South Korean indie band wave to earth performs at the Mall of Asia Arena for their 'play with earth! 0.03' tour, February 28, 2025. Photos courtesy of Kass Flores and Karpos

Unlike most South Korean acts who perform in the Philippines, wave to earth made no grand entrance at their concert at the Mall of Asia Arena. In near-total darkness, the three-piece indie band and their two touring members simply walked onstage from the side, took their positions and picked up their instruments. 

Yet, their mere shadowy figures were enough to send waves of fervent screams rippling through the venue.

The screams soon gave way to a stunning vocal harmony, steadily building for over a minute as guitars and a saxophone gradually joined in. For a brief moment, the concert hall was plunged into darkness and silence—until the stage lights finally flickered on, illuminating the band as they opened the recent Manila stop of their “play with earth! 0.03” tour with the instrumental “are you bored?”.

And for the next hour and a half, the band—mainly consisting of vocalist and guitarist Daniel Kim, bassist Cha Soon-jong and drummer Shin Dong-gyu—swept Filipino fans away with their signature dreamy soundscapes.

wave to earth is considered a rarity among South Korean acts, having built a substantial overseas fan base despite not being a K-pop idol group or a mainstream pop-rock band—typically the ones that manage to attract large international followings. Instead, the trio has risen in popularity with their blend of soft rock, jazz and lo-fi, gaining traction through TikTok, where their songs “bad” and “seasons” amassed massive attention.

When wave to earth previously visited Manila in March 2024, they played to a packed New Frontier Theater for two nights. It’s no surprise, then, that they opted for the much larger MOA Arena this time, their legion of fans packing the Pasay venue.

The band prepared a 14-song setlist, largely drawn from their September release, “play with earth! 0.03,” which anchors the tour. Letting the music speak for itself, the act barely paused after taking the stage, blitzing through the first nine songs.

While wave to earth’s music possesses a relaxed vibe, the concert had its share of exciting moments. For instance, the audience erupted in cheers when Daniel began strumming the melody of “bad” on his guitar. 

“You know this song, right?” Daniel asked, the crowd responding with an excited “yes.” When he invited, “Can you sing with me?”, the fans eagerly obliged, singing the first verse of “bad” before the band took over.

Daniel’s soulful vocals shined especially in “slow dive,” opening the song by singing the chorus nearly unaccompanied, and “homesick,” where his coos echoed hauntingly throughout the arena.

During “love.,” the venue lit up as the audience turned on their phone flashlights, immersing themselves in the song’s expressions of desire and romance, while the band performed under a wash of red light.

In “annie.,” a mellow pop-rock track laced with lyrical angst, the crowd shouted the defiant “F**k you, I am saying” line with enthusiasm at Daniel’s urging.

While waiting for the encore set, the audience briefly chanted “seasons,” hoping to hear the hit song. Their wish was granted as the band later delivered the wistful ballad about longing.

The arena was also filled with cheers as the long-haired Dong-gyu launched into a drum solo, but the excitement grew when, after his jacket slipped off, he tossed it aside, revealing only a black tank top underneath, triggering ecstatic shrieks.

Near the end of the concert—produced by Karpos Multimedia—the band thanked their Filipino fans. “You guys actually made our day. Thank you so much. Manila, mahal ko kayo (I love you),” Soon-jong said.

“Even though the show ends like this, still, we will treasure this moment for such a long time. So thank you again and we will see you soon,” he added.