Hong Kong rock band Nowhere Boys closed their decade-long music journey with a powerful, sold-out performance on January 30th, marking the culmination of their 10th-anniversary project, Letters of Nowhere – The Concert. The finale was an electrifying success, characterized by fervent crowd participation and an unexpected display of resilience by vocalist Van.
The concert, held before a packed and highly energized audience, saw fans enthusiastically engaging with the band’s eclectic repertoire. During the performance of their hit “Fairies Beyond the Sky” (天外飛仙), the venue erupted as attendees waved towels and jumped in unison with the lyrics. Amid this high-octane moment, lead singer Van lost his balance while landing a jump, suffering a painful injury to his left foot.
Show Must Go On: A Test of Perseverance
Despite the evident pain, Van immediately picked himself up, grimacing. Showing tremendous professional resolve, he continued the set, famously calling upon the crowd, “You help me jump!” The audience responded instantly, becoming a powerful chorus and synchronized kinetic force to buoy the frontman. After a brief pause to compose himself, Van declared, “The show must go on,” before launching into the rock anthem “The Last Rock and Roll” (最後的搖滾).
The injury did not derail the show’s intimacy. Supported by his bandmates, Van walked along the three sides of the stage perimeter, taking photos with the grateful audience. He then took a seat onstage to lead a moving rendition of “I Am Here” (我在), prompting a massive sea of light as fans illuminated the venue with their phone flashlights.
Post-show, Van received immediate attention from paramedics before returning to the stage in a wheelchair for mandatory photos with guests, maintaining a cheerful demeanor throughout.
Bandmates Rally Around Injured Frontman
Recounting the moment he fell, Van explained that a prior injury flared up, causing excruciating pain and subsequent spasms across both feet, rendering him unable to stand.
“I felt like my soul was leaving my body towards the end of ‘Fairies Beyond the Sky’,” Van admitted, stressing that the support of his bandmates was crucial to completing the performance. Drummer Nate, visibly distressed by Van’s condition, noted the extreme pain his colleague endured but emphasized the necessity of “keeping the rhythm” to prevent the entire show from collapsing into disarray. Band member Fisher, known for his humor, remarked that a photograph capturing Nate’s focused intensity could yield a lengthy article in itself.
The emotional high points were numerous. Van confessed to tearing up mid-concert when he saw the collective wave of phone lights, stating that he tried to restrain his emotions to prevent them from affecting his delivery, though the physical trauma ironically made him feel “disembodied.”
Inspired by Resilience and Dedication
The concert featured a star-studded lineup of guest performers and industry figures, including renowned artists Louis Cheung and Kay Tse, Sita Wong, C-Hing, and several members of the popular girl group COLLAR. Nowhere Boys’ collaborations included a rock version of “The Ambition of the Otherworlder” with Winka@COLLAR, and a performance of “Hit It Right” (撞到正)—a song they wrote for singer Vincy Chan, who gleefully sang along from the audience.
Van paid special tribute to actor Louis Cheung, whose promotion efforts for the film The Kid served as a major inspiration. “The movie depicts an indomitable spirit, much like our band,” Van stated. “What truly inspired me was seeing Louis Cheung personally hand out flyers and promote the film. That courage is what’s needed for a band, a film, or any art form.”
The concept of persistence was a recurring theme. Before launching into “Box Office Poison” (票房毒藥), Van promised, “I will keep singing this song until the day we sell out immediately upon release.” The audience roared its support, emphatically shouting “We will buy tickets!” when he sang the line, “Who will buy tickets?” The moment brought the emotional singer to tears backstage. Guitarist Ken summarized the band’s ethos, citing a quote: “As long as you treat every step as the first step, you will never tire. We don’t feel fatigued because every show is treated like an inaugural performance.”
The anniversary concert reinforced Nowhere Boys’ reputation not just for musical prowess, but for sheer enduring dedication in the face of adversity.
