NMIXX’s CHANGE UP: MIXX LAB Asia Tour Begins with a Bang in Manila

Once upon a time, two non-fans attended an NMIXX fan-con. Long story short, they went home as newly recruited NSWERs.

Last Friday, May 2, your resident CNA K-Pop bepeus attended NMIXX’s CHANGE UP: MIXX LAB fan concert in Manila, presented by LUNARI Global, at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay.

Source: @NMIXX_Official on X

Arriving at SMX, we had no expectations as to what the show would look like and what the setlist would be. Honestly, we didn’t do our research, just to keep the excitement raw. But let us confess one more thing: we attended the fan concert as casual listeners and nothing more.

We mentioned earlier that we had no expectations for the show, but we did anticipate that the queue might be a bit chaotic. In some ways, that turned out to be partially accurate. Upon arrival, we were greeted by ushers who asked for our IDs and QR codes, though it was initially a bit unclear since they were positioned beyond the entrance doors. After that, we were directed to the line for strapping and fan benefit claiming. The process from that point on was orderly, with lines separated by barricades and clearly marked entrance and exit points according to ticket tiers.

During the QR code scan, the staff asked whether we had Hi-Bye access. While we appreciated how friendly and direct the process was, it did leave us wondering if it would be even smoother if the team had a list of winners on hand. It’s a small thing, and overall the process worked well, but a quick check on their end might help avoid any confusion in future events. That said, none of this really got in the way of our experience.

As concertgoers who’ve attended shows by other groups that hand out random photocards (like SEVENTEEN), the claiming process here felt unusual but fair. They used a fishbowl method containing the members’ names—whichever name you pulled determined your photocard. The hand banners and flashlight covers came in reusable bags, so fans didn’t have to worry about carrying their freebies. And if you’ve seen our photo diary on TikTok, you’ll know we pulled Haewon and Sullyoon!

We already knew NMIXX had amazing vocals—it’s their thing, and it’s obvious in every track you hear on streaming platforms. But their live performances? On another level. Lily’s insane vocal range, the group’s live harmonization, and their hilarious antics made the show so much fun to watch.

Since it was our first time attending a girl group’s fan concert, we were shocked by the number of fanboys—and how they showed up! Lightsticks in hand, bias photos on full display, hyping the girls at every moment. And they weren’t just loud; they were respectful, cheering for every member and being considerate to other fans, at least from what we experienced.

When the lights dimmed and the red lights kicked in, the whole hall erupted. NMIXX opened the show with “Run for Roses,” the third track from Fe304: BREAK. Mics are on, vocals are out, performance’s all in. From there, the rest of the concert was a joyful blur.

When they said Filipino fans should expect an introduction of an imaginative stage production, they weren’t just saying it for lip service. It was indeed a one-of-a-kind concept. From what I remember of the VCR, the girls were trying to come up with different potions—each with its personality. And each potion matched the assigned member’s vibe so well. Not only that, but the other VCRs showed so much of the concept’s refreshing take.

They really hit us with this lineup that showcases their versatility:

• Run for Roses
• KNOW ABOUT ME
• BEAT BEAT
• Love Me Like This
• Young, Dumb, Stupid
• O.O
• plot twist (nmixx cover)
• Love Is Lonely
• Moving On
• TANK
• Just Did It
• SICKUHH (Feat. Kid Milli)
• BOOM
• DASH
• See that?
• Kiss
• Passionfruit
• Time of Our Life (NMIXX cover)
• Break The Wall
• HOME
• Neverending HOME (fast and slow-mo version)

Who are we kidding when we said the highlights were just Lily’s vocals, the group’s harmonies, and their antics? The real highlight was when three out of six NMIXX members waved at us despite being in obstructive seats—or at least that’s what our delulu minds tell us. And don’t get us started on Jiwoo, who rapped Kid Milli’s verse in ‘SICKUHH’ and stuck two star confetti on her cheeks and triggered our cuteness aggression. We wish we were even half as cute as her!

We came in as casuals with a vague sense of who’s who, except for Haewon, Lily, and Kyujin (we listen and we don’t judge). We left as fully converted NSWERs with biases: Lily, Haewon, Jiwoo, and BAE. It's too bad we don’t have physical tickets to add to our growing ticket collection, but we have photocards to keep!

Huge thanks again to our bepeus at LUNARI Global for partnering with us to give away tickets to this event!