Karpos Live pulled off another great show with Mix 9: ADOY + FKJ on November 14 at the ABS-CBN Vertis Tent.
The night started off with opening act Basically Saturday Night’s old-school boogie sound. These guys have come a long way since winning the 2018 Wanderbattle! Their set was a visual treat, too, with art by Issa Barte being projected on the screen.
Korean indie band ADOY took the stage next — language barriers who?? They made a connection with the audience through their music!
If you were to ask me to describe ADOY’s sound, I’d compare it to a slow Sunday drive, when you’re relaxed, windows down and wind blowing through your hair, and you just want to take in the beauty of your surroundings (and not stuck in Manila traffic). That’s exactly how feel-good ADOY’s Karpos Live set felt.
It’s also really cool how much their fanbase here in Manila has grown over just a couple of months! They played at Wanderland just last March, and 8 months later, you can see how they’ve really grown on the Philippine audience. We’re glad they came back so soon.
It was all smiles and sways around the tent while ADOY sang “San Francisco,” “Young,” plus their latest single “Pool!” Lead singer Juhwan took the opportunity to get real close to the crowd during their hit songs “Grace” and “Wonder” when he went into the pit to hold hands and sing to his fans. *insert Korean finger hearts here* That made the night extra memorable for those in the front rows for sure.
ADOY also get everyone to help them out with their last song, “Don’t Stop.” Juhwan got us all singing the song’s intro before the rest of the band came in to play the whole song (if you’re wondering, the lyrics of that intro just go “Whoaaaa, ohhhh, ohhhh, ohhhh” in a very fun melody — it’s not easy to explain but it is fun to sing along to). This last song is also one of their most fun, dance-able tracks, really leaving their set on a high note, and getting everyone pumped for the next act!
When FKJ (aka French Kiwi Juice) stepped on stage, things got pretty insane.
First thing’s first: FKJ’s set-up was incredible. It was just one man surrounded by tons of instruments. Guitars, keyboards, a saxophone, and more of his musical equipment that we probably can’t name but can still be amazed by.
He showed off his musical prowess with his songs like “Skyline” “Better Give U Up,” and newer tracks like “Risk,” (a new one he performed for the first time at Mix 9) switching from one instrument to the next seamlessly during songs. Perfect timing, no mess ups — is FKJ some kind of magician?
We loved hearing his own twist of Busta Rhymes’ “I Give It To You,” an r&b classic! The crowd couldn’t help but sing along to that one. And right before playing one of his biggest hits, FKJ treated us to an awesome guitar solo first. Once he went into the intro of “Tadow” everyone went wild. Don’t even get me started on that saxophone riff. Definitely one of the highlights of the night.
FKJ really showed us how diverse his musical skill set is, not just with the instruments he can play, but with how well-versed he is in different genres, too. He could effortlessly go from upbeat grooves, to r&b style, to a slower and more classical sound (“Ylang Ylang” with the melodic piano gave us that vibe).
And just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, he brought out none other than (((O))) for the encore to perform their song “Vibin’ Out.” She had everyone swaying to the melody, and as the song title suggests, just vibing out. It was the perfect way to end the night! What a power couple.
It’s safe to say that FKJ has raised our standards for any one-man-band ever. If you’re a fan of his just from listening on Spotify or seeing his music videos, you NEED to see him play live. It’s a whole new elevated experience!
Mix 9 was one of Karpos Live’s most sensational shows yet, and we can’t wait to see what the last mix of the year has in store!
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