[PHILIPPINES] Dreamcatcher Shines ‘Under the Moonlight’ at Comeback Concert in Manila

South Korean girl group Dreamcatcher made their long-awaited return to Manila after four years, holding their Under the Moonlight concert on August 28, 2023, at the New Frontier Theater.

Comprising seven members — Dami, Gahyeon, Handong, JiU, Siyeon, SuA, and Yoohyeon — the girl group debuted in 2017 with their first single album, Nightmare, featuring the title track Chase Me. In late May of this year, the septet released their eighth mini-album, Apocalypse : From Us.

Their last visit to Manila was on March 24, 2019 when they performed for their Filipino InSomnias for the first time at their Invitation from Nightmare City concert held at the SM North EDSA Skydome.

Draped in black hooded robes and wielding their MongMongies (Dreamcatcher’s official lightstick), Filipino InSomnias proudly showed just how much they missed the members. Right from the opening VCR, the fans passionately cheered, chanting “Dreamcatcher! Dreamcatcher!”

Dreamcatcher & InSomnias’ Moonlit Reunion

The girls finally took to the stage, kicking off their concert with consecutive performances of VISION and MAISON.

In their welcoming greetings, SuA expressed gratitude to the Filipino InSomnias for attending the concert, promising to repay their love by showing good performances and leaving good memories for them to look back upon.

The setlist transitioned to a brighter vibe with Airplane and Fairytale. During this segment, the girls went around the stage to greet their InSomnias closer.

Following this, the group delved back into rock anthems Break the Wall and Propose, the latter belonging to their latest mini-album, Apocalypse : From Us.

In the following chat segment, Gahyeon asked the audience, “How was [our latest] album? Did you guys like it?” Filipino InSomnias unanimously responded with a yes, their excitement resonating throughout the theatre. SuA praised the fans’ boundless energy, remarking, “Your reactions are the best!”

Continuing the concert, the girls performed Scream and BOCA. A brief intermission followed as the members left the stage for a quick costume change.

A montage of clips tracing Dreamcatcher’s career played on screen, prompting Filipino InSomnias to reminisce and laugh, reflecting on the group’s evolution over the years. This was succeeded by another VCR showcasing the members’ personal video diaries, offering fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their daily lives.

Returning to the stage in fierce all-black outfits, the group mesmerised the audience with performances of BEcause and Deja Vu.

The staff then brought out a birthday cake prepared by fans for SuA, who recently celebrated her birthday on August 10. JiU, the group’s leader, led the crowd in singing the birthday song for her bandmate.

With gratitude, SuA acknowledged InSomnias for the thoughtful gesture. “The cake is really cute and detailed! Thank you so much for this birthday cake,” said the group’s main dancer, conveying her appreciation with a 90-degree bow.

In true Filipino fashion, the InSomnias in the venue playfully teased SuA by chanting “Iiyak na yan! (She’s going to cry!)”. The birthday girl, being a good sport, imitated a childish cry, earning laughs from the audience.

TMI Time With Dreamcatcher

Given the concert’s title, Under the Moonlight, Handong asked her bandmates what the word ‘moonlight’ reminded them of.

JiU answered that it reminded her of InSomnias because for her, they represent light and strength. Meanwhile, SuA likened Yoohyeon’s sparkling eyes to moonlight, prompting Yoohyeon to humorously stare into SuA’s eyes up close. 😂

Main rapper Dami commented that they enjoyed the city’s night view from their hotel room the previous night. JiU noted that Manila’s night sky had many stars and that it reminded her of InSomnias and their MongMongies.

SuA also shared a TMI about Siyeon. “We went swimming at the hotel yesterday, but surprisingly, Siyeon doesn’t know how to swim. Yoohyeon and I held onto her to keep her afloat,” she said, even demonstrating the impromptu swimming lesson with Yoohyeon.

“I didn’t know Siyeon couldn’t swim. I always assumed she could because she always brings her swimsuit [when we stay at hotels],” Yoohyeon added.

Smiling shyly, Siyeon explained: “Even though I can’t swim, I always bring my swimsuit to make the most of my time with my members. I want to spend more time with them.”

Gahyeon also teased Yoohyeon for losing to SuA in a backstroke race they had at the pool: “Why couldn’t Yoohyeon win even though she’s taller [than SuA]?” This playful comment sent fans and members alike laughing.

For InSomnias, Dreamcatcher is Always Worth the Wait

After the mini TMI segment came to an end, Dreamcatcher further showcased their versatility with the mellow To. You and the sultry Jazz Bar.

The rock goddesses returned not soon after when the girls performed BONVOYAGE and DEMIAN, both from their latest EP, with the former serving as its title track.

As the concert neared its end, the members expressed their regret that time passed too quickly. Dami remarked, “We’re having such a great time with you all, but unfortunately, we only have a few songs left.”

“But this won’t be our last time [meeting], right? We’ll make sure to see you guys often,” Siyeon promised.

Yoohyeon added, “I don’t want to say goodbye, but I promise to have more fun with you all when we return. Will you all wait for us?” As expected, Filipino InSomnias answered with emphatic yeses.

Dreamcatcher then performed Mayday and Wake up before leaving the stage to prepare for the encore.

Returning in matching T-shirts, the members treated the audience to their first encore song, New days. They also played around with the life-size standees of their baby photos prepared by their Filipino InSomnias, carrying them around the stage. Siyeon was moved to tears when she saw the standees.

Yoohyeon also commended the huge banner that Filipino InSomnias had prepared featuring lyrics from New days, saying that it was heartwarming:

“Even when I grow tired, if your voice reaches me;
A new day will come to me again”

While Siyeon composed herself, the members shared final remarks about the concert before their last song:

“It’s time to say goodbye, but don’t be sad because with goodbyes, we get to say hello again. It’s been quite some time since we returned to the Philippines, and I know that you’ve been waiting for us for such a long time. It’s really nice to see you guys again. I heard yesterday that there was a typhoon here, but thank you for coming today despite the bad weather. I love you!”

JiU

“Even if we lose our voice, we know our InSomnias will sing along with us. I think this concert helped you release the stress of waiting for us for such a long time. You guys are the best, even with small events like this.”

SuA

“We were last here in 2019, and it has been four years since then. Thank you for patiently waiting for us, and it’s all thanks to you that we were able to come back and perform again. Please continue to wait for us, and we promise that we’ll see you again.”

Dami

“Yesterday, I looked at a photo that we took during our previous visit here in Manila, and I think we all grew up a lot [since then]. I put in a lot of effort to present a better performance for you all, and I promise that I’ll keep on improving for the next time we meet again.”

Handong

Although Siyeon remained emotional as the event drew to a close, she managed to convey a brief message to their cherished InSomnias: “I feel like I might cry again if I say too much, so I’ll keep it short. We’re really sorry that we came late [to see you all again], but seeing you guys have so much fun makes it all worth it.”

After two hours filled with fun and heartwarming moments, Dreamcatcher closed out their comeback concert in Manila with a performance of Reason.

Dreamcatcher is set to embark on their 2023 World Tour [Apocalypse : From Us], which will take them to North America next. The tour is scheduled to begin on September 3 in Montreal City, Québec, Canada.

The Seoul Story would like to thank Random Minds PH for extending us a media invite! We hope to see Dreamcatcher back in Manila again soon. 🤘

Check out more photos from the concert here.

Written by : Sai
Photos by : Sai

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