Rising up to the challenge with a 20-song set list, CNBLUE came to play on Saturday at the IndigO2 London. The band was clearly excited about this dream come true - to pay homage and play their own music in the home of Rock.

The crowd who came to see CNBLUE perform at the prestigious stage traveled from all corners of Europe. While composed mostly of women, there were a number of men in the audience as well. There were also those who traveled all the way from Asia and their own country, Korea, manifesting that the band has quite a unique tailgating groupie-type following now - an early indication of success for a band in a world stage. The fans were diligent, arriving as early as the day before, doubly ensuring that they will not miss the heart of the action. At 9AM on concert day, exactly 9 hours before the doors opened, the queue outside already amassed 200 people.

Not one to disappoint fans, CNBLUE was gracious during the reception they were given by the European audience. They connected with the fans, with leader Jung Yong Hwa, speaking mostly, if not entirely in English during intermission breaks. Lee Jung Shin was assisting in the talk portions, especially for comic effect, shouting "Harry Potter!!!" to the amusement of the audience. Lee Jong Hyun was playful, interacting with the crowd with smiles extending from ear-to-ear, sincerely in awe at the chance to perform where their musical influences come from. Kang Min Hyuk, perched at the center by his drumset also played along when possible, once indulging Yong Hwa in their adlib performance of Oasis' Supersonic during an intermission.

But what is a rock performance without its music? At the heart of CNBLUE's London live is a set list that sampled the entire breadth of their discography - performing tunes from their Korean and Japanese releases since the 2009 debut through only a few weeks ago when they dropped their newest offering in Japan.

CNBLUE opened the rock-out session with "Intuition". The intro song was shortly followed by two songs that sought to break the ice and energize in "Have A Good Night" from their newest album, and "Wake Up".

The second segment of the performance started with the catchy "Love Girl" followed by "Love Revolution" and "Yes (Kimio/Geulraeyo)".

The third act was a bit mellowed down with "Y, Why", "Love Comes After Rain" and "Still Loving You". However, during the MC intermission, CNBLUE was still on a high. By then, for countless times throughout the evening, CNBLUE said they are happy to be in the United Kingdom. Leader Yong Hwa then said that they share a common love for British bands, such as Coldplay, U2, Beatles and Oasis.

"Just Please" begins the fourth act, trailed by "One Time" and "Tattoo". Then towards the planned final act, CNBLUE took the performance to fever pitch, playing five songs straight with "Hey You", "Let's Go Crazy", the English versions of "Now or Never" and "Where You Are" and finally "In My Head". After which, the band said goodbye only to return a few moments later for their Encore set, where they played their mainstream hits "I'm A Loner" and "Love". They closed the night in gratitude with "Thank You".

There really was a lot to be thankful for - for both band and fans alike. CNBLUE showed their genuine connection and concern to their audience that night, even consistently reminding them to take care and to step back when the crowd was getting rowdy and cramped on the general admission floor. Still true to their indie roots, CNBLUE showed their real colors as musicians -- laidback, carefree and passionate. Each bullet of sweat is proof of the rough road they took to get there, the dreams they still dare to dream, and the hard work.

The audience watching CNBLUE that night, whether for the first time or the tenth time, will also be grateful for the passionate performance that CNBLUE, the newest world band in the London block put forth that weekend. With memorable performances and an equally memorable crowd, this certainly was the first, but definitely not the last stage in London.

Writer: Dorothy Advincula | Contributors: Shar D. (BOICE), Emy K (Blue Impact) | Photo Credits: Shar D. (BOICE), Emy K (Blue Impact)