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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Review: Zac Efron charms Pinoy fans at Penshoppe 2012 Fan Conference

Title: Zac Efron charms Pinoy fans at Penshoppe 2012 Fan Conference 
Written by Jho Mariano and Jamie Ortega

 (Photo from Penshoppe)

Penshoppe has been really pulling out all the stops in enlisting some of the today’s hottest Hollywood stars to join its’ roster of international endorsers.  After having previously signed Gossip Girl stars Ed Westwick, Leighton Meester, Thai Superstar Mario Maurer, Vampire Diaries heartthrob Ian Somerhalder, the latest addition to its’ elite and glamorous list is 24 year-old actor and international heartthrob Zac Efron.  Indeed, there is no denying the popularity of Zac Efron, more than just his boyish good looks the 24 year-old actor is known and recognized for his versatility as well after having taken on a gamut of roles from the high school basketball star-drama geek Troy Bolton in the “High School Musical” trilogy, to the suave musical actor Link Larkin in “Hairspray” to  the retired soldier Logan in “The Lucky One” which  grossed an average of 92, 457, 138 at the box-office.



When Penshoppe announced a couple of weeks back that they will be bringing Efron to the country for a fan conference, it sent the actor’s fans into an all-out frenzy! But that was nothing compared to the “fandemonium” felt last September 29, 2012 at the actual event. From as early as 6 pm, fans were already lining up outside the Mall Of Asia arena eager to get a glimpse of their beloved idol. By the time 8pm arrived and people were allowed inside, every area of the state of the art arena was full of fans screaming, shouting, and giggling in anticipation. After several intermission numbers from different local artists like La Diva, Never The Strangers and Jay-R, the U.P. Pep Squad introduced the star of the night with a lively performance from   “High School Musical” the film that shot Zac to fame.

Several minutes after their performance, the most awaited star of the night wearing Penshoppe from head to toe descended from the top of the stairs on the stage to the runway. . The handsome actor, with tears in his eyes, ran down the runway while giving high-fives to the crowd  before  throwing the black leather jacket he was wearing into the audience

This was followed by a question and answer portion with "King Of Talk" Boy Abunda facilitating the interview.  Zac first talked about his recent trip to Misibis Bay resort in Albay which he did several years before the fan conference.

During the interview, Zac stated that his trip to Albay was “unbelievable” and that Filipinos are “so nice!” He also revealed  that after trying it for the first time, his favorite food is now balut or fertilized duck egg- a statement that was met with ear-splitting cheers. Encouraged by the response Zac said,
“You make me feel so at home. I just wanna move here!”On being  asked to describe himself in three words. he said,, “I can do it in four: I love the Philippines!”

Boy Abunda also did not pass up the opportunity to ask Zac about his passion for acting, singing, and dancing, and even about his love interests. Boy asked if his preference for the type ofwomen he goes for  has changed, a statement which  reminded everybody about one of his most famous relationships – Vanessa Hudgens, her leading lady in the “High School Musical” fever who is a Filipino-American artist. Every fan present that night went wild with hope when Zac answered, “I think she's Pinoy. She might be out here somewhere. She might be all the way at the top, right there,” while pointing to his fans at the upper sections. With just a few days away from turning 25, he admitted that he was thinking about settling as he stated “Maybe my wife is here somewhere,” making the ladies swoon even more at his appealing answer.

Moving on to his career, Zac revealed that he is looking forward to doing more movies for his fans. Regarding his “High School Musical” films, he said that it will always hold a special place in his heart because  it was the film that launched his career, moreover he considers it “the most amazing experience in my life.” He also revealed what he thought was the best thing about it which was  “the many friends that I made, the relationships that I made, and another best part about it was that it allowed me to travel the world and come to places like here and meet all of the fans whom I owe so much. I love you guys."  Zac also talked about his upcoming movie Paperboy which he stars alongside Matthew McConaughey, John Cusack and Nicole Kidman in “The Paperboy” by Lee Daniels.  On being asked how it was to work with Nicole Kidman Zac said it was as “amazing.” He also added that Nicole Kidman is “one of the loveliest people in the world.”
Judging by his enthusiastic and sincere responses, it would be safe to say that Zac is more than just a pretty face. He is a guy with a talent, and a good heart to boot who is comfortable with his fame. Another proof of this was how he would always recognize the presence of his fans which he said was the best part of being famous. “It’s awesome! You guys rule! I love being up here!” he exclaimed.  He adds, “There are certain things that fame has taught me. It has taught me to really appreciate my family above all things, love my work, and the most important thing in the world is your fans. That's why it's so nice to be able to come here and meet you guys. You're the only good thing about fame. All of you. You put a smile on my face every time I see you,”

Zac talked about his days as a student as well. He revealed that he was a “good student” who got “good grades.” He also said that he really “loved to sing and dance.” and  he could not pick one if he was to choose among the two. Boy proceeded to ask Zac a bunch of fun and random questions like what he   would most likely do if he was invisible for a day “I'd probably go like kicking a goal during a soccer game,” he answered. On being  asked whathe would do on a bad day; Zac answered, “Do something crazy, [like] go bungee jumping.” He also revealed that his alternative profession of choice is “airplane pilot”  and that“The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkienis  his favorite book.  When it comes to influences his biggest influences  are Among all of the James Dean and Paul Newman and his favorite song is “Hotel California” by Eagles.  On being asked about his personal fashion style Zac said that he likes laid-back apparel and that he enjoys pieces from the ‘50s.

Another exciting portion during the fan conference was the question and answer portion. ABS-CBN reporter MJ Felipe and Magic 89.9 jock Andi Manzano asked the fans in the audience to give Zac their message. Itwas definitely an easy task for the hosts as fans nearly raised their arms and fell over themselves just to get their attention.    . Being the nice guy that he is, several girls were able to talk and even ask Zac for favors and one fan even got her first kiss from Zac after she asked him if he would be her first kiss.

The question and answer portion was followed by a meet and greet photo session where
100 lucky fansgot the chance to to meet-and-greet Zac after the interview. More than just take photos with him  the fans were able to get warm hugs, quick chats, photos and autographs with him as they went on stage in groups. All we can say is –lucky girls!

No one can deny that it has been a really great year for Penshoppe and we are sure things are only going to get better for the clothing brand. By enlisting Hollywood celebrity endorsers they are not only making their consumer’s dreams come true they are also  increasing awareness of the brand on a global scale an act that makes us very proud to be Pinoy!

Photo credits: Penshoppe

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