On May 21, BM (a.k.a. Big Matthew) brought the fun to New York for his After the After Party Tour. After touring here numerous times as a member of the K-pop co-ed group KARD, this was his first tour as a soloist.
Since the announcement, the tour has generated a lot of buzz for many Hidden KARDs (KARD’s fandom name), especially among the adult crowd. The shows were tailored for ages 21+ and were phone-free, allowing BM to provide fans with an unfiltered, one-of-a-kind experience.
Many fans arrived at Webster Hall dressed seductively for this highly anticipated event. Upon entering, attendees took photos with the marquee before locking their phones in pouches. Several carried BM’s signature BTG (Big Tiddie Gang) lightsticks.
Starting things off was the Korean Canadian duo CLUB BOYBND. Members BU-WAN and Roc Lee set the lively mood for the night as they performed tracks such as “like this” and “hmu.” They mentioned how it was their first show in New York and walked up to the barricade to be closer to fans. Although it was a quick 15-minute set, the duo surely got everyone warmed up.
The next act was Sunkis, a Taiwanese American singer known for his dreamy vocals. His set included the R&B-styled songs “Voicemail,” “All For You,” and others. He performed his version of J.Tajor’s “Like I Do” while he danced to the choreography that went viral on TikTok. A cute moment was when he serenaded a lucky fan during “Top Tier.”
It wasn’t long before it was BM’s turn to take the stage. He opened the night with “Nectar (feat. Jay Park)” and “Embers” from his new EP Element. It was a time for him to be his unapologetic self as he got the audience screaming along to his songs’ NSFW lyrics. With BM being a skilled dancer, he sprinkled provocative dance moves into his performances from grinding to hip thrusting.
The show was only about to get hotter as the set progressed. With each passing minute, BM had more surprises in store. For instance, he serenaded a special fan, although it was more of a lap dance segment Magic Mike (or Magic Matthew for a more suitable name) style. Another noteworthy highlight was when he invited three contestants on stage for a twerkathon. The winner who received the loudest cheers won a signed BTG jersey and bracelet.
The setlist included hits from his solo discography along with tracks he was featured in such as KARD’s “ICKY” and Koala’s “RSVP [Remix].” He even teased the crowd with an unreleased song. With only a few minutes left, BM came out for an encore performing “Badgirl Badboy” and “Motion,” the latter being the crowd’s pick.
Attendees left the venue elated at that unforgettable show. Through this tour, BM got to bring out a sexy, bold side of him that many were eager to see. With the warm reception he received, it is safe to say that Hidden KARDs will welcome his return.
Photos and words by Angela Leung
