Pop concerts signal advent of autumn

Now the summer has gone, and the new season has come silently, tiptoeing seemingly from nowhere. For pop music fans, it can only signal one thing: the season of live concerts is on its way.

Portable music gadgets such as MP3s have drastically changed music lovers` lifestyle in recent years but unrepeatable and non-duplicable excitement of live music is something that high-end multimedia technology can never change. This fall, top musicians from both home and abroad are fully ready to prove this one more time, with various packages of musical presents.

Korean pop legend Cho Yong-pil who gave his first concert in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, last month, will continue his nationwide concert tour titled "2005 Pil& Peace" at the Seoul Olympic Stadium in Jamsil, southeastern Seoul, 8 p.m. on Sept. 30.

With more than 1,500 staff members working on the set and props that need 65 five-ton trucks to carry, the "Korean national singer" will present a special peace-wishing performance on the gigantic dove-shaped stage. Tickets are 20,000 to 130,000 won. For more information, call (02) 522-9933.

For young K-pop fans, the five-man group Buzz will hold a special concert to celebrate the second anniversary of their official debut, for five days from Oct. 1, which will be continued on Oct. 3, 8 and 9 at Yonsei University Auditorium, under the title of "Happy Buzz Day."

Since the band released its second album in March this year, Buzz has been enjoying its heyday with hits starting with their title song "Coward" to tracks like "Thorns" and "A Journey to Myself."

To celebrate their success, the band will be showing new styles of performances added with the unique individuality of each member. In order to share the same feelings with the audience, the band will have a special dress code for each day. Tickets are 38,500 to 49,500 won. For further details of the concerts, call (02) 3446-3225.

Park Hyo-shin, the young R&B wonder who is best known for his deep and appealing voice, will offer the first live concert stage in two years.

Never performing on stage since he released "Neo Classicism," an album of remade songs, last year, Park will be singing live at KEPCO Art Center, southern Seoul, from Sept. 22 to 25, which will be going on in five other cities including Daegu (Oct. 1, 2), Busan (8, 9), Suwon (15, 16) Gwangju (22, 23) and Changwon (29, 30).

In addition to his hit songs from the album including "The Snow Flower" and "Scattered Days," Park will pay tribute to the great R&B musician Luther Vandross, who passed away in July this year, by singing a few of his songs. Tickets start from 66,000 won. For further detail, call (02) 512-9496.

Im Jae-bum, the undisputable champion of powerful vocal ability, who is often compared with Park for that reason, will also come back onstage at the Dome Art Hall inside the Children`s Grand Park, eastern Seoul, for three days from Oct. 28.

Since his solo debut in 1991, Im`s irresistibly charming voice has given inspiration to many pop singers pursuing various genres of music. This time, Im has chosen a smaller venue, for the audience to maximally enjoy the special time with him. Tickets range from 66,000 to 77,000 won. For further information, call (02) 780-0603.

Another interesting match-up of concerts are that of Lee Moon-se and Lee Soo-young.

Lee Moon-se, some 20 of whose past songs have been remade by younger generation of K-pop stars, will seek to add a few more on the list of his almost countless sold out concerts, as he host his "Solo Recital" at Seoul Kyoyuk Munwha Hoekwan Theater in southern Seoul, on Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, which will be continued on Oct. 8 and 9. (02) 575-3003.

In fact, Lee Soo-young, who was dubbed "Korean ballad Queen" by the U.S. music magazine Billboard, owed Lee Moon-se a lot for her popularity, as her album "The Classic," sold more than 430,000 copies, with one of his past hit songs, "Gwanghwamun Sonata" becoming the biggest hit.

Her concert, "The Story" will be at Seoul Olympic Hall, eastern Seoul on Oct. 2 and 3. Tickets are 44,000 to 66,000 won. For details, call (02) 3442-3353.

To the great delight of old Western pop music fans, Nana Mouskouri the legendary Greek goddess of song, will give her first and last concert in the country at the Olympic Hall on Oct. 8. Earlier this year, the 71-year-old Greek has declared that she would retire this year after this farewell world tour, which started in Europe in April.

After the concert, the tour will go on in Oceania and North America. For Korean fans, she will present such familiar songs as "Try to Remember" and "Over and Over." Tickets start from 66,000 won. For more information, call (02) 02-539-0793.

(danlee@heraldm.com)

By Lee Yong-sung