - a sugary treat to myself for somehow surviving FANCON Sunday.
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