Jason Mraz‘s Tour is a Four Letter Word finally made its stop in Manila last Tuesday, May 14 and the Grammy winner nailed every performance.

I’ve never seen an artist who went up on stage just to introduce his opening act without drawing much attention. He is so humble, fun and over all a good guy. A full night of music began with a 30-minute set from one of the newest singers and Youtube sensation Zendee. She did a great job warming up the audience before Mraz. She also returned during the performance of Lucky.

When Jason got on stage, the crowd went wild. He appeared in casual style as usual, t-shirt, jeans pants and the straw fedora hat. Mraz and his band kicked off with The World as I See It, followed by Everything Is Sound and one of my favorites The Remedy. The screen behind him showed beautiful graphics as he sang, especially during Butterfly.

Jason brought a nine-piece band, including a percussionist Mona and horn section consisted of 3 baldheaded guys on saxophone, trombone, and trumpet that added an extra flavor on the show plus a sleek stage with artistic video display. The singer songwriter kept both boys and girls on their feet as he led us through an amazing live show by inserting his old collections of Make It Mine and You and I Both

I was not familiar of Only Human, but I appreciate its soulful arrangement. He had an understated soulful voice that got my attention on this song.

Two of the highlights were A Beautiful Mess and Woman I Love, a tribute to the women in the lives of the entire band and brought the audience into romantic evening.

He put the live band to the full extent with more instruments than you would have thought needed in a concert. Long and great set list which incorporated everything from his debut album with The Remedy to his massive hit I Won’t Give Up.

Expectedly, he closed the night with the biggest song of his career, I’m Yours. Everyone was singing and dancing throughout the encore song. He kept the sold out crowd on their feet and enjoying themselves for an amazing Tuesday night. I also did not notice a sound distortion, it was perfect, and everything was balanced from vocals to instruments.

Without a question, we’re inspired and I felt like he had worked so hard to share his gift and touch our lives through his music. LOVE perfectly described the show and the truly most important word in this world.

Special thanks to MMI and OVATION PRODUCTIONS

By: Cen Sulit

Manila’s club scene has just become more exciting. From the organizers of BigFish, an electronic dance music party producer, comes a new nightlife hang out that dubs itself as the “the ultimate clubbing experience”. BigFish has found its official headquarters for its epic dance parties. Positioning itself in the heart of Bonifacio Global City’s club scene, in the Fort Strip, is Club Haze.

It welcomed its first customers on May 4, 2013. The club’s soft opening was not complete without musical guests what with BigFish’s expertise in that area. There were DJ sets from John Paul Lee, Chris Raeuber and Paul Oakenfold.

Outside the venue, on a tall beige wall, boasts an eye-catching sign that says “Haze”, glowing in neon blue lights. Welcoming guests in are frosted glass doors that open up to a reception area. Inside, two stairs cases on both ends invite guests to the second floor where are the action is.

The first thing that grabs a guest’s attention is the creative display of visuals around the room. BigFish has taken clubbing to the next level with LED lights — the geometric patterns on the walls, table legs, and even the bar illuminate with changing colors. There are two VIP areas at both ends of the room, and another, slightly elevated, near the bar area. The VIP section comprises white lounge chairs and short round tables that light up. Perfect for those seeking a comfortable, but luxurious spot in the club.

The dance floor situated at the center allows guests to dance and party the night away as talented DJs spin. As early as 11:30PM there were already a few people lost in the rhythm of the beat, signaling a good start for Club Haze. Even on the soft opening night, there were people flooding in the place, curious to know if Club Haze really is the new hotspot of the Metro. It has without doubt, redefined the clubbing experience.

Club Haze’s grand launch is on May 17, 2013 featuring Hed Kandi. It’s a night you won’t want to miss.

By Isabel R. Matias

CloseUp Summer Solstice
April 27, 2013
MOA Concert Grounds

Partying ‘til the Morning Light

With rising temperatures around the Metro, most people usually head for the beach. Boracay isn’t the only summer party destination anymore as Close Up presented its Summer Solstice Music Festival – twelve hours of partying – in the MOA Concert Grounds. It was the first Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festival in the country.

 Aside from bringing together local and international acts, Close Up Summer Solstice provided its attendees with numerous activities inside the venue. Throughout the grounds were food and merchandise stalls, reverse bungee jumping, basketball booths, and a huge stage-like photo frame. There were stilt walkers in fancy costumes roaming about. An empty piece of land had been turned into an area buzzing with people, activity and, of course, great music.

Dubbed as the Philippine Rock Heroes, Urbandub, Sandwich and Sponge Cola set things off. Urbandub opened the show, and played hits such as First of Summer and Guillotine. During Sandwich’s set, lead singer Raimund Marasigan encouraged the audience to support Filipino music as he introduced one of their new songs. Finally, Sponge Cola closed the local line-up.  Each band showcased their talent, played a good mix of new and old tunes, interacted with their unique styles, and hyped the crowd with their on-stage energy.

As “Jump Smokers” flashed on screen, a swarm of people rushed towards the stage. “We got smoke, we got that fire,” the song went. And everyone’s hands were up in the air. The electronic dance party had begun. There were dancers on stage with hoses that were filled not with water, but smoke. Roman, Jump Smokers’ singer, was chatty and very interactive with the crowd. At one point, he even went down the stage, cruising through the VIP area, to perform with those in the Gold section.  As they played their set, fireworks decorated the sky, foreshadowing the epic night ahead.

The only female act of the night was Dev. She kicked off with her debut single, Bass Down Low.  The songs in her set included Naked, Booty Bounce, and Like a G6. At the end of her set, she dedicated her performance to all of her girls – the female population of the crowd.

Cobra Starship ended the Electro Pop stars segment. The band had been to Manila before, but it was the first time that they performed a DJ set. Ryland Blackinton and Alex Suarez, 2/5 of the band, were present. They launched with snippets of You Make Me Feel and Good Girls Go Bad. There were few Cobra Starship songs in their line up, but set list was filled with mixes, bass-powered and Daft Punk songs to name a few.  They wrapped things up with a mash-up that again included You Make Me Feel.

 The EDM Superstars set commenced as Alex Gaudino went on stage. Following him was Apster, then Afrojack, who was the main act of the night, and then finally, Cedric Gervais.  As each DJ owned the stage, visual effects, smoke, pyrotechnics and confetti accompanied their set.

 What was impressive was the flow from one artist to another; it was very fluid.  As one artist left the stage, the host would say a short outro, and an appropriate, but brief introduction for the next performer.

The audience exploded like fire every now and then, especially when a crowd-favorite song would play during the mix.  There were times where the crowd was in unison, one ball of energy.  If not for the outdoor setting, one would have mistaken it to be a club. All around people were bouncing, dancing, jumping and punching the air. It was one big dance party, and a great way to spend a summer night.

Photos by Carla Barretto

Written by Isabel Matias

On the evening of April 6, Franco Reyes made the Music Museum the home of positive vibes, good vibrations and great music as he owned its stage to mark his first major solo concert. With his laidback aura, his magnetic charisma and his striking musical talent, he held the attention and fervor of the jam-packed venue of Suspitsados and concert enthusiasts.

Formerly known as a superband during his debut in 2009, Franco is now making his own way as a solo artist. Supporting him onstage are Paul Cañada on guitars, Dave Delfin on bass, Victor Guison on drums who are all more than capable in handling their instruments and performing live. With the very recent release of his second album titled “Soul Adventurer”, he has proven that there’s still so much that he can offer the Filipino music scene. There’s still a lot we have yet to see and hear, and Franco is just about to get started. He proved that all too well that evening.

“Hey, you guys, stand up, man!” he encouraged the crowd in good humor. “This is a rock concert. You have plenty of time to sit down.” Astoundingly, Franco is as, if not more, positive spirited in person as he sounds in his songs. Just like his songs, he emanated “positive vibes” and “good vibrations” with his words and his beaming smile. All throughout the concert, he was overflowing with gratitude to the attendees and the fans that he kept thanking them almost after every song. He even went on to say, “thank you for keeping OPM alive.”

The setlist was a grand mixture of almost all the songs from the early days and the ones from Soul Adventurer. They performed the songs from the first album such as “Next Train Out”, “Memorykill”, “A Mass for the End of Time”, plus the anthemic “This Gathering” and “Castaway” which had the crowd passionately singing along and waving their arms around. One memorable moment during the concert was Franco’s heartbreaking acoustic rendition of “For My Dearly Departed”, a song which he played for his dying father. “To Survive”, “Muse”, “Lover’s Fire” and “Better Days” were among the tracks from the new album and which already have a steady following in the crowd.

The thing about Franco’s music is that all its elements are definitive. When you hear those riffs, those chops of reggae and R&B beats, the thuds of positive vibes, and of course, that deeply resonating voice, you just know that it’s him – it’s Franco Reyes, alright. Along with that recognition is the expectation of a good song, a good performance. True enough, he delivers well. Being part the concert was a great experience – the way that the wailing of the guitars fills the room and the way that his vocals reverberate all throughout. Franco is such a soulful musician and performer, a true gem in the Filipino music scene today. Here’s to hoping that he continues his crusade to create good music. As he proclaimed, “Mabuhay ang OPM!”

Written by Sandra Mae Laureano
Photos by Glenn Michael Tan

* Special thanks to MCA Music

Franco Solo Concert Setlist:
1. Moonset
2. Seasons
3. To Survive
4. A Beautiful Diversion
5. Muse
6. Last Waltz
7. Touch the Sky
8. Renewal
9. Better Days
10. For My Dearly Departed (Acoustic)
11. Memorykill
12. A Mass for the End Time
13. Across the Milky Way
14. This Gathering
15. Uprising
16. Razor
17. Next Train Out
18. This Gathering
Encore:
19. Lover’s Fire
20. Castaway
21. Song for the Suspect

More Franco Solo Concert Photos

We were hoping for a miracle, or something very close to it. Bloc Party made one happen in Manila.

Eight years after the release of their iconic debut album, Silent Alarm, Bloc Party finally made their first stop in Manila to give their Filipino fans a rocking musical experience that would be difficult to top. Before the Southeast Asia leg of their tour, Japan was the only Asian country the band had frequented over the years. Thank the heavens and all the goodness in the universe for their decision to put Manila in their itinerary for their world tour this year, because for the thousands of their hardcore fans who were in that hall, the experience really was one hell of a miracle.

For an hour and a half, the Hall D of World Trade Center echoed out the united roars and shrieks of the thousands of hardcore fans and music enthusiasts. Kele Okereke, Matt Tong, Russell Lissack and Gordon Moakes put out a performance that was beyond enthralling and so powerfully moving. Both the VIP and Gold area were bursting with crowds of people who were frenetically awaiting the band’s performance.

The evening started early. When the clock struck 8pm, Up Dharma Down, went up the stage to open for Bloc Party. UDD’s performance was captivating, to say the least. Armi’s voice was as smooth as silk. The same goes with the band’s ingenuine use of different instruments to produce music that is both emotive and appealing. With a short set, they livened the audience enough to prepare them for the greatness that was about to take its place.

When the lights completely went out, the crowd got even more frantic. Out of the darkness came the beginning drum beats and riffs of “So He Begins to Lie”, the first song off their latest album, Four. Kele, Russell, Gordon and Matt (wearing nothing but a pair shorts) took their rightful places on stage. Right after the song, Kele addressed the crowd, “Good evening, Manila. We are Bloc Party. We’re from England. How are you doing?” It was a casual greeting, really. It’s something you’d expect to hear from a stranger you happen to talk to in random coffee shops, not from the vocalist of a band that has played sold-out shows in stadiums across the world. In fact, Kele seemed too meek for a front man. He didn’t attempt to hog people attention in a rock star fashion. When he spoke, he wasn’t particularly lively nor did he try to woo the crowd with sentimentalities and praises. Still, he effortlessly kept the crowd on high with their music.

“We only have so long together, so let’s get this party started”, he continued. Appropriately enough, up next was the perfect party starter of a song “Mercury”. The crowd was more than happy to go along with it as they headbanged, danced and jumped around to the repeated, immortal lines: “My mercury’s in retrograde.”

The first set featured a diverse set list that included many songs from Four – “Team A”, “Coliseum”, “Day Four” and “Octopus”. A few were from Weekend in the City – “Hunting for Witches”, “Waiting for the 7.18” and “The Prayer”. The hysteria of the set reached its peak when the band played “Song for Clay (Disappear Here) back-to-back with the hit “Banquet”. Everyone was grooving and singing along.

One of the many striking things about Bloc Party’s concert is the presence of the 2 encores. After a total of 13 dynamic ground-shaking songs, the band took a moment to exit the stage, only to return with a revitalized energy. Likewise, in the couple of times that the four guys reappeared on stage, the crowd had managed to restart their power gauges, strangely as if they were seeing the band appear in front of them for the first time again.

The 1st encore, also referred to by Kele as “round 2” was even more amazing than the beginning set. When the calm opening notes of “So Here We Are” started playing, the cheers got even louder. Again, the audience was more psyched up. To add to this, the gritty “Ares” was played next. You could just hear people screaming unintelligibly at its waling riffs and the pulsating beats. Another memorable moment was during “This Modern Love” when majority of the crowd sang along to every word of the song. Whoever said Bloc Party is an unknown band in the Philippines? That moment would have given those ignorant people a massive punch in the gut. Towards the end, Bloc Party even pulled out an entertaining stunt as they played a part of “We Found Love” – yes, the popular song by Rihanna – as introduction to “Flux”.

A grand element in the concert was the lighting – the way they danced and burst to every changing note of a Bloc Party track, as if to give it a more profound meaning. In different turns, the hues burned and lightened, drawing the crowd deeper and deeper to the music. But of course, the grandest thing about the concert was the four members of the band. As Matt said in the phone interview last month, “Four” was all about the four of them getting back together to play music for the love of it. True enough, you could just see so much of that during the evening. Each of them was absolutely phenomenal -Russell’s effortless guitar slashing, Gordon’s impenetrably deep mystique, Matt’s brutal hard-hitting strikes and Kele’s enchanting hold of the crowd. Bloc Party turned out to be the greatest live performers I had ever seen (so far).

Moving on, the final set turned out to be even greater, with the crowd going more insane than ever. It started off with “Sunday”, the song about hangovers, as Kele put it. It was amusing to see how he smiled as he gave way for the crowd sing along to the lines “You see, giant proclamations are all very well, but our love is louder than words.” Then, there was the melodious “Truth” right out of their latest album. To officially close the evening, Bloc Party played the thunderously enlivening “Helicopter” which was just about the perfect ending.

Are you hoping for a miracle? I was, for sure. And hey, I got more than I bargained for when I saw them. Truth be told, Bloc Party is one band I’ve been eyeing to come to Manila since the deluge of international concerts last year. Bloc Party uniquely gets more and more interesting with time. The massive musical shifts over their albums are always something to look out for. Their songs, particularly from the first two albums, have become themes to my daily walks and commutes. For almost a year, I had kept my eyes out and my fingers crossed hoping for some definitive news of their concert here. Some time in January, the announcement was made in their Twitter account, and I almost got a heart attack out of joy, excitement and disbelief. When I was seeing them perform in front of me, I got more than heart attacks. In the span of an hour and a half, I got teary-eyed episodes, short psychotic breaks and outbursts of plain happiness.

It would be an understatement to say that the concert was a success. It rocked, in ways that I had never ever seen. If there would be one word to describe that evening, it would be “ethereal”. It was so different from the many concerts I had been to over the past year. It was otherworldly. It was beautiful.

Massive thanks to Warner Music Philippines for making this event happen.

Written by Sandra Mae Laureano

Photos by Glenn Michael Tan and Sandra Mae Laureano

Bloc Party: Four Live in Manila Setlist:
1. So He Begins to Lie
2. Mercury
3. Hunting for Witches
4. Positive Tension
5. Team A
6. Waiting for the 7.18
7. Song for Clay (Disappear Here)
8. Banquet
9. Coliseum
10. Day Four
11. The Prayer
12. One More Chance
13. Octopus

Encore:
14. So Here We Are
15. Ares
16. This Modern Love
17. We Found Love (Rihanna cover)
18. Flux

Encore 2:
19. Sunday
20. Truth
21. Helicopter

In support of their third album #3, Irish rockers The Script performed to a packed show at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Easter Sunday with more than 14,000 screaming fans.  Mark took the stage and play as the crowd screamed, then on drums, Glen Power. Just when we couldn’t wait anymore, The Voice UK coach, singer-songwriter and The Script frontman, Danny kicked off their 2nd sold out show in Manila with a rap inspired song GOOD OL’ DAYS from their #3 album and followed by WE CRY. It was a good start with incredible amount of energy.

An early treat was given to all concert goers when they performed one of their signature songs BREAKEVEN, it was one of the highlights as the entire Big Dome sang the chorus. The band continued with SCIENCE AND FAITH. Like other fans in the venue, I was waiting for “going back to corner when I first saw you…” and then a piano started to hit the first few notes of their breakthrough song THE MAN WHO CAN’T BE MOVED. The first verse was performed by the crowd with a little background music and it was amazing, considering the Big Dome was full house, so imagine how the entire song sounded and felt.

IF YOU COULD SEE ME NOW was the 6^th song of the night, a very personal song about the death of his father and Danny stated the difficulty in writing, recording, and performing it live. BEFORE THE WORST, TALK YOU DOWN AND NOTHING filled the middle set. Before the performance of Nothing, Danny asked the audience to drunk dial an ex-BF/GF and give him their mobile phone, suddenly he took a pink phone from a fan in front and started performing NOTHING to the person on the line. Yes, The Script is the only band I know that will drunk dial an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend from one of the crowd and sing to them!

While the securities looked a bit concerned, Danny was totally in his element, purely enjoying the night with dozens of hands reaching out just to touch him. Danny, wearing a Manny Pacquiao jacket, The Script took a picture with some of their crew wearing bunny mascots and a huge crowd at the background for their twitter page.

They stripped down a little with another heartbreak anthem SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION and a romantic song I’M YOURS. They also performed their hit single FOR THE FIRST TIME which is about their observation in recent times.

YOU WONT FEEL A THING kicked off the encore and followed by Olympic theme song  HALL OF FAME to close out the set. The house lights were still on, and unexpectedly the trio went back on stage and performed their first song of the night Good OL’ DAYS. They sounded good live and you could tell that they had a great time performing in Manila, after the show, the band tweeted “Tonight was the first time we ever went back on and did another encore after the encore!! Ever!! Thanks for a great show everyone!!! G”

As far as transition of the songs, the boys from Dublin did a great job with their set list as mentioned by Glen Power during our interview before the show that fans would hear faster paced songs when needed and slowing it down at just the right time. #3 is very nice album, a little bit edgy and darker, however, considering the title of the tour is “#3 World Tour”, The Script only played 4 songs from it while mixing in songs from their first 2 albums. Nevertheless, they put on a killer show, great interaction with their fans and some amazing vocals set their concert apart from other shows I’ve been to.

If You Ever Come Back was part of their set list but they did not perform it.

Presented by MIDAS PROMOTIONS

Photos and write up by Cen SB

British metalcore band Bring Me the Horizon invaded Manila for the first time last March 6, 2013 First, I wasn’t sure whether they would have any opening acts, until vocalist Oliver Sykes of came out with a good amount of energy as he greeted the crowd. He was right on the spot with his vocals, it was throaty and raw, but had enough power to shake your core.

Oliver Sykes lead vocalist of BMTH

The set started with SHADOW MOSES and CHELSEA SMILE. The pit opened up instantly, and all of the hardcore kids immediately went to the pit. The mood in Sky Dome changed, and instantly got better. The attitude of the concert goers became more intense.

The band then continued to play heavier songs such as ALLIGATOR BLOOD and FUCK. The crowd went nuts and uncontrollable.  A circle pit formed in the center of the crowd, and they’re kicking, head banging and slam dancing. It was the craziest moment of the night but its hardcore music so I guess I can’t complain too much! They also performed SADNESS, IT NEVER ENDS, BLESSED and DIAMONDS AREN’T FOREVER.

After nearly 45-minute of deafening show, Bring Me The Horizon opened its encore song ANTIVIST. As the band took their final bow of the night, it was still young as the time of 9:00pm shown on the clock. As the audience waited patiently for more, surprisingly all of them went back not sing another one but to thank all the fans in the venue up close. Most of the fans were able to shake their hands, plus they gave guitar picks, sticks and set list.

Bring Me The Horizon Live in Manila Crowd

What really impressed me was good vibes of the crowd, there was no problem with fighting or related incidents. Though a little bit short the whole experience was good and all concert goers had a great moment the whole time I was there.

Hoping to see BMTH along with PTV and SWS back for BAZOOKA ROCKS!

This event was presented by PULP LIVE WORLD

Photos by Glenn Michael Tan

Written by Cen SB

9th of March 2013 – The Skydome was the venue of hundreds and hundreds of hardcore fans, those kids who live with and love Motion City Soundtrack’s music. In truth, the forceful energy of the crowd matched that of a full-house arena. As the band dished out different hits from their five albums, the full attention and appreciation of the audience focused on one thing – the music. As they banged their heads, punched through the air, sang and danced around, they lavished the experience of seeing such an awesome band performing in front of them.

“That was truly amazing! Thank you for taking the time to be here, when you can be anywhere else!”

Right after playing “The Future Freaks Me Out”, the third song in the band’s set list for the evening, Justin Pierre, the amusingly awkward front man of the band, appeared to be a jovial character right out of a comic as his voice trailed off in a pitch of half wonder and half disbelief. Early on, a strange furry brown thing was thrown on stage by a member of the crowd. It turned out to be a Chewbacca plushie that came with the message that it reminded the fan of the band’s front man. He then kept it tied to the mic stand all throughout the concert. His eyes seemed to twinkle behind his dark-rimmed spectacles as he watched the audience. His face was filled out with the smile of a child who just received a surprise birthday present. Meanwhile, his bushy hair was still in perfect sync with gravity.

He had dared the crowd to sing the interlude of the hit in an effort to gauge the crowd’s reaction. What he got was beyond his expectations – hundreds and hundreds of people singing along perfectly to every word and every tune. They nailed every word, every beat. They were everything ecstatic, bursting with so much excitement, which the band, in turn, radiated. As Justin said, the Manila crowd is one of the loudest they had ever encountered.

Motion City Soundtrack is composed of Justin Pierre (lead vocals and guitar), Joshua Cain (guitar and backing vocals), Jesse Johnson (keyboard/moog synthesizer), Matthew Taylor (bass) and Tony Thaxton (drums). They are known for creating catchy pop-punk anthems about the biting woes of being left out and the little joys of romance, all wrapped in poetically witty clumps of lyrics that inescapably spin around your head once you hear them. Interestingly enough, their music can both be upbeat and melancholic, both satirical and sincere, both awkward and cool. With that quirk, they held down the crowd in Skydome.

They played a diverse set of songs from their five albums. Some of the songs they played included “My Favorite Accident”, “LG FUAD” and “Broken Heart”, “Her Words Destroyed My Planet”, “Timelines”, “True Romance” and the last and highly anticipated “Hold Me Down”.

It was great fun seeing most, if not all, of the people in the pit having the time of their lives. They crowd had such outrageous love for the band’s music which made the concert really enjoyable for all the attendees. Even more notable is the fact that the band really tried their earnest to do the same. From the beginning to the end, it was indeed entertaining.

She’s Only Sixteen was the front act for Motion City Soundtrack

“There are NASA scientists working round the clock to keep this [my hair] the way it is.” -Motion City Soundtrack’s Justin Pierre at the press conference

Written by Sandra Mae Laureano
Photos by Carla Barretto

* Special thanks to CNCA Media Concepts and Red Stone Productions