Concert Roundup: Down the Rabbit Hole to Wanderland 2013

Title: Down the Rabbit Hole to Wanderland 2013

Written by: Bianchi Mendoza

Photos by: Karen De La Fuente

It has been said that: “Not all who wander are lost.” Some wander to get lost or search of something special. And that’s exactly what hundreds of music-lovers found at the first-ever Wanderland Music and Arts Festival held last Saturday (May 18).  It was the first major concert to be held at the Globe Circuit Event Grounds in Makati. The full day of sonic bliss became what felt like the venue’s unofficial inauguration.

                The gates were opened at 11am and Taken by Cars revved the crowd up and heated up the afternoon with fan favorites including the anthemic, “This is our City”. Rock band Pulso bled out infectious melodies and Triphop duo Yolanda Moon infused some soul into the chill atmosphere of the afternoon. She’s Only Sixteen amped the energy up with some indie pop goodness. As festival goer Francesca Albano said, “The vibe started to escalate when She’s Only Sixteen took the stage.”

                Later in the afternoon, Australian duo Colour Coding (also of the band, Operator Please) burst into their set with “Hold Tight” and “Leave, It’s Over”— also delighting fans with their rendition of The Killers’ “When You Were Young”. Indie pop quintet Tully on Tully then took the stage, with frontwoman Natalie Foster in fiery orange they started the set with “No Problems”, “Eyes of Glass” and played the rest of their set against a blush-tinged sky. They finished it off with their debut single, “Naked”. New Zealandnatives Avalanche City played an awesome set. The folk band was originally a solo project by David Baxter. They played “Love, Love, Love” and other fan favourites.

                As the sun went down, Up Dharma Down turned up the heat and began their set with the haunting track off of their latest album Capacities, “Feelings”— a collaboration with Paul Buchanan (of Scottish band Blue Nile) their set also included hits like “Indak” and “Tadhana”. Festival goer Shay Takeuchi said that the highlgihts of the festival for her were: Up Dharma Down, Neon Trees and The Temper Trap’s set.

                With 30 minutes in between sets, revellers were free to roam and frolic around the grounds to experience live art performances by Anjo Bolarda x Martojaks, Secret Fresh and Thursday Room. Festival goers were treated to free drinks and other cool stuff from various product sponsors. Inflatable slides, bull rides, jousts and a Velcro wall peppered the lush, green open field.

                At around half past eight, Nada Surf was up next. After more than two decades in the music scene, they finally found their way onto our shores. True icons of alt-rock, they delighted fans with well-loved tracks like: “Inside of Love”, “Always Love” and  “Concrete Bed”. Lead singer Matthew Caws sported a salt and pepper ‘do but their music has not aged. And as one of their many beloved songs goes, “It’s never too late for teenage dreams.” (It was a teenage dream of mine to hear them play live).

                Half an hour after Nada Surf’s memorable performance, Neon Trees’ electrifying performance began. Midway through the set, frontman Tyler Glenn ditched his orange jacket and flung it backstage like a burst of sunlight and exploded into the rest of their super charged set that included hits like “Animal” and “1983”. Neon Trees’ performance was a delicious mixture of alt-rock and new wave—even covering the 80s anthem, “Don’t You Want Me” (originally by Human League) towards the end of their set. Tylertook time to give us some sage advice: “Don’t let any a**hole tell you you’re not good enough. Just grab them by the face and whisper: everybody talks…” The screams were deafening. We knew what song was coming next.

                Tyler was a firecracker on stage: twisting the microphone wire around his neck; kneeling and arching his back until it touched the ground. Sweating bullets, it seemed like the only way to cool down was to go for a swim, so he crowdsurfed in the sea of screaming fans. Drummer Elaine Bradley, tweeted the next day: “Playing here in the Philippinesdefinitely needs to happen again. Such a great crowd @wanderlandfest. What a fantastic night!”

At around midnight, headliners The Temper Trap finally took the stage opening with the monster hit “Love Lost”.  Then came “Fader” and a breathtaking performance of “Drum Song”. After a powerful set, they ended with the indie-turned-mainstream anthem, “Sweet Disposition”. It was an ethereal and magical moment when the day-long festivities came to a close under a rain of confetti as Dougy’s tender vocals faded into the night. 

See more photos from the show here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151940352343032

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Concert Roundup: Aerosmith makes history at first Southeast Asian concert in Mall Of Asia Arena

Aerosmith makes history at first Southeast Asian concert in Mall Of Asia Arena
By Jamie Ortega 

What happens when the greatest American rock ‘n’ roll band of all time comes to Manila? You watch and you marvel. That was exactly what I did last May 8, 2013 as Steve Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, David Hull and Joey Kramer collectively known as the band AEROSMITH delivered an incredible show at their first Southeast Asian concert in history at the Mall Of Asia Arena.
In a video posted on myxph.com last April 17 Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler invited his Filipino fans to the concert with his message: “You better be there. We’re gonna rock your butt off; nothing that you’ve never seen before on TV, but we’re bringing it to you live. So, from me and all the boys, we’re gonna kick your (butt). Mabuhay!” and kick butt they did- from start to finish. 

As a ‘90s kid who grew up listening to Aerosmith while doing her homework, getting over a heartbreak or studying for a test (pretty much any scenario in her life had an Aerosmith soundtrack to it), it made me immeasurably happy to discover that the band decided to make it a night filled with their greatest hits. By that decision alone it was as if they were dedicating the night to their fans, people who’ve been with them from the very beginning, back when they were struggling musicians from Boston trying to make it in the music business.

Initially, the stage, which was set up like a fashion show runway (horizontal at the back and vertical in the middle), seemed like an odd set-up for a rock concert to me. But as soon as Tyler appeared and performed in a tank top, vest, silver pants, shades and a blue feathered headpiece, it slowly dawned on me- a stage of that length provided enough room for the front man and the rest of the band to move around freely and connect with the audience.

Tyler began the show with a quick greeting of “Hello Manila,” before launching into his first song, Love In An Elevator, from the band’s 1989 album Pump. This was followed by Draw The Line and Jaded which ranked No.86 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of the 00’s. While performing, Steve would run to the left and to the right parts of the stage, his mike stand in his hand. At certain intervals he would toss his stand from left to right gyrating, shuffling and sometimes even shimmying while singing the song.

A concert insider once said that Filipino audiences are notorious for showing a lack of enthusiasm at concerts, that they would stand-up during certain songs then sit down again once the lesser known tunes would be played. But this night had none of that. When the band performed Cryin, one of their biggest hits, the entire Arena sang along. This feat was replicated when the band performed their other hits like Walk This Way, Dude (Looks Like A Lady), Living On The Edge, etc.

Tyler reciprocated the audience’s reaction by interacting with them whenever he could. He hugged a group of female teenagers, crawled over the speakers, and even took a fan’s cap, tried it on for size, then threw it back out in the crowd. He was the Steve Tyler,the “Demon OF Scream” the band's fans grew up with- crazy, passionate, wild, come to life and they enjoyed every minute of it. But Tyler wasn’t the only star that night- Perry and Kramer, were given their time to shine as well. During the show, Tyler would often walk up to Perry and sing close to his face as Tyler’s screams blended with Perry’s guitar riffs. Kramer also displayed his drum skills in a five minute drum solo that the crowd cheered and applauded,

But if there was one performance that stood out among the 19 songs performed that night, it would definitely have to be the 1973 power ballad “Dream On.” Before the concert I thought my favorite number would be “Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” because I was a fan of the movie Armageddon and it IS timeless- people still sing that song on TV and in karaoke bars to this day!

But it was the execution of” Dream On” that won me over. Picture this-- Perry on top of a grand piano with Steve singing and playing ON the piano as four smoke machines spew steam around them? It was a unique way of interpreting the song and I loved the creativity and showmanship that went into it.

Some acts like to end the concert with their latest hit, but for this show the band chose “Sweet Emotion,” one of their earlier songs, to be the encore, and truthfully, I wouldn’t have it any other way. That song choice showed that they have come full circle and if this really is their last tour they ended it in a fine way- by going back to their roots.

Before the band finally left the stage, a stream of white confetti fell from the ceiling as Steve shouted “Mahal ko kayo” while stripdancing and lipsynching to Muddy Waters’s “Manish Boy”- it was perfect ending to a truly historical night,

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Concert Roundup: New Wave In The Summertime with Modern English and The Alarm

New Wave In The Summertime with Modern English and The Alarm

Written by Forsythe Jones

Last Friday(May 3, 2013), the SM Mall of Asia Arena was turned into a virtual time capsule as Modern English and The Alarm, two of the most popular British bands of their time headlined Back To The 80s, revival concert party.

DMC Philippines, one of the concert’s promoters headed by Jessie Cambosa a.k.a. Jessie Gonzales, former station manager of the now defunct WXB 102, the most popular new wave radio station during the 80s was also responsible for staging lost 80s, a similar new wave concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum back in 2008 headlined by A Flock of Seagulls, Real Life and When In Rome.

For many local music fans, the 80s remain a popular decade as other sensations of that popular decade such as the Lotus Eaters, Simple Minds, China Crisis, Cyndi Lauper and Belinda Carlisle have all had successful gigs.

Robbie Grey and Mike Peters, the driving forces behind Modern English and The Alarm respectively, may now well be into their 50s. But they still managed to draw a respectable crowd, with a good number of youngsters singing and dancing along to their mostly 30-year old music.

Some actually came in 80s inspired haircuts and the colorful wear that also defined the era. There was even one who wore a WXB 102 t-shirt. We can’t tell if there were any who actually wore shoulder pads to complete the 80s look.

But it also didn’t hurt that the headliners got able local support from DJ Jon Tupaz of Jill’s and Juan Miguel Salvador and his latest band, The Authority—both known to be associated with the 80s themselves.

Playing before the start of the concert and in between sets, Tupaz regaled the crowd with mixes of hits that included seldom-heard gems like Propaganda’s “Duet”, the Eurogliders’ “Heaven Must Be There” and the Europeans’ “The Animal Song”.

Salvador, best known for his time with 80s showband, Rage, sustained the party atmosphere that recalled clubhouse parties at Forbes and Corinthian Gardens as well as clubs like Rumors and Faces with a spirited set that include classics like The Adventures’ “Two Rivers” as well as The Cure’s “Friday, I’m In Love” and “Boys Don’t Cry”.

Finally, after quite a long wait, The Alarm finally took the stage. Formed in Wales in 1981, the band is known for its big booming rock sound that was largely compared to such contemporaries as U2 and Big Country although they are more likely to remind younger fans of bands like Keane and Snow Patrol.

The Alarm’s current line-up is composed of James Stevenson on guitars, Craig Adams on bass, Mark Taylor on keyboards, Smiley on drums and remaining founding member Mike Peters.

Performance-wise, this present incarnation of The Alarm is a razor sharp unit as they dug deeper into the band’s back catalogue in a mesmerizing set that include favorites like “Marching On”, “The Stand”, “Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke”, “Spirit of ‘76”, “Sold Me Down The River”, “68 Guns” and of course their biggest hits, “Rain In The Summertime” and “Absolute Reality” which drew the loudest cheers.

With his patented gruffy, hoarse vocals that recalls both Bruce Springsteen and Joe Strummer of The Clash, founding member Mike Peters hardly skipped a beat and looked majestic in his customized overcoat-style jacket which he never took off until the end of their set.

Repeatedly stating how happy the band was to be given a chance to perform in Manila, Peters and the rest of The Alarm performed a first rate set that will be remembered for a long time.

We were actually a little worried when Modern English followed suit as The Alarm proved to be a tough act to follow. Formed in Essex, England back in 1979, their sound is lighter and more mainstream by comparison.

Fortunately, they have their deep back catalogue to dip their fingers including some new material that sounds just as good as their classics. As soon as ABS-CBN’s Gretchen Fullido surprisingly took to the stage and introduced them, the band launched into the propulsive intro of “Someone’s Calling”, a tune from their sensational debut album, After The Snow.

They then proceeded to a mixed set of brand new originals (yes, they still record new material) as well as other recognizable tunes like “Life In The Gladhouse”, “After The Snow” and “Tables Turning”.

Frontman Robbie Grey surprised everyone in the venue when he revealed that “Ink and Paper”, one of their most popular tunes in these parts, is a song they never actually perform live—at least until their Manila concert. He actually held a piece of paper that presumably contained its lyrics while singing the song. Even with some rough edges here and there brought mostly by Grey’s limited vocal range, the number was a still big hit with the crowd.

So were the two biggest hits of the band’s career—“Hands Across The Sea” and the song Grey acknowledges as the one everybody knows, “I Melt With You”.

“What about you in the cheap seats up there?”, Grey asked the lower box crowd as he eggs everyone to stand up and dance.

Largely predictable but ultimately a crowd-pleasing affair, the Back To The 80s new wave concert party of Modern English and The Alarm did a fine job of taking its audience back in time with well-loved songs that brought plenty of fond memories.  We hope to see more of our 80s favorites soon, like maybe The Church, Midnight Oil or even the now Mike Peters-fronted Big Country?

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Concert Roundup: 10 Reasons why Daniel Padilla rocked The Big Dome in his first major birthday concert

Title: 10 Reasons why Daniel Padilla rocked The Big Dome in his first major birthday concert
Written by Jamie Ortega 

Last April 30, 2013, fans of teen sensation Danilla Padilla packed the Smart-Araneta Coliseum to support their idol’s first birthday concert entitled Daniel Live. As early as 4pm, supporters were already spotted lining up outside the venue to make sure they got a good view of their idol as he celebrated his special day with his family, friends, and other special guests. Here are some of our favorite moments from the concert. If you were also there at the show, feel free to share what you loved about the concert too!
1) The classic rock repertoire. Most of the songs that Daniel sang were from the classic rock genre, a genre which heavily influenced his personal taste in music. It’s good that someone of his stature took an extra step to expose his generation to music from the yesteryears- circa ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. Music wouldn’t be where it is without the contribution of rock stars and pop stars from those eras, and we must never forget that. For his opening number, Daniel sang “We Will Rock You” by Queen. He also performed “Come Together” by the Beatles along with his special guests, members of Star Magic artists Khalil Ramos, Kit Thompson, Michelle Vito, Liza Soberano, Ingrid dela Paz, etc.

2) The OPM touch. Daniel made sure that he also showcased a side of himself that his supporters are more familiar with- his OPM side! He sang “Kamusta Ka,” “Sisikat Din Ako,” and his version of the Rivermaya original “Hinahanap-Hanap Kita,” all from his debut self-titled platinum album. Adding a lot of kilig to the OPM repertoire was his current hit “Nasa Iyo Na Ang Lahat,” which he sang together with his ka-love team Kathryn Bernardo. Daniel has openly mentioned in his previous interviews that his stepfather Naldy Padilla, a member of the OPM rock band Orient Pearl, helped shape his musical talent. That being said, it was heartwarming to see him perform the Orient Pearl “Pagsubok” as his final song, like he was thanking him for being such a positive musical influence in his life.

3) Daniel changed the landscape of the concert industry by being the first artist to have his concert aired through Pay-Per View. Fans of today’s brightest star got to join in on the fun at the comforts of their own home for only 399. Plus, they were also able to catch exclusive behind-the-scenes tidbits before the live coverage. No money to pay for tickets? No problem! There is a new way to watch your favorite concerts.

4) The top-notch production design. If this is a sign of things to come in the local concert industry, then this writer will be very, very happy. The concert backdrop, composed of vintage cars and huge chains, totally fit Daniel’s classic rocker personality. The different hued lights, ranging from orange, blue, and green, coupled with smoke blowing out of pipes at the side of the stage, turned the stage into a really magnificent spectacle.

5) Daniel’s surprise number with his brothers. Say what you will about the Padillas, but if there is one thing that cannot be denied about them it is how loyal they are to each other. Daniel, together with his siblings JC, Ralph and RJ, whom he introduced as his partners in crime, got the crowd going with their surprise performance of novelty hit, Mr. Suave. How to describe their performance? Well, hilarious doesn’t even begin to cut it! It would be awesome if they all starred in their own comedy show, judging by the cheers and screams that filled the coliseum we boldly predict it will be a top-rater! 

6) The night’s surprise guests. Journey vocalist Arnel Pineda brought the house down with his mesmerizing rendition of “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing”, while Yeng Constantino together with rapper Smuggalz stole the show with her rendition of the Riveramaya original “Awit Ng Kabataan”. One can never go wrong when it comes to the Pop Rock Princess’ stellar vocals and amazing stage presence. It would take every ounce of one’s strength to not stand up and dance whenever she performs!

7) Vice-Ganda’s segment. This writer purposely separated Vice-Ganda’s appearance from the other performers because he really had the audience in the palm of his hand. From the time Vice appeared, wearing a black top and black shorts with a huge cross necklace as an accessory,all eyes were on him. The screams and shrieks magnified to about a gazillion decibels when Vice taught Daniel and onscreen partner Kathryn how to make their rendition of “Ako’y Sa’yo “more kilig-worthy. He also convinced Daniel to do popular dance moves, “Harlem Shake” “Teach Me How To Dougie,” and Psy’s “Gentleman.”

8) The super kilig Kathniel moments. The Kathniel fans had the time of their lives when Daniel, wearing a nicely-tailored silver suit, sang the first part of “Ako’y Sa Iyo At Ika’y Akin Lamang,” followed by Kathryn who walked out singing in a champagne-colored gown. It was as if the audience was witnessing a live prom onstage! Kathryn’s birthday message for Daniel was very sweet, too. She said,”Congratulations kasi di ba dream come true mo na ito? Super proud kami sa yo. At saka sana talaga mag-tuloy-tuloy ang blessings at saka huwag kayong magsawang suportahan si DJ kasi sobrang bait niyang tao talaga. I'm happy talaga para sa kanya,” she shared. Awww!

9) Daniel’s gorgeous costume changes. Ton Lau, Daniel’s stylist, picked the perfect pieces that highlighted the teen sensation’s rocker boy persona. Some of Daniel’s stand-outs outfits that night were a green military-inspired jacket, a crisp white polo matched with a black jacket and paired with a nice pair of suede boots, plus this writer’s personal favorite, a simple but sleek gray jacket, gray pants paired with a black tie.

10) Daniel fans rejoice- There will be a part 2! In an interview on Showbiz Inside Report Daniel revealed that he is planning to stage another concert next year! “Pahinga daw ako pero next year daw meron,” he said. We can hear the screams as early as now!

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Concert Roundup: Demi's 1st Headline Concert in Manila

Concert Roundup: Demi's 1st headline concert in Manila

Written by Jhoanne Mariano

Edited by Jamie Ortega

The Big Dome was filled with teen hearts last March 20 for the first concert of Demi Lovato in Manila. Our very own Khalil Ramos performed for the opening act, his fans made sure that their presence and support for Khalil would be noticeable with all their clapping and howling. A few minutes after his performance, the venue went dim while the crowd went crazy filling the coliseum with screaming fans and glow sticks everywhere already pumped for the concert they’ve been waiting for since their first experience of Demi in Disney’s Camp Rock. As soon as the band started performing and demi began waltzing on the stage, fans of all ages went ballistic at the sight of the singer.

Demi Lovato started off with Unbroken, from her third studio album released last 2011. It was then followed by Get Back from her début studio album, which topped the music charts in different countries including the Philippines. She continued with Here We Go Again, La La Land, and Don’t Forget – another hit from her début album. It was followed by My Love Is Like A Star and a cover of a Miranda Lambert song, The House That Built Me.

Demi’s lyrics were filled with different emotions up by her enthralling voice and her heartfelt delivery, proving what an amazing artist she is. Fix A Heart, Catch Me, and Lightweight were the next set of songs she performed. She then sang the song that touched hearts all over the world, Skyscraper. Seeing her singing it, as she felt each word with tears in her eyes, it was like watching a scene out of a movie. Being able to move so many hearts at the age of 20 is so amazing, having that talent in writing and singing, sharing it with the world, proving what a wonderful person she is and how she used her talent for the greater good to stop the waterworks, she then performed a Chris Brown cover, Turn Up The Music. It’s pretty amazing to see Demi possess so much energy to do an excelt delivery of a dance tune after all the songs she’s been performing, but that’s simply her way to keep her fans as entertained as possible. During one of her songs, she even stopped the bouncers which were keeping her fans from standing up and enjoying the night, it only goes to show how sweet she is artists rarely do that in the Philippines but she did.

Heart Attack which is her new single off her upcoming self-titled album, and Remember December were her last two songs on her set list. All 14 songs were not quite enough for her fans because after they left the stage and bid farewell, people started chanting her name and begging for more from her. After several minutes of roaring “Demi!” and “We want more!” over and over, Demi fulfilled their wishes and went back for one last song which was Give Your Heart A Break. Fans dancing and singing along all night made sure that her last song would not be a waste; everybody was up on their seats rocking along as if it was the start of the night. She left the stage with such a worthwhile message that NO ONE should ever make you feel that you’re not special and if you do, you can always rise above them like a skyscraper; wise words  from such a wise and talented girl.

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Concert Roundup: What we loved about The Script concert

Concert Roundup: What we loved about The Script concert

Written by Jamie Ortega

Photos by Kevin Pableo

The Irish alternative rock band The Script returned to Manila last March 31, 2013 for a concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The  group, composed of Danny O’Donoghue in vocals, Mark Sheeran in guitars and Glen Power on the drums,  performed to a sold-out crowd once again. They entertained the crowd for one and a half hours with songs from their self-titled debut album The Script, second offering, Science & Faith, and third studio album #3. It was an unforgettable show indeed, from the selection of songs that the band performed, to their connection with the audience, to the fun and crazy antics that ensued onstage. Here is our selection of the top 10 best moments that night. What are yours?

1)    Danny mingling with the audience. It’s hard to count the exact number of times Danny went down into the crowd; the first time was We Cry and then the writer just kind of lost track after that. What she does remember is that he appeared in the lower box section near the end of the show which was totally unexpected.  There was also a time when he sat on the side of the stage to be closer to the crowd

 

2)    The audience interaction. The crowd present was a lively mix of yuppies, students, girls and guys. They sang along to the 13 songs and three encore songs. As the band was performing the song We Cry, Danny gave the mike to the fans in the crowd so they could sing along- which they did! It made this writer remember what he said during the roundtable interview, that Asian audiences are more in pitch than their European counterparts.

3)    The stories The Script shared before performing each song. It made the fans feel closer to the band. Before they performed If You Could See Me Now, Danny shared how difficult it was for them to write and record it because it talked about the death of Danny’s father and Mark Sheeran’s parents. I’m sure that performance made a people who’ve lost someone special in their life think about that person.

4)    Danny bringing the message of Nothing to life by talking to someone’s ex on the phone. Before they began the song, the vocalist asked someone in the audience to drunk dial an ex girlfriend or boyfriend. He then snatched someone’s phone and sang Nothing to the person on the line. It would have been cooler if he actually spoke to the person instead of singing to them, but then again it could have turned into a therapy session which would have been pretty inappropriate

5)     A drink-off onstage. The band has been quite open about how much they love liquor. In fact, liquor is often mentioned in their songs.  During the concert, Mark and Glen brought their love of booze to the next level by actually having a drink-off onstage! “You don’t give a free beer to Irish people and I hear it’s the same with Filipinos,” Danny joked. He even spilled the liquor on his head and threw the bottle he drank from into the audience!

6)  Manny Pacquiao + bunnies = A PRETTY AWESOME COMBINATION. The band got into the Easter spirit by having people in bunny outfits prance about onstage. Even if their presence was totally unannounced, the appearance of a couple of Easter Bunnies onstage was pretty hilarious. The band wished everyone a Happy Easter then put on boxing gloves and pretended to box the furry mascots. Danny then turned his back to the audience to show off the Team Pacquiao jacket he was wearing. It’s always nice when foreign acts pay tribute to the heroes of the land they perform in.

7)    The band’s versatility and musical range. Danny showed his musical prowess by playing the guitar then the keyboards. Glen played both the drums and the guitar.He even jammed with Danny while performing the song I’m Yours

8)    They know when to take it up a notch and when to bring it down. During the roundtable interview a few hours before, Glen said that the audience willbe on an emotional rollercoaster and it did feel that way. The concert began with the gritty Good Ol’ Days, slowed down with the heartbreak anthem Six Degrees Of Separation, then the band took the energy back up with the Hall Of Fame encore.

Photo from The Script's official Twitter page

9)    The band took a photo of the audience. They showed how special the night was to them by taking a picture of Smart Araneta Coliseum which they uploaded to their Twitter account. They also tweeted about how much they enjoyed performing in the Philippines by posting this message on their Twitter account alongside a photo of Mark and a skeleton wearing a hat: “Manila it’s time to say goodbye! We loved our stay! Peace and love” We’re not sure what the skeleton meant, but the message was sweet enough.

10)          The incredible encore. Judging by their setlist, the last song of the night was supposed to be You Wont Feel and Hall Of Fame. But because they loved the vibe they were getting from the crowd they performed the first song Good Ol  Days again! According to a tweet from Glen posted on their account it was the first time they did it. That was how much they loved the show and clearly, the feeling was mutual! 

#3WorldTourManila: The Script Live in Manila 2013 - Breakeven

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Concert Roundup: Top 10 things I learned from Foursome: The Repeat

Concert Roundup: Top 10 things I learned from Foursome: The Repeat

Written by Jamie Ortega || Photos by Kris Rocha

1.    Last Saturday, March 16, 2013, I learned a couple of things from the Foursome: The Repeat concert held at the Mall Of Asia Arena, and here is the first: that not every concert deserves a second run, but in this case I will gladly give an exception. It is not every day that you get four of the best artists in the country, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, Pops Fernandez, and Martin Nivera for one spectacular show that lit up the Mall Of Asia Arena  and I was very happy to be a part of it.
2.    Concerts that begin on a high note set the mood for the entire night. For the opening number Regine, Ogie, Martin and Pops  energized the entire arena with an energetic rendition of The Wanted’s I Found You. Regine wore a black tube and shorts with a gold shawl covering her entire body while Pops flaunted her sexy figure in a red dress. Both Martin and Ogie looked dapper in gray suits. Their voices blended naturally 
3.   The best OPM tunes never go out of style. When Martin and Ogie sang the of one another nearly everyone in the audience was singing, clapping, cheering and wishing that they had someone to hold hands with (guilty as charged!) Martin sang Ogie including Sa Piling Mo, Kailangan Kita, and Ikaw Ang Aking Pangarap, while Ogie sang Martin’s songs including How Can I and You Are My Song. As a fan of Martin ever since I was 9 years old  (I remember dancing in our  living room to his older hits like Say That You Love Me and Be My Lady), this was really a treat.  It brought me back to my younger years. In my heart he will forever be the Concert King.
4.   Every performer needs their moment in the spotlight. The beauty of this concert was that everyone had their solo set and no one out sang or out staged one another. Out of all the four acts, Regine Velasquez aka Asia’s Songbird, seemed to have the most fans.  They wouldn’t stop cheering during her set! The Songbird began her repertoire with What Kind Of A Fool Am I, You’ll Never Walk Alone, and And I Am Telling You. I liked her choice of songs because they fit the crowd composed mostly of yuppies and older men and women. It also showcased her amazing “birit” prowess.
5.    Comedy is always good. I liked the novelty number between Regine and Ogie where Ogie would translate into Tagalog songs that Regine sang like Yesterday by The Beatles and George Canseco’s Ngayon At Kailanman. It showed how cute they are as a couple, how they can make fun of each other, and still be madly in love with one another. Aww!
6.    It’s always good to go into the audience to spice things up. Ogie went into the audience during his set as he sang the songs Sa Kanya and Kung Mawawala Ka. He even joked when an elderly woman ran up to kiss him that she is his main market.
   
7.    Regine and Pops are friends- because Pops was gone from the limelight for quite a while and Regine  never really talked about it I never knew that they are good friends. Their kulitan moment was so sweet as Pops, in a pink and silver gown, and Regine, in a white embroidered frock, exchanged jokes with another. They playfully mentioned that the people in the patron section were more demure than the ones in the lower section because they screamed the less. They also made fun of their out of town bonding moments as Regine playfully told Pops how “kuripot” she is. For them to be able to say these things onstage only goes to show how fond they are of one other. The two divas capped off their “kulitan moments” with ‘80s songs including Cyndi Lauper’s True Colours and Madonna’s Crazy For You.
8.    Martin and Pops still have chemistry. The Concert King and Queen lit up the stage with their kilig-inducing duets that made me miss my highschool and gradeschool years. I must say it was one of the best moments of the concert!  Even if they’ve happily gone their separate ways, that set, together with their old photos flashed onscreen, reminded me of how powerful their love team was. I adored their choice of songs because it was like they were sharing their love story through music. They sang Don’t Say Goodbye, Times Of Your Life, Pagdating ng Panahon and Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin
9.    Gary V is Gary V. And I mean that in the best possible way. Having a special guest like Gary V brought so much power to an already amazing concert. I loved that he sang his older songs like Di Bale Na Lang and Eto Na Naman. A priceless moment was when Ogie and Martin were trying to copy Gary’s moves. Where does Gary get all his energy at his age? And why does it seem like he doesn’t know how to grow old?
   
10.    Crazy unexpected antics are welcome- as long as they don’t disrupt the flow of the show. Martin singing Be My Lady to the camera man, serenading BB Gandanghari, singing to comedian Michael V, all five artists (including Gary V) bringing Zsa Zsa Padilla onstage for a couple of jokes, it spiced up the concert and kept it from being too predictable and boring. After Regine hinted about the possibility of a Sixome concert (the Foursome cast including Regine and Zsa Zsa) I just can’t wait for it to happen! Whoever said OPM and local acts are dead probably didn’t see this show- there are so many amazing musicians in the country and I hope we have more shows of this caliber in the future. 

See more photos from the concert here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151816763773032

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