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: 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: 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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Concert Review: Hands Up with 2PM

Title: Hands Up with 2PM
Written by AlexaVillano || Edited by Jamie Ortega || Photos by Kevin Pableo

If March is an indicator that summer is approaching, the temperature at the Mall of Asia Arena last March 2 was definitely sizzling when Korean boyband 2PM performed before a huge crowd of Filipino K-Pop fans as part of their What Time Is It Tour.



The group’s fans known as Hottest, finally saw Chansung, Jun K., Nichkhun, Taecyeon, Junho and Wooyoung before their very eyes, belting one song after the other starting with I’ll Be Back. Wearing black and silver leather outfits, the guys danced and sang as pyrotechnics went off to the delight of fans who took videos and pictures with their cameras and cell phones.

Despite the technical glitches experienced in the first set of songs, the boys went on entertaining the crowd as if nothing happened. They then introduced themselves one by one starting with Chansung who flew in the morning of the concert due to a previous commitment. All six members told the crowd that they were happy to be finally in Manila, with each member injecting Tagalog words they have learned upon their arrival such as "guwapo" and "gutom na ako".

The group also made sure to include the audience in their performance by teaching them dance moves to their songs. They got everyone pumping with Heartbeat, performing Again and Again, mellowing with Only You, telling their fans they can’t survive "Without You", not to give and screaming "Don’t Stop, Can’t Stop" and scoring "10 out of 10". They also got the crowd going by telling them to raise their Hands Up.

Each member also had individual solo numbers. Chansung, who is currently part of the drama 7th Grade Civil Servant got female fans squealing as he showed his sexy charisma viaLove You Down. The screams just got even louder when he ripped off his shirt showcasing his abs that earned him a spot as one of the top K-Pop male entertainers with the best bodies.

Junho got everyone singing and dancing with "Just A Feeling" and even showed the crowd another one of his talents; playing the drums. Wooyoung showcased his sharp dancing skills through Sexy LadywhileTaecyeon got everyone feeling like they were in the club by demonstrating some DJ-ing before rapping to "It’s Time".

Nichkhun, who recently joined the Bench family as one of its new endorsers, serenaded the crowd with Let It Rainwhile Jun K, known to have the best vocals in the group sang, Just One Night. Both members later asked the audience to sing a line from each of their songs.
In between sets, the group showed their appreciation for the fans. They even prepared a surprise for the audience- singing the Filipino nursery song "Tong-tong-Pakitong-Kitong" led by Wooyoung with the audience singing along drawing laughter and amusement.

A video entitled “2PM Proposal” was also shown on screen where the boys were shown preparing a proposal for their fans. Flowers, balloons and cake aside, the audience got touched when a letter written in Tagalog was focused on the video, showing the group’s love and appreciation for their fans.
The guys also made sure to interact with the audience, approaching all sides of the stage and throwing the giveaways (with every girl trying to grab it from one another).  They even took time after their final number to shake hands with those in the VIP section. They even had their photos taken with fans by grabbing cameras and cellphones from lucky supporters.

Other fans grabbed the opportunity to give gifts to their idols like Jun K who received a necklace made of mini panda stuff toys plus two large ones which he later posted on his Twitter account.“THANK YOU ALL PHILIPPINES :) WE NEVER FORGET BOUT YOUR GREAT LOVE !” he wrote.

As the concert came to an end, the members said that they will never forget the warm welcome they’ve received from the Filipino fans. All six members said that they will continue to work hard with preparations for a Korean comeback this year. Taecyeon even said that while the group has been to other countries, the Philippines by far is one of the best places they’ve visited and they will definitely comeback again to perform.

Nichkhun also thanked the Filipino fans. In his Twitter post, he said that it was one of the best shows he’s done.

“Couldn't get enough of you guys tonight!! PH HOTTEST you made tonight one of the most memorable shows ever! MaramingSalamat Po!” he tweeted.

As a fan of the group, it was surreal to finally watch them live after waiting for two years. The boys have definitely matured alot since debuting back in 2009 with 10 out of 10. They have also gone through individual projects with Chansung, Taecyeon and Wooyoung branching into acting, Junho and Jun K into solo albums and songwriting, while Nichkhun is active in his native Thailand. They recently released their Japanese album Legend of 2PM and after a few weeks hit the Oricon Charts. Now talk about an explosive start for the guys!

All in all it was worth watching the concert. As hot as it was watching 2PM on stage, the night definitely belonged to the fans that left the arena with smiles on their faces. A show that deserved a huge “hands up!”

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Concert Review: Cliff Richard fills the Big Dome with well-loved hits

Cliff Richard fills the Araneta Coliseum with well-loved hits

Written By Jamie Ortega || Photos by Kevin Pableo

 72 year-old British pop singer Cliff Richard rocked the night away last February 28, 2013 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum for his one night show entitled “Cliff Richard: Still Reelin’ and A-Rockin’ – Live in Manila.”Looking and acting a lot younger than his 72 years of age, Cliff entertained the audience with a lively mix of pop ballads, classic rock and roll tunes, and heart-wrenching love songs from the ‘60s all the way to the ‘80s.

Cliff immediately got the audience in a lively mood, clapping and cheering to his first medley,including songsPoetry In Motion and Sealed with a Kiss. With the energy that he showed onstage it was hard not to get carried away, especially when the British pop star would displayhis talent in dancing, his moves ranging from foxtrot to cha-cha and everything in between! In similar fashion, whenever he would take it down a notch and perform slower songs, he would bring the audience with him, never losing his connection to the crowd.

Unlike other artists who would keep their adlibs to a minimum, Britain’s all-time greatest hit maker, with a record 123 single hits to his name, displayed a charmingly humble demeanor as he regaled the audience with funny anecdotes. Some of them were about dealing with fame, like when he was approached by a woman in a restaurant in Paris. When she asked him who he was, Cliff refused to reveal his identity. When the British pop singer finally gave his name, the woman exclaimed, “You can’t be, you’re dead!” On the other hand, some of Cliff’s other jokes were of a more personal matter, like his age. After announcing that he was reuniting with his band, The Shadows, he quipped, “Please support us, it’s our 100^th anniversary.”

As expected, the British singer sang a couple of his smash hits as well, like We Don’t Talk Anymore, I Could Easily Fall In Love With You, Summer Holiday and The Next Time, his dance moves sweet and effortless, his voice cool and soothing as ever. However, out of all the popular songs that he sang, it was Ocean Deep that got the most feedback from the audience- and with good reason!  The song is still being played to this day in karaoke joints and radio stations all over the Philippines-just like Cliff;Ocean Deepnever fails to captivate the people who listen to it. 

Aside from the jokes that were shared, Cliff also revealed bits and pieces of trivia about the songs that he sang. One such tune was Suddenly, the theme song from the 1980 Olivia Newton-John film,Xanadu. Cliff revealed that Olivia started out as one of his concert back-up singers. When she hit it big in Hollywood,she approached Cliff and asked him if he could sing Suddenlywith her because her Xanaduleading man couldn’t carry a tune. Cliff said yes, and the rest, as they say, is history. After more than two hours of captivating performances, Cliff ended the concert with a bang, performing the songs Forty Days and Do You Wanna Dance before saying goodbye.

Cliff Richard performing We Don't Talk Anymore 

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Concert Review: Para-Thrilla in Manila with Paramore LIVE!

Para-Thrilla in Manila with Paramore LIVE!

By Jhoanne Mariano

Edited by Jamie Ortega

Photos by Kris Rocha

Last February 15, Paramore performed “Para-thrilla in Manila 2” at the Mall of Asia Arena. The arena was overflowing with fans of all ages ready to rock and dance with the band. mewithoutYou, an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, kicked off the night for Paramore and they were warmly welcomed by the fans. After mewithoutYou's set, Paramore fans simply couldn’t hide their excitement as they screamed and clapped while thestage was being prepared for the night’s main act.The pandemonium hit a heady frenzy by 9 o’clockwhen the MOA Arena went pitch black and the crowd became a sea of lights and screaming fans.

A blast of lightfilled the stage as they performed their latest single and the night’s opening salvo, “Now.” It seemed as if the song was tattooed on every fan’s mind as they rocked along toHayley. “That’s What You Get,” from their Riot! album, made the fans even more pumped increasing the energy of an already frenzied atmosphere. Like Hayley’s energy on stage, the crowd sang all of the band’s song back at them with all their might.

It’s been almost 3 years since the first Para Thrilla in Manila whichoccurred  at the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds and a lot of things have happened since then. To start with they were still a band of five  (Josh and Zac Farro left the band a few months after their first show) and Hayley reminisced about that change onstage.“The last two years were hard. We’ve been through a lot but we made it through…”  she shared. Judging by the way they lit up the stage that night with only 3 people left – Hayley Williams, Jeremy Davis and Taylor York, the magic of Paramoe lives on.

“Hello Manila! It’s been a pretty long time, right? It’s good to be back. Just in case you didn’t know…”We Are Paramore!" was Hayley's opening greeting for the night as  the crowd mimicked the too-familiar signature phrase. From then on the band played song after song:“Born for This” and “For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic” both from their Riot! album, “Decode” from the Twilight OST, “Renegade” which is the first song released off the Singles Club, followed by “Pressure” from All We Know is Falling album, and “Careful” from Brand New Eyes album.

Towards the middle of the concert Hayley took it down a notch by playing slower tunes. “Can Taylor and I play a song for you?” asked the beautiful front-woman as she sat down alongside Taylor with his acoustic guitar. She then explained the song that they will be playing revealing that it was from their latest album the Singles Club. The arena’s atmosphere was bathed in a mellow light as they also played “In the Mourning” followed by “The Only Exception” from their Brand New Eyes album. The mood shift was so magical that the crowd instantly became a sea of stars swaying gently while singing along with Hayley.

After the mellow hits, the stage exploded with bright red lights which made it seem like the stage was on fire, a perfect background to their next song Let the Flames Begin.” Hayley then requested the crowd to raise their hands up high and snap their fingers to the beat of the drums for “Fences.” It was then followed by “Looking Up,” “Ignorance” and “Monster.”

Many things have been said about Hayley but if there is one thing that remains true about the singer it is the solid appreciation she has for her band’s fans at one point that night she shared that appreciation by saying that she could not thank her Filipino fans enough for sticking with them for the past years, “The last few years, we’ve been through a lot. It was hard and we made it through. We’re here.  Honestly, I can say for sure, we’ve never been so grateful. It was you guys that encouraged us online, through letters, and pictures. You made us feel like we were so close to you even when we were back home. Thank you so much. It means the world to be up here.” Her words were then followed by “Brick by Boring Brick” their last song before saying goodbye.

But the fans wouldn’t let them go without an encore. After several minutes of chanting, Paramore was back on stage for their encore set-in true Hayley fashion she playfully said, “Tricked you!” letting the fans know that they wanted to play more songs for tonight. They then performed “Hello Cold World” while giving flying kisses to the audience. Before performing their last song, Hayley shared one important lesson, a piece of advice the band’s fans will forever keep in their hearts and her minds. “You’re important. Don’t let anyone feel like you’re not important. Don’t forget that.” Hayley advised, her delivery depicting that she meant every single word.But just when the fans thought they’ve had their fill of their favorite band Paramore had one more thing up their sleeve. While performing “Misery Business” their very last song of the night, Hayley announced during the bridge that she would be picking one lucky fan to rock out on stage with her, and that one lucky fan turned out to be a named Vanessa. “Manila, are you still gonna be here next time we see you?” said Hayley hinting and apparently hoping to have a third Para-thrilla in Manila. It was one rocking concert indeed.

For more concert photos, visit: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151729736808032

Special thanks to Ovation Productions and Music Management International.

Paramore performing The Only Exception from their 2013 Manila Concert:

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CONCERT REVIEW: In Which I Tell You About The Night STARS Broke And Mended My Heart (all at once)

CONCERT REVIEW: In Which I Tell You About The Night STARS Broke And Mended My Heart (all at once)
Written by Kax Uson || Photos by Kris Rocha


 HEART was the first STARS song that I fell in love with. Mostly because the first time I heard it, it struck a chord in my own heart and made it bleed. I was 18 (or 19, I can’t remember) and I was in love with a boy that made my head spin and my stomach somersault. I was in love with a boy but I didn’t think he was in love with me. Crazy romance that lasted a few months and ended in vain but I couldn’t bring myself to get over him. And then I found the song that perfectly described everything that I was feeling but couldn’t bring to say.The hard luck GodYou never had a chance you know Incurable romantics never doHe held the flame I wasn’t born to carry

I’ll leave the dying young stuff up to you

You get back on the latest flight to paradise

I found out from a note taped to the doorI think I saw your airplane in the sky tonight

Through my window, lying on the kitchen floor

My 18 year old broken heart didn’t stand a chance. And STARS became a permanent fixture in my mixes. Apparently they had a song for every situation I was in, for every emotion that I was feeling.

Fast forward to nearly 10 years later, I found myself in front of a beautifully lit stage, goosebumps and heart pounding — anticipating the band that put words to my feelings to come on stage. I was excited, to say the least. And then they finally came on stage and my heart was just about ready to burst.

They started playing their songs and the crowd went wild. I couldn’t hear myself from all the screaming. All around me, people of different ages and race were singing along to the songs, dancing and jumping and people would look at each other and smile. We were all connected, somehow. We knew that we all went through heart aches and heart breaks and STARS held our hand through these days. We all shared that.

After they sang “Walls” from their album, “North”, the band walked off the stage. I knew that it was a bluff. They had to have an encore. You can’t end a concert without one. But I was still in some sort of panic. They still haven’t played “Calendar Girl”, my anthem. The crowd was chanting “More”, never wavering.

And then they came back. And the first song they played was “My Favorite Book”. Somebody told me after the concert that this was the first time they played this song in this tour. But I didn’t really care much for that fact. All I cared about was that they played “My Favorite Book”. And then the waterworks started once again. They also played “On Peak Hill” and “One More Night” — the latter hitting quite close to home.

And then they finally played “Calendar Girl”. When they played the first note, I was already crying. I already knew what they were going to play. My friends and I were hugging and screaming/singing every single word to the song. With feelings. With so much feelings.

That night was amazing, to say the least. STARS was one of those bands who really loved to perform. They danced to every song and talked to their audience and were as grateful for that evening as much as we, the audience, were.

I’ve been to other concerts before, of bands that I would like to count as one of my favorites too — but this was the first show that really got to me. I walked away from the venue remembering everything that has happened for the past 10 years and grateful that they happened to me. I walked away from the venue remembering that for every moment, for every love, for every heart break, for every success or failure there is a song to help you celebrate or even mourn. And that everything you’re going through, everything you’re feeling is OK– because it just makes you more human, more real… more you.

My friends and I were joking that if they played our favorite songs we would end up a bawling mess after.

They played “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead”. And I never thought the screams could get any louder, but they did. I could hear the people behind me asking themselves why they were crying. I turned around and was not surprised that I was looking at grown men and women (more or less my age. Yes, I’m a grown woman), laughing and crying and singing along to the songs all at the same time. My friends and I were in the same state, squeezing each others hands and shoulders and without words we were telling each other how we were feeling at that exact same moment. We were all bursting at the seams with our 18-year old unrequited feelings and memories of being locked up in our rooms with a bottle of the cheapest wine bought from the nearest 711 with the album, “Set Yourself On Fire” on loop.

Song after song, they killed us. Song after song, they revived us. They played nearly all of my favorite songs. “Dead Hearts”, “Elevator Love Letter”, “Take Me To The Riot”, “Do You Want To Die Together”, and of course “Hearts”.  Then there were songs that they played that I didn’t know the words to, but they hit me anyway.

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Concert Review: A Gangnam-filled Night

A Gangnam-filled Night

Written by Jamie Ortega || Photos by Kevin Pableo

If I were to make a list of 2012’s biggest breakthrough artists, Korean musician Psy would be my top choice- no questions asked. I remember the first time I saw Gangnam Style on Youtube: I came across the words “Gangnam Style” while browsing the list of trending topics on microblogging site Twitter and I knew I had to discover what the fuss was all about. Before I knew it I had opened my Youtube account, was mimicking the steps in my mind, and trying my best to muffle my laughter.

Unlike a lot of other Twitter trending topics, that wasn’t the last time I heard Gangnam. Undeniably the biggest song of 2012, the hit song reached the milestone of one billion You Tube views on December 21, 2012. It even broke into hoax territory when a spoof documentary by videographer Simon Gosselin was posted on Youtube linking Gangnam Style to a fake Nostradamus prophecy.

So what exactly is the secret to Gangnam Style’s success? Is it the catchy dance moves? The “dress classy dance cheesy” tagline? Or maybe the universal message of the song? (For people not in the know the song talks about people who pretend to be trendy, hip, and supposedly classy when in reality they are far from it.) Whatever the case may be, last February 16 at the Mall Of Asia Arena, I witnessed how truly Gangnam-crazy Pinoys are as thousands of fans braved the weekend traffic for Psy’s one night only concert entitled Ang Tanging Valentine Show. Sharing equal billing that night was The Philippine Comedy Concert Queen Ai-ai delas Alas.

I must admit I was never really a fan of Ai-Ai. I knew she was funny but she never had a big impact on me. That is, ‘till I saw her perform that night. Ai-Ai is really at her best onstage in a comedy-bar type of set-up where she can trade barbs with the audience and feed off their energy. One of the best parts of Ai-Ai’s performance was when she called three men to the stage, sang to them, and teased them. Overall, her jokes were universal in nature, not too safe and not too racy. One of my favorite jokes was when she saw a younger Caucasian guy in the audience together with an older woman. “Sipsipin mo ang kabataan nya ha!” joked Ai to the girl. Ai-ai proved her mettle as an entertainer as well by enthralling the audience with popular tunes, singing and dancing to  Rihanna’s Where have you been, Madonna’s “Like A Virgin”, Wonder Girl’s “Nobody”, and 2NE1’s “Fire.”

Like Ai-AI, I never really latched on to Jose And Wally. I knew that they started out in Eat Bulaga and their last concert was a big hit, but that was it. As I watched the two ace comedians duke it out onstage I began to understand their appeal as well. Right from the time Jose Manalo began his repertoire with a demonic laugh, signaling the start of their set to the moment they left the stage they had the audience at the palm of their hand. There were also several times when they would go down into the audience but not as much as Ai-Ai’s. Also, the general tone of their jokes was naughtier and more sexual in nature. Before they left the stage for good, Jose and Wally rendered two songs and I absolutely loved both choices because they appealed to different markets. The first one was Tuloy Parin Ako by Side A, and the other was the phenomenal Macho Gwapito and Katawan. In their own way, Jose and Wally paid tribute to Psy by choosing a song that also got its’ break in 2012  a nice touch indeed!

It was around 11pm when Psy finally appeared onstage wearing an all-white ensemble and his  signature black shades. The first thing that came to my mind when I laid my eyes on him was how normal-sized his physique was. He looked a bit chunky onscreen (blame it on the 10 pounds that automatically go on you when you appear on TV-yikes!) and a lot thinner in person. Apart from that, I was really impressed with how Psy handled the audience. Even though it seemed like I was in the middle of an exercise video at first, I appreciated how he made the fans more involved by saying his performance would be dependent on the energy and overall reaction of the crowd. By the time the third song, Paradisecame around; Psy showed he meant business by requesting to have the lights turned on so he could the spot people in the audience who weren’t participating. He even sized up the nature of shouts he was getting from the crowd, talking about how long and how loud the cheers were.

 Despite my lack of knowledge of the Korean language, I found myself humming along to the other songs Psy performed like the danceable ditty Champion. They were very catchy and I wouldn’t be surprised if we will have another hit of Gangnam-esque proportions this year. As expected, Gangnam was Psy’s last song of the night. As my eyes swerved around the Arena, I could see everyone doing the Gangnam to their heart’s content! It was really an amazing and super fun sight to see.  As soon as the song was over the audience immediately asked for more. But before Psy gave in to everyone’s request to do the Gangnam the second time, he shared a message concert enthusiasts like me can definitely apply. Psy asked the audience to take down their camera phones and videocams so they could enjoy the moment. The Korean musician pointed out that they probably already have multiple photos of his face which actually made perfect sense! How many times do we concentrate on documenting an event again and again, forgetting the reason why we are doing it in the first place. That lesson, together with the spectacular performances onstage made for one awesome Valentines’ Day weekend.

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Concert Review: Swedish House Mafia Brings Down The House

Concert Review: Swedish House Mafia Brings Down The House
Written by Niche Dumlao || Photos by Magic Liwanag Photography for Ovation Productions

News shocked the dance music community – heck, the music community in general – when back in June 2012, EDM masters Swedish House Mafia announced that they were calling it quits. A post on their official website states:

"Today we want to share with you, that the tour we are about to go on will be our last. We want to thank every single one of you that came with us on this journey. We came, we raved, we loved."
And like wildfire, word spread of this alarming declaration from the group composed of Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso. Though successful in their own DJ careers, there will always be an undeniable force when the three collaborate together. A strong force…a dance music phalanx. As for their falling out, Rolling Stone magazine shares Angello’s sentiments on the issue saying that "we just decided that we reached a point where we didn't know what the next move would be," and that "we've had beyond our dreams and we've come very, very far”.



From there, the demand for SMH skyrocketed as every city in the world wanted to bid farewell to the group. Appropriately called One Last Tour, the group scheduled a series of shows which spans over 6 months in over 5 continents. Luckily, Manila was included in their Asian leg thanks to Ovation Productions.

Although there were only 2 of the Mafia guys present (Steve was suffering from some stomach related illness we were told), it didn’t kill the mood as Axwell and Seb fired dance dynamites one after the other. Opening with “Greyhound”, the pair sifted through their discography as a group and as individuals. Axwell’s hits such as “Nothing But Love”, “In My Mind”, Together” and “Sweet Disposition” remix were in the artillery. While Seb had the monstrous “Calling” and “Reload” as his weapons. And in the middle of this sound assault, the boys delivered the ultimate fan service when they hoisted the Philippine flag in the middle of their set.

Truly, showing their love to the very eager SM Arena crowd. But of course, the big guns were the Swedish House Mafia tracks. “Antidote”, “One”, “Miami To Ibiza” were all met with rave reception, still their 2 most popular ones – namely “Save the World” and “Don’t You Worry Child” set the crowd into a massive party explosion. Prompting Axwell to comment, “Manila, it’s true what they say, you sing great”.

The lights were stellar, the effects were spectacular, the show memorable. After all, it’s the first and (probably?) the last time the boys come to our shores. And true to their parting words…they came, we raved, we loved. And there’s nothing shocking about that.

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Concert Review: The Ataris Live in Eastwood City

Concert Review: The Ataris Live in Eastwood City 

Written by Bianchi Mendoza || Photos by Kris Rocha(www.krisrocha.com)

            Fifteen years since they released their first LP “Anywhere But Here”, alternative rock band The Ataris have finally made their way onto our shores. It was a windy Saturday afternoon last January 19 as fans, mostly 20 or 30-somethings who have no doubt grown up listening to their music, gathered at the Eastwood Central Plaza. The breeze couldn’t cool the burning anticipation in the air.An awesome local band, the LowTechs took the stage to warm the crowd up though it didn’t feel like it was necessary.

            After what seemed like only a few seconds, The Ataris took the stage and broke into tracks from their 2003 album “So Long, Astoria”: “In This Diary,” “Unopened Letter to the World,” and “The Hero Dies in This One”.The unbelievable “So Long Astoria”-heavy set list also included: “Take-offs and Landings”, “So Long, Astoria” and their cover of Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer” (which they released as a single and became one of their biggest hits).

            Midway through the show, Kris Roe introduced their new drummer Eric Perkins saying, “This is only the fifth show that he’s played with us.” But the way Eric was hitting all the beats so spot on, you would think he’s been playing with The Ataris since day one. Only Kris Roe has survived the many lineup changes over the years. (Their current lineup includes guitarist, Thomas Holst and bassist, Brian Nelson.) 

            Kris Roe, now in his mid-30s, didn’t disappoint. His voice seems like it has become more solid, weathered with just the right amount of angst and hope. It was awesome to see himrocking outwith his left-handed guitar, with the occasional smile and expression of gratitude. I can only imagine what was going through his mind but I’m certain it included the joy of being able to play halfway around the world for fans who have grown up with them and who have remained by their side through the many challenges the band has overcome over the years. 

            The Ataris took the audience on a nostalgic tripwhen they threw songs from“Blue Skies, Broken Hearts…Next 12 Exits” in the mix: “Broken Promise Ring” and “1*15*96”.They also played a cover of the 80s song “Can’t Hardly Wait” by The Replacements-- a song that feels like it could be released in any decade and still be a hit.

            I wish I had known they were taking requests. A lucky fan, (who didn’t respond when Kris was searching for him in the crowd maybe because he was stunned that Kris was evenindulging him), got his wish when they played his request, “Your Boyfriend Sucks”. When they closed the show with

"San Dimas High School Football Rules”, I forgot what decade I was in and it was epic. In the fading afternoon light, it was plain to see that The Ataris will always remind their devoted fans of summer and the awesome bittersweet truth that “being grown up is not half as fun as growing up”.

            Their tour of Asia includes China, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. On their facebook page it says that Kris Roe will be playing a solo show in Bangkok. They played two shows in Manila last January 19, one in Eastwood and the other one took place in the evening at Venice Piazza in Mckinley Hill.

See more photos from The Ataris Live in Manila concert here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151643282868032

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The Jabbawockeez and Super Crew deliver an electrifying performance at the Glorietta mall

The Jabbawockeez and Super Crew deliver an electrifying performance at the Glorietta mall 

Written by Jamie Ortega

Photos by Kris Rocha

America’s Best Dance Crew champions The Jabbawockeez and Super Crew delivered a spellbinding performance complete with mind-blowing dance moves, fierce stunts, and a little dash of humor at the Glorietta mall last January 18, 2013.

              The world-famous dance crew began the show with several members, clad in black, performing on top of the stage that was shaped like a boom box. When they froze, another Jabbwockee, clad n brown, performed a solo routine at the bottom part of the stage. The entire stage was then swathed in  red, making the texture of the dancer’s costumes also look red, as one member brought a radio out and placed it at the tip of the stage. As the music picked up, so did the crowd, as a voice from within the song shouted, “Make some noise!” The voice then instructed the audience to copy them, which the crowd did by shouting “Oh,” and “Ah,” every few seconds.

                When this was done, the dancers left the stage, making room for them to be formally introduced via a video that was flashed to the audience. The video showed the names and photo of each member as they played billiards and card games in Las Vegas. It was a pretty good way for the audience to be more familiar with the group and their dance style while still giving props to Vegas. This was, after all, M.U.S.I.C, the successful dance show that originated in Vegas.

                After the video played, the dancer that was wearing brown a while ago walked out and playfully pulled off some moves with a broom. He then pretended to fall on the stage, stood right back up, and did some mime movements. He then crouched on the floor and covered his ears as the rest of the dancers bounced onstage. As this was all happening more and more people in the audience, entranced by the music, got to their feet and cheered.

As the rest of the dancers disappeared, the member wearing brown walked over to another part of the stage where a living room set was set up. He tried to switch on a lamp shade, but unfortunately the lamp shade would turn off on its accord, irritating the dancer. While all this was fascinating for this writer, it also got a little bit confusing. I didn’t understand the story, if there was any.  That is, right up to this point, when a voice explained, “This is the audio-visual story of life brought to life by the harmonization of sound and movement. Ever explained what music looks like? Have you ever seen the colors of sound? The melody of modern words, the warmth of your favorite love song, all very familiar experiences we share in the soundtrack called life.”

After the introduction, the crew launched into several routines full some of the most popular hits from different decades. To my interpretation, the show was depicting the effect of music or the emotions brought by music to its’ listeners. The group began the journey by launching into a comical interpretation of Mama Mia complete with funny ballet steps, amazing headstands, air guitar, and two dancers almost trying to kiss each other! After the majority of the dancers left the stage the two members that were left were trying to outdo each other with their exaggerated and hilarious moves! It’s one of the things I love about the Jabbawockeez, how they are able to convey emotions without showing their faces, by their dance moves alone the audience can easily understand and imbibe the vibe of the routine and the message of the song.

Mama Mia was followed by a fun rendition of Michael Jackson’s Pretty Young Thing. As soon as it ended, the voice over declared, “Welcome to a series of determining your masculinity. This is audio tape number one, getting a grip.” The only dancer that was left on the stage responded to each factor by fashioning little gay poses which made the audience whoop and burst into laughter. “We’ve come to the last factor, dancing,” The dancer then began to dance Single Ladies, followed by the rest of the group. Some members did the  infamous “Ocho ocho,” which made the audience scream even louder! The Disney fan in me burst out of my body when the group performed Little Mermaid’s Kiss The Girl as a member of the audience was brought onstage. I marveled at how they were able to make every song danceable, from rock to r and b, to hip hop, to even John Legend’s Selfish, which they performed next.

When it came to the arrangement of their songs, I liked how they were able to put the more popular songs  near the end of the show to make it end with a bang, like the infamous Opna Gangnam Style, Viva la Vida, and my personal favorite NKOTB’s The Right Stuff (yes, the boyband fan in me died again!) Clearly, since their major concert in Manila back in 2010, the crew hasn’t lost their touch. I remember during the 2010 show how, amid the performances of Kris Allen and Boyce Avenue, they stole the show and brought the crowd to their feet with their stupendous dance moves. If during the past dance crews were seen as only support acts, thanks to groups like Jabbawockeez they’re now given their time to shine as headlining artists.

To add to that, another thing I've admired about the group is how they make it a point to give back to the people who’ve helped them get to where they are today. At the end of the show, after they bowed and removed their masks, the crew requested for a moment of silence for founding Jabbawockee member Gary Kendall who passed away in 2007 from pneumonia and meningitis at the age of 37. The one finger the group holds up at every performance is for him because of his moniker, Gee One, aka The Truth. The Filipinos in the group, namely Chris Gatdula, Phil Tayag, Rainen Paguio, and Joe Larot were given special recognition as well. “Thank you so much guys for doing what you’ve done to me and my whole team up here, we appreciate you guys,” expressed Phil. “You Filipinos are so original, so unique, we love you all from Supercrew, Jabbawockeez, we just want you guys to know that we love you and keep us in your hearts forever,” he added, Judging by the overwhelming response the boys get every time they visit the country, we feel exactly the same way.   

See more photos from Jabbawockeez at Glorietta here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151639389048032

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