VIDEO: 2PM LIVE TOUR in Manila - Hands Up

Watch 2PM performing their hit song, "Hands Up" from their recent 2PM LIVE TOUR in Manila concert for What Time Is It Tour which was held at the Mall of Asia Arena last March 2, 2013.

Hands Up by 2PM

2PM LIVE TOUR in Manila concert was presented to you by Hoopla Incorporated, Big Daddy Entertainment and MLive Concert.

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VIDEO: Cliff Richard's We Don't Talk Anymore in Manila

Legendary rock and roll superstar, Cliff Richard, performed "We Don't Talk Anymore" from his recent "Still Reelin' And A-Rockin' Tour" 2013 in Manila held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last February 28, 2013. Watch his "We Don't Talk Anymore" performance here:



We Don't Talk Anymore by Cliff Richard

Cliff Richard LIVE in Manila concert was presented to you by Wilbros Live.

See photos from the concert here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151757984498032

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Four Things We Learned From Bloc Party's Matt Tong

Title: Four Things We Learned From Bloc Party's Matt Tong

Written by Niche Dumlao

Matt Tong, drummer extraordinaire for seminal English band Bloc Party, is somewhere in Dublin. Sitting in a hotel room with a phone attached to him…answering eager questions from the string of Philippine press scheduled that day – or the world over even. In between the busy schedule of the band, one cannot help but admire the dedication the boys have put into keeping the party alive. After all, this band has churned out 4 albums, myriads of singles and videos plus a gamut of remixes spanning more than a  decade. And among those, are memorable songs such as “Banquet”, “The Prayer”, “I Still Remember”, “Tulips”, “Kettling”, and my personal favorite – “The Once and Future King”.

Now, Matt Tong, drummer extraordinaire for seminal English band Bloc Party, shall soon find himself in ever colorful Manila for the band’s first gig in the country. And with the flutter of excitement has garnered, we’re pretty sure that many are more than ready to embrace the band’s brand of music live. Gearing themselves to bask in tracks from “Silent Alarm” (of which Matt describes as a “their defining album”) to their latest release, “Four” (of which Matt describes as “aggression, heartfelt, unedited…”)

So before the four lads from London reach our shores, we took some time to be part of Matt’s busy schedule and settle down for a little chat. From where we learned 4 awesome bits about Bloc Party and about Matt himself.

FOUR reignited them as a band

Matt shares that the album gave them a fresher perspective after coming out of the long hiatus since their 2008 release, “Intimacy”. During the building of the record, Matt shares that FOUR brought them back to the studio and made them realize the value of being in the band. And more importantly, the value of playing music. And coming together again was a decent thing to do, especially for their fans. However, he rebuts that the break did not really influence the sound of the record but its influence was harped on to their desire to be together again.

He reads fan blogs and artists reviews

When asked how much Matt values fan reviews in blogs and magazine reviews, he quips that he doesn’t really value either. Yet he feels that it’s important to heed fan blogs and journalistic articles. “Professional reviews versus fan reviews has merits for different reasons”, he says. “It’s good to read about their perspectives especially as an artist but it’s a dangerous trap. If you spent too much time thinking about what others would say, you sorta second guess yourself. So in the end, it pays to be objective when approaching these.”

On how he wants to be remembered

Being one fourth of Bloc Party, it’s undeniable that the band has already stamped a lot of musical legacies here and there.  So when asked how he wanted to be remembered, he shares “I’d like [Bloc Party] to be remembered as a band that did things differently and [we] broke the mold of the indie rock [genre].” And as an individual, he wants to be known as someone “passionate”.

He can’t wait for the Manila show

As the band’s first time to be in this part of the world, Matt cites that he’s always been motivated to play to new audiences worldwide.  “I’m excited to see if people would show up and I’m excited to see their reaction”.  He adds that despite numerous shows, he always finds it a challenge to deliver the best show possible for the fans. But beyond that, Matt shares another reason why he’s stoked to play in Manila – and that’s to try the local cuisine. He muses that “Filipino food isn’t really represented that well overseas that’s why I wanna try it”.

So don’t disappoint the man. Show up at the Bloc Party show on March 22 at the World Trade Center. And together we behold the pulsating talent of the band – from vocalist Kele Okereke, guitarist Russell Lissack, bassist Gordon Moakes, and of course Matt Tong, drummer extraordinaire for seminal English band Bloc Party.

==

Bloc Party live in Manila is presented by Warner Music Philippines and Hostess Entertainment. For tickets, visit http://ticketnet.com.ph

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Colton Dixon talks about the meaning behind debut album, The Messenger

Title: Colton Dixon talks about the meaning behind debut album, The Messenger

Written by Jamie Ortega || Photo by Kevin Pableo

Colton Dixon fans will surely have a special Valentines’ Day this year. Why? Because the Season 11 finalist is ready and eager to perform for his Pinoy fans as a special guest at Jessica Sanchez’s solo concert tomorrow night. Yes, Coltonis ready to give his best as, together with Jessica, they light up the Big Dome for one special evening.

The charismatic Christian rocker, who blew Idol audiences away with his energetic piano playing, impressive vocal chops and remarkable stage presence, is also currently promoting his debut album entitled The Messenger. The recently released compilation, distributed in the Philippines by MCA Music,   boasts of two hit songs that have already topped the Christian and Gospel digital sales charts. The numbers amassed by Colton’s talent speak for themselves-Never Gone, his first hit tune, sold 21,000 units during its’ first day of release, simultaneously topping the iTunes Christian and Gospel singles chart, Billboard’s Christian Digital songs, and Christian/Gospel Digital songs charts. Colton’s second hit song entitled You Are, hit the top spot on the very same charts and was also selected as USA Today’s song of the week last October.

Manila Concert Scene, together with select members of the media, had the great opportunity to chat with Colton at his press conference last Tuesday afternoon at the Edsa Shangri-la hotel. Showing no traces of jet lag (despite a two hour flight) the handsome rocker revealed a story behind one of his songs,  revealed the message of his album and even gave advice to people exploring their faith.

Why did you call your album The Messenger?

Calling my album The Messenger was a good way for me to put things in perspective in terms of my personal faith, to make people realize that while I am sharing honest emotions and experiences based on this the album moves along like a rollercoaster ride. There are not two songs that sound alike, which is something I worked hard to achieve and am excited about. Working with my amazing team of writers and producers I wanted to share different experiences that I have gone through, the lows and the highs.

What is the central message of the album?

We’ve all been deep in that valley and I know what I’ve been through. Whenever I’m in those dark places I feel that God has pulled me through and I want to inspire others by telling them about my experiences. That’s the central message of The Messenger.

I would like to ask you about one of the songs in the record, You Are, what is the story and inspiration I heard that you wrote it for a friend of yours?

At that time I didn’t want to give away his identity, he just gave me the clear now, but I actually wrote this song for a friend who was really going through a rough time, he attempted suicide at some time and his name is Jared and he plays guitar in my band. This was really just a chance for him to pour out his testimony into the song and say, “When I cant find the words to say how much it hurts youre the healing in my heart” and I didn’t even know at the time, I had no idea what he was going through. But it wasn’t till the time we were writing it there was still that unresolved conflict deep down, it was just a chance for him to wipe that slate clean and throw it out through a song. We were really just trying to sum up a worship song and what that means to us, little did I know it was so awesome when he told me that. It was so cool to see how the fans connected with that song.

What advice can you give people who are exploring their faith?

                I never said that it is going to be easy, but for me I found God when I was 7 years old. I remember feeling that God-shaped hole in me and feeling that nothing else can fill that and there is nothing else that makes me feel the way that I do about that. The only way I can put that, just knowing what He did, it is just amazing to me, it blows my mind everyday and like I said, there are some harder days than others. Songs like Never Gone that show he is still with you, songs like Rise, there is even a song in this record called Scars that means so much to me, my fans helped me write my song. Hearing their songs, their testimonies, what they’ve been through, I remember this one she was best friends with her cousin, he went off to war came back, and he tried taking advantage of her. And her language changed and she said, “I am just called to share God’s love,” and she said that with a smile on her face, because we are all guilty and sinful. And it just blew my mind so that inspired Scars, today is a new day to learn from our mistakes and we are forgiven from our mistakes and so many songs from our record apply directly to that. Just people exploring, figuring out what works and what doesn’t, but to me, God works.

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MCS Exclusive: Colton Dixon excited to visit the country anew for concert with Jessica Sanchez

Title: Colton Dixon excited to visit the country anew for concert with Jessica Sanchez 

Written by Jamie Ortega

No plans for Valentines?  Fall in love all over again as our country’s pride, American Idol Season 11 runner-up Jessica Sanchez, serenades her kababayans with some of the most romantic love songs ever written at her first solo concert on February 14 2013 at the Big Dome. Joining Jessica for that special night is her fellow Season 11 finalist  Christian rocker and fan favorite Colton Dixon.

                “Beyond shocking,” were the words that escaped from Steven Tyler’s mouth when Colton Dixon was eliminated from the 11^th season of the hit reality show American Idol. But instead of letting it bring him down, as the remaining contestants battled it out for the Season 11 finals, the 21 year old singer/songwriter dived right into his music, collaborating on 13 new songs in 13 days, the start of a songwriting process that ultimately netted him 22 potential tracks for his debut album.

 With his good looks and impressive vocal chops, it came as no surprise when 19/EMI-CMG/Sparrow Records got wind of his talent and signed him under their label. The changes that the premiere record label took subsequently paid off when You Are, Dixon’s debut single from his debut album A Messenger, hit number one on Billboard’s Christian Digital Songs and Christian/Gospel Digital Songs charts. The instant success of this track instantaneously catapulted Colton to the big leagues,  making him and Jennifer Hudson the only 7TH place finalists in Idol history to reach #1 on a Billboard chart. 

In line with this, Manila Concert Scene got to chat with the charismatic rocker through an exclusive phone interview organized by MCA Music. Read on as Colton talks about his songwriting process for The Messenger, his favorite memories of the Philippines, his fascination with Batman, and his friendship with Jessica.

Tell me about your songwriting process for A Messenger, do you work on the lyrics first, the melody, how does it go?

It depends, I think I come up with the music first, it’s really easier for me than lyrics, but it was just a few months ago in California when I wrote a song on paper first. Sometimes I get the song title or idea first, sometimes I just play on the piano and then I put lyrics to it, I haven’t quite figured out the formula yet.

You said that your album is something fresh for Christian music different style that hasn’t been heard in Christian music, can you elaborate on that?

 Yeah! There are a lot of bands who make beautiful music like Switchfoot, but I think my record is really edgy especially for Christian music, and it’s a lot edgy than what people are used to listening to, there are issues that I deal with like suicide, I deal with heavy topics but at the same time it is also a very positive and uplifting album. I just want to encourage those who are going through hard times, and  I hope that people love the record.

You will be coming here on the 14^th for a show with Jessica Sanchez how do you describe her as a musician, are you guys friends?

Jessica and I are very close friends, we haven’t had a lot of time to talk recently because we are so busy recording, but she is a sweetheart. I am so honored and thankful to go back to Philippines.

What are some of your favorite memories of the Philippines?

When we had a mall appearance, it was so much fun and they were so crazy and chaotic and the fans were so excited, everyone is really in love with music in the Philippines, so it was really cool to see that. I am looking forward to try a lot of things there, the beautiful food, a lot of things from your culture, I want to be a big part of that.

Girls go crazy over you, with your heartthrob status have you ever considered acting or hosting?

It depends on the role but I definitely would give acting a go, I did theater in high school and I had a lot of fun with that.

Everyone knows that you are big fan of Batman, why?

 I think I just grew up on Batman that’s why I never grew out of it, I even wore a Batman-inspired pair of Converse on the American Idol tour. He is one of the few superheroes who is really just a normal guy, he is really smart, he fights crime, anyone could be Batman and I was really attracted to that element.  I’m just still kinda of a nerd and I never grew out of it.

 Aside from music, what do you do in your spare time?

                My spare time is usually during the holidays, i love spending time with my friends and my family. I love bowling, it’s really random actually but I love to do it. I also love watching movies, or doing anything as long as it is fun. 

                Can you invite everyone to your concert on the 14^th?

 To everyone in the Philippines, this is Colton Dixon inviting you to the Big Dome on Valentine’s Day February 14th come out and have fun with us,  I hope to see everyone there, let’s have a good time.

Special thanks to MCA MUSIC.

Grab your tickets now!

Jessica Sanchez and Colton Dixon Live in Manila!
February 14, 2013 at the Smart Araneta Colisem

Tickets are available at www.ticketnet.com.ph

Call Ticketnet at 911-5555 to reserve through phone or visit online at www.ticketnet.com.ph

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MCS Exclusive: Kyle Patrick on going solo, his fans, and his favorite Filipino memories

MCS Exclusive: Kyle Patrick on going solo, his fans, and his favorite Filipino memories 
Written by: Jamie Ortega

Kyle Patrick is a force to be reckoned with. In person, the tall, lanky and undeniably handsome musician could easily be mistaken for an Ambercrombie and Fitch or Calvin Klein model. But when Kyle hits the stage- it’s a different story altogether. Infused with energy, passion, and a gifted voice that never fails to touch the heart of his fans, the front man of the power pop group The Click Five has been an integral part of the Boston-based bands’s widespread and international success, with achievements like a well-received Sophomore album Modern Minds And Pastimes, a number one single (Jenny), and a highly-successful 2008 world tour to their name.

Following the band’s stunning announcement last December 2011 that they will be on hiatus, (although Kyle has repeatedly stated in media interviews that he has not permanently left the band),  Kyle has since embarked on a solo career to showcase his own brand of music. Last November 29, 2012 the talented musician flew to Manila to perform at the opening of the new and improved Glorietta  where invited media guests, VIP’s celebrities and lucky shoppers got a taste of choice cuts from Patrick’s second EP, Kyle Patrick. In line with this, Manila Concert Scene was given the great opportunity to sit down with Kyle and talk about all the amazing things happening to him.



You are back in Manila! When was the last time you were here?
KP: I was here last month I played in Dumagete and Davao, I haven't played in Manila for a while so I am very excited

What are some of your fondest memories of the Philippines?
KP: Eating balut, first time I was here, and also the very first time I played with The Click Five. It was very early on in the band for me, it was our first show in Asia, we came all the way here, we didn’t know what to expect, we thought we were going to play at a little showcase or something and we show up at Trinoma and it was like crazy pandemonium, we were blown away, and I think that was the thing like, “whoa, Asia’s crazy,” and just like Manila in crazy was just wild. And we kept coming back here since then and now I am here for my first solo concert and it is very exciting.

How would you describe your new record?
KP: Well, I would describe it as collaborative and upbeat, anthemic and pop. I made it alone and I mean when I made it alone I made it without a record label so I did it all independently but that doesn’t mean I did it by myself, I worked with tons and tons of people especially the fans. I worked on this website called Pledge Music and it was basically this platform where people could just pre-order my album and other pieces of my merchandise like hand-written lyrics from my album.

What made you decide to work with Pledge Music and to get your fans involved in the creative process?
KP: Oh, I don’t know, I think just in general I try to do things in just a new way with this new project and I just wanted to do it more collaborative like what I was saying, in the past it just felt like a lot more closed off and being creative is hard, especially as a songwriter it’s hard to show people things that arent finished yet. It is difficult for me to just kind of get out of my comfort zone and to show people things and to get feedback very early on in the process so basically I would post these rock versions of songs for people to hear and they were nowhere near finished, I would sit along on recorders like these melodies and not what and post them for people to hear.

And there is videos of me in pajamas in the studio just recording creative ideas and I got a lot of feedback from that. I got a feel of what people liked more than others and that helped me decide on what songs to record on the album it helped me on what kind of styles to do in certain sections of songs so it was just really collaborative and I loved how it happened and it was basically me and the band and all my friends that worked together, it was amazing.

How was it like performing with Gym Class Heroes and Panic At The Disco? 
KP: Those are a lot of fun, the Panic At The Disco show that was actually the MTV Asia Awards in 2008 so they were just one of many great artists. We were hanging out with The Script before they had done anything, they were awesome, so good, and we were like we knew your record is going to blow up, and probably like 6 months later they had the Man Who Cant Be Moved and they became big

Do you want to come back to Manila? 
KP: Of course, yeah, I look at this stop as more of a teaser and I will come back for another concert hopefully middle to late next year 2013, I will come back for a full concert and I will probably put out a few more songs if not another EP before then. I have this other crazy music video idea I am churning out right now so we are thinking about a lot of stuff and will probably put it out in the next six months or so and I  will come back.

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MCS EXCLUSIVE: Mall Of Asia Arena: Changing The Game, Elevating Entertainment

Mall Of Asia Arena: Changing The Game, Elevating Entertainment
Written by Jamie Ortega

How does one define world-class?

According to freedictionary.com world class is defined as “ranking among the foremost in the world, of an international standard of excellence.” In that regard the Mall Of Asia Arena is definitely a world-class sports and entertainment venue. With its’state of the art facilities, a 20,000 seating capacity, superb amenities like a meet and greet room, a promoters lounge, fully equipped dugouts and luxurious corporate suites it has definitely lived up to its’ description of being a premiere sports and entertainment venue.

Since its’ grand opening last May 21, 2012 many sports and entertainment aficionados have seen and experienced for themselves the exciting and comfy feel of being inside this architectural icon owned by the SM Investment Corporation and managed by West Avenue Theatres Corporation. Learn more about this truly impressive venue in this exclusive interview with SM Mall Of Asia Arena Business Unit Head Arnel Gonzales.

Tell us some of the projects the Mall Of Asia Arena has been busy with:

Well, in terms of our calendar we have been full, there has always been a happening per month. It started with our opening, the Lady Gaga concert last May, and there was our grand launch last June which featured the icons of the Philippine concert industry, and of course the back to back concert of New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys. We also had an opening of the UAAP a month after that.

 We have had the visit of the NBA stars as well, the basketball challenge which featured professional players of the NBA in a friendly exhibition match. For August, our highlight show was the two week-long Cirque Du Soleil, September was the first Ateneo-Lasalle game, and the cheer dance competition where we reached our first 19,000 seating capacity mark, a total of 19,508 patrons for that competition.

October has been the busiest month of the year, and it’s nice to see the Arena has had more than its’ fair share of shows starting with Keane, and then we had the first-ever indoor dance party for David Guetta. A few days after that we had the first finals game for UAAP wherein we reached the 20,000 mark for the arena. So for us it’s been quite busy, the Jonas Brothers is one of our key shows and for November the highlight is Jennifer Lopez and the silver anniversary concert of Regine Velasquez.

What is the market of your arena?

That is a good question, we’ve experienced families for our Cirque shows, we’ve had PBA games here, the UAAP has been at home with us, and based from the feedback they gave from the players and the organizers they like that we have a bigger lower box section. We’ve had Zac Efron, we’ve had the institutional show of Bench, so we’ve had our share from the young ones to the not so young ones with Wilson Phillips, Taylor Dayne, so I guess we've been blessed that the Arena   has had various shows for all ages.

Would you say that the Mall Of Asia Arena is better than the other arenas? Why or why not?

Well, we wouldn’t say we are better-yet. We will leave it to the patrons, we will leave it to the promoters, we will leave it to the organizers. What we offer is practically the new venue, the newest venue in town. It boasts of a turnstile system, an optical turnstile system wherein we can guarantee a single entry system for our promoters, and then one of its’ unique features, the first in Southeast Asia is its’ corp seat level, and then also inside our venue is a state of the art LED ribbon system, as well as the LED pro tables.

In terms of basketball amenities we are currently using Robins flooring and Spalding basketball goals, and we are also following the FIBA regulation lines so technically we are equipped for international sporting events. Outside of that we have a fully mechanized patron section at the ground floor wherein it gives our promoters the opportunity to be creative in terms of how they can use the floor as a stage set-up.

 So, if you notice that the stages are different per show, it is due to the production directive. We have a more elongated design than round, and it gives enough leverage to have more seats, if the promoters want a stage that is wide they can have that or we can adjust it to a snug set-up wherein its’ really intimate. Plus another key feature that we have is that our general admission section has actual seats.

 What are some of your most attended events?

Well, yung concerts as a whole, depende. When you say seating capacities it depends on the structure, it depends on how the stage is laid out, or what are the sections that can be open based on the stage design. So iba’t iba talaga ang mga considerations, but in terms of capacity I believe we are at par with other venues but the key feature is that we have a bigger lower box section and a bigger patron section, so when it comes to the premium priced ticket, we have more.

Was the design of Mall Of Asia Arena based on any other venue?

As far as design is concerned what we mirrored is the one of Philips Arena in Atlanta Georgia.  The seating design is based on that so yung distance, yung viewing angles are considered. In terms of the land footprint that we have available for the venue, it is very similar to Philips. The land footprint that we have is similar to the land footprint of Philips. Arquitectonica, a US-based firm designed the Arena, they also designed Mall Of Asia.

What can people look forward to in the coming months?

Well we are in the finalization stage of the NBA Café, the first of its’ kind in Asia. We will be having more popular in- house brands like Krispy Kreme and of course now we have Starbucks both inside and outside the venue. We will have more palatable reasons for our patrons to come dine before the show and after the show. One of our features is, of course we respect our patrons who are smokers, so we have well-appointed 15 smoking lounges almost 2 to 4 per floor. Our smoking lounges are managed by the group Cravings where our patrons can enjoy a cup of tea or cold drinks and it is all in-house.

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Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Catch Keane Live in Manila

Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Catch Keane Live in Manila
Written by Jamie Ortega


Prepare to be electrified as Keane, one of the biggest British alternative rock bands in THE WORLD, mesmerizes Manila with its’ unique brand of music on October 2, 2012 at the SM Mall Of Asia Arena. Not excited?  Here are 10 reasons why you should be.



1) They are trailblazers. We are of course talking about singer Tom Chaplin, pianist Tim Rice-Oxley, drummer Richard Hughes, and bassist Jesse Quin who all thought about making an album without the use of guitars. While other bands have guitars as the focal point of their music, Keane decided to focus on the piano. The result? Their platinum-selling debut album Hopes And Fears

2) Let the numbers speak for themselves- 9,000,000 –the number of copies Hopes And Fears sold worldwide. 4-the number their second album Under The Sea debuted on the US billboard charts. 1- the number their third album Perfect Symmetry reached on the UK charts within a week of release , making them one of three bands in UK pop history to have five consecutive number 1 albums. Need we say more?
3) The Keane sound. Keane is known for its’ very emotional style- a mesmerizing fusion of piano driven ballads, booming choral arrangements and emotionally–charged orchestrations that never fails to tug at the heartstrings of their fans

4) They wear their hearts on their sleeves- well, sorta. Keane’s lyrics talk about love, loyalty, friendship and nostalgia, sentiments that people can relate to, but they do it in quite a cryptic manner. Instead of spoon feeding it to their audience, the band encourages their listeners to interpret the songs in their own way.

5) The band isn’t afraid to experiment. While Hopes And Fears had more of a piano-rooted rock feel, their second album Under The Iron Sea was laced with tinges of electronica. A risk which ultimately paid off because the album reached the number one spot in the UK and debuted at number 4 in the Billboard’s Top 200 list PLUS received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance. The band finally made use of guitar in their 3rd album Perfect Symmetry which resulted in a number of hit singles like The Lovers Are Losing, Love Is The End, and Better Than This. Seriously, these guys can do no wrong!

6) They’re in 3D! In 2009 Keane became the first ever band to broadcast a live show in 3D. The show was held in Abbey Rod in London. They played the song Better Than This. If that isn't cool we don’t know what is!

7) Somewhere Only We Know. If you haven’t heard of this song let me help you out of that rock you've been living under.  The phenomenal  third single from their first album has been covered by music greats Natasha Bedingfield, Lifehouse, and the entire cast of Glee.

8) They are such determined lads. Did you know that they recorded their debut album Hopes And Fears at pianist Tim Rice-Oxyley’s parents farmhouse and cows kept on showing up?

9) They are very multi-talented! Other bands have members solely focused on their instruments. But not Keane! The tune Your Love from the album Night Train featured songwriter pianist Tim Rice-Oxley on lead vocals for the very first time! According to lead vocalist Tom Chaplin, they liked Tim’s demo vocals of the song so much they decided to keep it that way. “"Had we gone into the studio intending to make a full album, I don't think we would have given Tim the job of singing. But because of the way we made this record, we just ran out of time to record my vocals for it. The longer we lived with the demo vocal Tim had done for it, the more we liked it. I really love that song and love the spirit in which it came about as well,” Chaplain explains

10) It’s their first time to perform in Manila- so grab your tickets now!

The Strangeland Tour: Keane LIVE in Manila! October 2, 2012 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Get your tickets now at SM Tickets, Call 470-2222 or visit www.smtickets.com to buy tickets ONLINE. This event is brought to you by Trilogy Live and Dayly Entertainment.

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MCS Exclusive: Hanging out with The Cab

We at MCS will never stop saying how much we love what we do, especially when we get to hang out with cool musicians like Alex Marshall and Alex De Leon of The Cab. Check out our exclusive interview with these two talented and sweet musicians, learn about some of their favorite Pinoy dishes, how they feel about touring with Maroon 5, the secret story behind their hit song "La La", their plans after the tour and a whole lot more. Special thanks to Ayala and Visions and Expressions!

Watch our video interview here:

Questions:

1. What's your favorite filipino dishes?

2. Why is your album always starts with the Same Alphabet WW, LL, SS?

3. How does it feels touring with Maroon5?

4. What's the story behind the song "Lala"

5. Who's your favorite artist you collaborate with?

6. What can fans expect to your upcoming album after this tour?

The Cab for Manila Concert Scene

Photos:

See more photos here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151413138613032

Special thanks to Ayala Malls.

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MCS Exclusive: Round-table Interview with Nelly Furtado

Round table interview for Nelly Furtado with selected press people in Manila. She was here for her first ever concert in Manila held last Thursday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with Gym Class Heroes.
Watch the complete round-table interview with Nelly Furtado here:

Special thanks to MCA Music, LAMC Productions and Rockstar Touring.

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10 Things you should know about The Wanted

10 Things you should know about The Wanted 
Written by Jamie Ortega

  There’s no denying the popularity of the super-sexy British-Irish boy band The Wanted. Flip the radio dial on any given day and one will undoubtedly get a dose of their hit mind-blowing tunes Glad You Came, Chasing The Sun and All Time Low. Need more information? Browse their names on YouTube and feast your eyes on five incredibly handsome charmers named Max George, Jay McGuiness, Siva Kaneswaran, Tom Parker and Nathan Sykes.



But before you pass off these drool-worthy lads as a couple of regular blokes who merely coast by on, well, what their momma gave them, get a load of this: their debut album The Wanted peaked at number 4 in the UK. Their hit single Glad You Came sold three million copies in the US hitting the number three spot in the Billboard Hot 100. This was quickly followed by another sexy dance ditty Chasing The Sun which also made impressive progress on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Now that you’re on The Wanted train ( you’re welcome), here’s a bit of news that is sure to warm up your day- they are coming to Manila!

Catch Max, Siva, Jay, Tom an Nathan LIVE on September 14 at the NBC tent in Bonifacio Global City and for more details please call 470-2222 or visit www.smtickets.com
To spice things up MCS will be producing a series of weekly articles to whet your appetite ‘till the big day. Here is the first installment entitled 10 Things you should know about The Wanted. ENJOY!

1) The Wanted was formed in 2009 through a series of mass auditions organized by Jayne Collins, founder of the groups The Saturdays and Parade. Max, Tom, and Nathan were the first ones accepted, followed by Siva and Jay, The entire process lasted for 9 months. WHEW!

2) Max is a professional football player! He was supposed to join team Preston North End and nearly signed a two-year deal with them. He was also part of another boy band named Avenue which entered the third series of the X-Factor in 2006. On the romantic front he was formerly engaged to Michelle Keegan, a 25 year-old actress. Max is now single, and ready to mingle? We wonder if he will meet someone during their stay here?

3) At the age of 19, Nathan Sykes is the baby of the group. You could say that music is really is in his blood, having a music teacher for a mother. He won various singing competitions as a child, proving that one is never too young or too old to follow one’s dreams of making it big in the music biz!
4) If you havent guessed it by now, 23 year-old Siva Kaneswaran is half Sri Lankan and half Irish. Siva started modeling at the age of 16, appearing in various ads. He was also part of the TV show The Rock Rivals together with his TWIN brother Kumar! Siva took on the role of Carson Combs while Kumar played Caleb Coombs. An agent spotted Siva during one of his modeling campaigns and recruited him for the group.

5) James Jay McGuiness has a twin brother too! He has a non-identical twin brother named Tom. Did you know that Jay is quite the dancer? The 22 year-old singer/dancer went to Charlotte Hamilton School of Dance.

6) Sometimes fate leads you down a different path- Tom Parker auditioned for X-Factor but did not get past the first round. He also joined a Take That tribute band called Take That II before joining the Wanted. He is also an accomplished guitarist too! He learned how to play the guitar at the age of 16.

7) The Wanted boys are such appreciative and goofy lads- when they were given a green hairpiece by fans upon arriving at the LAX airport last June instead of turning up their nose in surprise and bafflement they started wearing it and taking photos with fans while wearing it! How sweet! (check out the pictures here:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2158019/All-Time-Bow-The-Wanted-lark-big-green-hairpiece-land-Los-Angeles.html)

8) Max is such a sweetie! He’s revealed in past interviews that he cries after watching heart-warming flicks like Jaws and The Plague Dogs. He is also very close to his family and wants to get married and have kids someday. “I have always had family values.”-well, you have pur hearts!
9) Siva is the quiet, soft-spoken lad in the group. He likes to spend his free time in the studio writing and recording tracks or just playing his guitar. Being in the modeling industry has given him a deeper meaning of what beauty is: “Beauty comes from within. There are beautiful people who are absolutely not beautiful inside. Definitely.”

10) Tom is the hyper one in the group! According to Max: “Tom never stops. He can’t switch off. We can do fifteen hours of work, get home and I’ll be, ‘I don’t wanna hear about anything to do with us, I’m turning my phone off, Twitter, everything, I am chillin’. Whereas he’ll get back and I’ll hear him going (world’s strongest Bolton accent) ‘mate! We’ve had three and a half million views now! See what it says on Twitter, mate? We’re top ten in Mexico”

Stay tuned for our next installment of MCS Exclusives featuring The Wanted!

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Tears for Fears tidbits Part 2: Sad separations and Happy endings

Tears for Fears tidbits Part 2: Sad separations and happy endings

Written by Jamie Ortega

                Here is part 2 of our MCS Exclusive on English rock band Tears For Fears:

·         After the success of the record-breaking album The Seeds Of Love, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith decided to end their partnership in 1991.The reason? Irreconcilable differences.  Orzabal’s intricate and detailed approach to work clashed with Smith’s desire to slow down the pace of their work. Possibly adding to Smith’s desire to slow things down was the ending of Smith’s marriage. The band kept their music alive by releasing a compilation enttled Tears Rolls Down (Greatest Hits 92-92) which featured every single to land in the top 20 either in the UK or internationally.

·       

     Orzabal and Smith went on to establish separate music careers. Smith released his first solo album in 1993 entitled Soul On Board. The album didn’t do so well. Smith himself has said on many occasions that he recorded it only to fulfill his responsibilities to his record company. Orzabal, on the other hand, released an album entitled Elemental which bore one hit, Break It Down Again. The song swiftly entered the top 20 UK, Canada, France and Italy charts.

·         There’s a really sweet story behind how the duo reunited: in 2000, routine obligations involving paperwork led to the duo running into each other after Orzabal signed a document on Smith’s behalf. According to Smith, Orzabal’s manager  contacted Smith’s manager about the possibility of reuniting. Smith and Orzabal eventually had dinner and after just nine minutes of awkwardness, laid the groundwork for a new album, Everybody Loves A Happy Ending ( what a cute name!)

·         14 songs were written and recorded in six months for Everybody Loves A Happy Ending which was released in September 2004. Two US tours to promote the album followed. After their reuniting it’s quite evident how the band began to focus on immortalizing their work – their live performance at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris recorded in June 2006 sold 70,000 physical copies plus downloads! It also included a new studio song Floating Down The River plus a remastered Curt Smith/Mayfield track entitled What Are We Fighting For.

·         Tears For Fears joined another 80’s pop group Spandau ballet on 7-date tour of Australia and New Zeland before headlining their own tour in South East Asia, Philippines. The band’s 2010 show was a big success and we are sure their upcoming concert in Manila will be an even bigger hit so grab your tickets before they are sold out!

Here is info on how to get your tickets for Tears For Fears Live In Manila featuring the voice of Fra Lippo Lippi, Per Sorensen on August 10 and 11 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and August 12 at the Waterfront hotel, Cebu  

Ticket Prices:

PATRON VIP(PT) – P7,920

PATRON REGULAR (PT) – P5,810

LOWER BOX(LB) – P4,755

UPPER A (UA) – P2,640

UPPER B (UB) – P1,585

GENERAL ADMISSION (GA) – P740

Tickets available at Ticketnet or call 911-555

Cebu Concert

P6500

P5500

P3500

P2500

P2000

P1000

Tickets available at 232-6888/09176228705

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New Kids On The Block: How the Boys from Boston, Massachusets Blew the World Away

Title: New Kids On The Block: How the Boys from Boston, Massachusets Blew the World Away

Written by Jamie Ortega

They made us reach for our dreams "Step By Step", and when things were too much to bear they reminded us to "Hanging Tough". Each song they sung was as breezy as "Summertime", and when we thought we’ve finally outgrown them they’d sing "Please Don’t Go Girl". With songs as sweet and lovely as these there is no doubt in anyone’s mind why Jordan, Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood made many a girl scream in the late 1980s to the early 1990s. Styling is very much a part of any boy band, and this writer will always remember the New Kids On The Block boys for their slicked back ‘dos, leather jackets, and utterly charming smiles. Oh, and for an animated TV series they starred in, making them pretty much the only-quite literally-animated boy band in existence. But we are getting way too ahead of ourselves. For the second part of our MCS Exclusive let us relive the humble beginnings of New Kids On The Block!

In the early 1980’s talent manager Maurice Starr auditioned more than 500 teenage boys in Boston, Massachusetts, in the hopes of making a white counterpart of the boy band New Edition. A then 15 year old Donnie Wahlberg was first accepted into the group. Donnie recruited his younger brother Mark, as well as good friend Danny Wood. After hearing his exceptional falsetto, he convinced another buddy, Jordan Knight as well as Jordan’s older brother Jonathan Knight, to try their luck as well. As the group began to take shape, Mark suddenly quit. Wahlberg was eventually replaced by  Joey Mckintyre.

The group’s rise to fame wasn’t a steady one. Their self-titled debut album in 1985 received minor airplay around Boston but failed to capture nationwide attention. They decided to take a more hands-on approach, touring around the New England states, singing at bars, school dances, etc. It seemed as if their second album Hanging Tough would have the same fate until a radio station in Florida began playing the song Please Don’t Go Girl. The tune quickly became the most requested song in that radio station’s playlist.  Please Don’t Go Girl officially became the group’s first hit.

This was followed by their album’s second single, You Got It (The Right Stuff) which was given a huge boost when MTV began playing the song’s music video in regular rotation. By 1989 they bagged their next hit, the single I'll Be Loving You (Forever), which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart in June. By the end of 1989, Hangin' Tough had climbed to number one on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart and had gone eight-times platinum. They, subsequently, became the first 'teen' act to garner five top ten hits from a single album.

 Hangin' Tough would go on to spend 132 weeks on the chart, and in January 1990, the album won two American Music Awards for "Best Pop/Rock Album", and "Best Pop/Rock Group." With the success of three more singles, "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind)," "Cover Girl," and "This One's For the Children," the group pulled off a rare feat of having three singles on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time, but each from a different album. Their days of Hangin Tough were now over.

For their next album, Step By Step, the boys decided to have a larger part in the album’s creative process. Thus, Step By Step featured slightly more than half of the songs co-written and produced by the members themselves.  That turned out to be a good decision as their first single Step By Step, shot to number one on the Hot 100 Singles Chart and became the boys biggest selling single. The entire album was eventually certified triple platinum, selling close to twenty million copies worldwide.

What could possibly follow after being certified triple platinum? A concert tour, of course! The group performed at an estimated 200 concerts a year, the most memorable of which was The Magic Summer Tour sponsored by Coke. The international superstars slowly ventured into merchandising. The NKOTB –licensed merchandise included pretty much anything people could get their hands on including lunch boxes, buttons, T-shirts, comic books, dolls, trading cards and that very memorable Saturday morning cartoon.  In 1991 the group topped Forbes list of highest paid entertainers, beating out the likes of Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince and Bill Cosby!

Unfortunately, the next couple of years saw a huge dip in the boys’ popularity. Their fourth studio album after nearly four years entitled Face The Music, drew a lukewarm response from their fans. The most successful song from that album was Dirty Dawg which peaked at #66 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The group finally decided to split in 1995. After the group's disbanding, majority of the members decided to focus on their personal lives. They began to settle down and started to have families. Jonathan Knight and Danny Wood maintained low profiles, while the other three members continued their solo careers individually.

Amid staggering clamor from their fans, the group reunited for a reunion tour 13 years after their break-up. The tour began on September 18, 2008 at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, touring the United States with Natasha Bedingfield and Lady Gaga as their supporting acts. They proceeded to take over the world with a total of 48 concerts scheduled for Canada and the United States, ten in the United Kingdom, one in France, one in Amsterdam, Netherlands and two in Germany. To make their fans even happier a  NKOTB-sponsored "theme" concert cruise traveled from Miami, Florida, to the Bahamas from May 15–18, 2009. On November 3, 2010 it was formally announced, in all major media outfits around the world, that two of the biggest boy bands the music industry has ever witnessed, NKOTB and Backstreet Boys, will be circling the globe together, making boy band fans happier than they’ve ever been before! 

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Backstreet Boys: Ruling the '90s Boyband Style

Title: Backstreet Boys: Ruling the '90s Boyband Style
Written by Jamie Ortega

People term it as a guilty pleasure, like munching chips in the middle of the night or texting an ex-boyfriend. But for die-hard fans (just like this writer), boy bands are more than just a guilty pleasure, they provide music that never fails to inspire. What makes boy bands so irresistible? Let us count the ways- they produce songs that are perfect for any occasion. Who hasn’t hummed to I Will Never Break Your Heart in the shower while going to work, or at your favorite Karaoke joint? Who hasn’t copied the dance moves of Step By Step? There’s also the precise choreography, dapper outfits, and boyishly handsome good looks to contend with, all wrapped up in one delectable package-ooh- la- la!
 

Each generation possesses their own set of boy bands: the ‘80s had Menudo, while groups like Backstreet Boys, N Sync and 98 Degrees ruled the ‘90s. Now, everyone is all about One Direction.  As Backstreet boys founder Lou Perlman once put it, “As long as there are little girls we will always be boybands.”
Once word broke out that Ovation Productions will be bringing the boy band tandem of NKOTBSB to Manila on June 3, 20122 at the SM MOA Arena, boy band lovers all over Manila nearly went out of their minds. To herald their arrival in the country, we at MCS are bringing a two part special on the New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys. Find out how they started, how they’ve endured, and what they are up to now. Enjoy!

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS:
Back in 1992, friends Howie Dorough and AJ McLean met Nick Carter through several commercial, theater, and television auditions. They all wanted to be actors, but obviously God was preparing them for something greater. Kevin Richardson met the rest of the boys through a co-worker, and upon discovering their love for classical soul, formed a group amongst themselves.

   All the boys answered a newspaper ad posted by Lou Pearlman within the same year. Aj, unfortunately, was the only one who made the cut for that specific ad. Years later Lou have aspiring singers all over Orlando another chance, by holding another open casting call, to be part of a new boy band. Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, and Howie Dorough finally made the cut after meeting Pearlman’s expectations. Brian Littrell was later added to the group after Lou had him audition for the group over the phone. Who named them the Backstreet boys? It was Perlman. He named the group after Orlando’s famous Backstreet flea market.

RECORD-BREAKING SUCCESS:
The boys rose to fame first in Europe when the single We’ve Got It Goin On became a hit back in 1995. This was followed by 'Get Down (You're The One For Me)' which reached number 3 in the UK charts back in August 1996.  Get Down was followed by I'll Never Break Your Heart' which climbed to the 8th spot in the UK charts that same year. As expected, their self-titled debut album was widely –received in Europe.

So when did they touch the US market?  Two years after, with Everybody (Backstreet's Back)!  The hit dance ditty climbed to the number 4th spot in billboard charts back in June 1998. Subsequent singles Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) and As Long As You Love Me also became hits, altogether making their second album the third bestselling record of 1998 in the United States.

A year later they topped the UK singles chart in May 1999 with a new single, I Want It That Way, which also became a US Top 10 radio hit. You can probably guess what happened next, their third album Millenium topped the US album charts one month later, selling two million copies in just over three weeks. The boys were definitely on a roll because, on November 2000, their other album Black & Blue achieved platinum status in over 30 countries and gold certification in 10 regions around the world just during its first week of release with sales of over 25 million copies worldwide. The boys of Orlando officially became international superstars.

You know the saying quit while you are on top? The boys did just that, not by quitting but by going on a five year hiatus. The Backstreet Boys reemerged with a new single, Incomplete, in 2005, which was the #1 most requested song in top markets in both the U.S. and overseas. Fans of the boy band noticed a maturity in the group’s sound after listening to Incomplete, an aching ballad with tones reminiscent of bands Five For Fighting and Nickelback.

Incomplete was a mere sign of things to come as, on June 14, 2005, the group released their comeback album Never Gone, which they spent more than a year recording. It sold over 13 million copies worldwide.  With over 13 years in the music industry, the Backstreet Boys legacy lives on!
Catch them together with New Kids On The Block on June 3, 2012 at the SM Mall Of Asia Arena concert grounds. Tickets are available at SM Tickets  or call 470 2222

Ticket prices are as follows:
SVIP – P13,200
VIP – P8980
LOWER BOX VIP - 8450
LOWER BOX REG – 7920
UPPER BOX – 3700
GENL ADM – 1060

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Backtrack with The Fray

Title: Backtrack with The Fray

Written by Jho Mariano

Edited by Jamie Ortega

Learn about The Fray’s journey to musical superstardom in this MCS Exclusive article.

You must admit-there’s just something so undeniably endearing about a band who has no qualms about baring their heart and soul with their music. Men, as a species, don’t give in to their emotions easily, but when talented guy musicians do, they produce songs that people cherish for years.

Meet Denver- based quartet The Fray. With their authentic sounds and sincere lyrics, there’s no denying how Isaac Slade, Joe King, David Welsh and Ben Wysocki  can tug at their fan’s heartstrings with songs like How To Save A Life, Over My Head (Cable Car), etc. Songs like these possess the power to evoke fresh or even long buried emotions of love, heartbreak, and everything in between. Before catching their concert on June 21, 2012 at SM Mall Of Asia Arena, let’s take a walk down memory lane and relive the band’s rise to success.

Like many great things the formation of the band started with small beginnings. Former schoolmates Isaac Slade and Joe King bumped into each other at a local music store in 2002, erstwhile signaling the start of their jam sessions. The duo was later joined by Zach Johnson and Slade’s younger brother, Caleb. Caleb’s departure from the band inspired the group’s first hit single “Over My Head (Cable Car).” Johnson followed suit, permanently leaving the band to attend an art school in New York. In 2002, the group released the “Movement EP,” which was followed by another musical offering, the Reason EP, the very next year. The band struck gold with Reason EP, garnering critical and local acclaim. with a local publication called Westword naming them the Best New Band of 2004.

You could definitely say that 2003 was a major year for the band because, aside from the fact that it made people sit up and take notice of their music, it also marked the entry of two more members, Dave Welsh and Ben Wysocki. After years of trying to get their music out in the market, a record deal with Epic Records materialized in December of 2004.

Musicians aspire for two things- to release their own record and tour with musicians they admire, The Fray achieved that second dream the following summer as they toured alongside bands “Weezer” and “Ben Folds.” They went back to making music in September 2005, finally releasing their debut album “How to Save a Life.” Their first single “Over My Head (Cable Car)” off the album reached number 8 in the Top 40 chart status. The Fray released their album’s title track and was profoundly used in an advertising campaign for the hit TV series “Grey’s Anatomy.” Their single “How to Save a Life” became one of 2006’s biggest singles and a world-wide hit.

In July 2006, The Fray took their music one notch higher by releasing a live album “Live at the Electric Factory: Bootleg No. In September 2007, they released another live album “Acoustic in Nashville: Bootleg No. 2.” The next month, they re-released their “Reason EP” while continuing to tour, intermittently playing new songs at their shows.

Late 2008, the band returned to the studio to record their second album “The Fray” which was released in early 2009. The lead single of the album, “You Found Me” climbed to number 7 in various music-related countdowns.

For their third album Scars And Stories the group decided to tweak their songs a little bit to create a “larger sound”. The compilation was inspired by the band’s Rwanda and Germany expeditions and produced by music heavyweight Brendan Brian. In an interview on Billboard magazine the band fondly looked back at their 10 years in the music industry. Isaac revealed that the group cane to a point where they felt they couldn’t “make it”. “Ten years ago we wanted to quit our jobs. Joe was working at an auto body shop. I had a little gig at a coffee shop and was still at my parents' house. My girlfriend at the time, who finally agreed to marry me, confessed years later that she never thought we'd actually make it. She thought it would be a phase, like, 'Oh yeah, Isaac's band phase ...' Then, two years into it, she started getting the sense that we were going to be doing this for awhile. You know, there are hard parts to it, but, by and large, it's the best job we've ever had. It's a dream job.”

Don’t miss The Fray Live in Manila on June 21, 2012 at the Mall of Asia Arena! Call SM Tickets: 470-2222 or visit www.smtickets.com for ticket inquiries and reservations. Proudly presented by Dayly Entertainment and That’s NTertainment Productions

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