Far East Movement

The hottest trend in pop music is a serious case of East meets West. South Korean pop groups are taking over, and if you’re into choreographed dance moves and gravity-defying hairstyles, nothing could be better. The new movement is more than just Psy. Billboard has been charting and closely covering...

By Kat Bein

June 26, 2014

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The hottest trend in pop music is a serious case of East meets West. South Korean pop groups are taking over, and if you’re into choreographed dance moves and gravity-defying hairstyles, nothing could be better. The new movement is more than just Psy. Billboard has been charting and closely covering the K-pop invasion for at least a year, and come Friday, anime fans and Asian-culture enthusiasts can get their rocks off when Block B headlines the Fillmore (1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach). Block B is a seven-man musical act with roots in hip-hop and dance. Created by K-pop visionary Cho PD, the group was meant to be a kind of “South Korean Eminem project,” though the final product is a bit more N’Sync than Marshall Mathers. In true K-pop tradition, their presentation is a high-energy assault of the senses, with heavy emphasis on visually striking elements, from fantastical getups and accoutrements to high-quality production. Their live sets are living music videos, with plenty of costume changes and more polished dance sequences than a marathon of ABDC. This is Block B’s first U.S. showcase, and it’s hitting only two other markets — New York and Washington, D.C.
Fri., June 27, 7:30 p.m., 2014

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Kat Bein is a freelance writer and has been described as this publication’s "senior millennial correspondent." She has an impressive, if unhealthy, knowledge of all things pop culture.

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Twitter: @KatSaysKill