Philippine Concerts

Category: Concert Photos

  • A Great Damn Tour with Avril Lavigne

    A Great Damn Tour with Avril Lavigne

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    Many of us grew up listening to Avril’s debut album with classic hits such as Complicated, Sk8er Boi and favorite rock ballad I’m With You.  And we know most of you guys did too, or should we say everyone went through that “Avril Lavigne era” in life.  Last night, our pop/rock queen, proved again that 5 studio albums down the road, she can still own the concert stage. The Big Dome was packed with fans of all ages that were brimming with excitement to witness her return after 3 years since her last visit.

    The stage set up for Avril was simple but she and the band were more that enough to get everyone on their feet singing and dancing throughout the show. A now grown and happily married Avril took the stage with massive energy and smiles. Wearing a Hello Kitty dress, she started the night with an intro video and then performed “Hello Kitty”. Standing at around 5’2 with long blonde hair, the 29-year old singer managed to stay true to her pop rock image from the beginning of the show up to the encore set.

    One of her many outfit changes of the night preceded her performance of “Girlfriend” followed by her latest hit “Rock N Roll.” Avril wasted no time to run around on stage with palpable energy and excitement. A few songs into her set, she also sang another smash hit, “Here’s To Never Growing Up.”

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    Avril Lavigne and her husband, Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger wrote a duet, “Let Me Go” which is on her self-titled new album and Manila was surprised to welcome him in the flesh as they performed the song together live. Everyone went wild when another voice came out during the second stanza. It was an unbelievable moment to see the man behind hits like “Far Away” and “Hero.” Just as the song ended, Chad managed to sneak in a kiss before leaving the stage.
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  • Like a riot, like a riot, oh! Phoenix live in Manila

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    January 21, 2014 – “Lizstomania”, one of Phoenix’s signature tracks, perfectly describes the Filipino crowd that evening. The concert was a craze in riotous proportions. The thousands in the pits were brimming with exhilaration as made clear with their frenetic dancing, singing and cheering. Their energy spread like wildfire to everyone present.

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     Oui! Phoenix, the Grammy Award-winning, eclectically new wave/synth-pop rock band from Versailles, France finally came to the Philippines. Known for rendering unforgettable live sets worldwide, the band was on the wish list of many music aficionados in our country. So it is after 14 years and 5 critically acclaimed albums that they finally made their way to our shores. True enough, living up to everyone’s expectations, they were everything we asked and more (going hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!)

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  • The Bootleg Beatles: Reminiscing the Rockin’ 60’s Music

    The Bootleg Beatles: Reminiscing the Rockin’ 60’s Music

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    Being part of Generation X, I was introduced to the great music of the Beatles at a young age. Like as it has been for the rest of the world, their songs have become a part of my life. It was such a treat watching their old videos: John Lennon’s body moving up and down to the beat of each song while playing his guitar strapped high on his chest, left-handed Paul McCartney and right-handed George Harrison sharing the same mic while on guitars, and Ringo Starr’s head bobbing up and down while hitting the drums.

    I always wondered, what would it be like to watch them live?

    And so, last January 17th, it was a dream come true to watch them live – as the Bootleg Beatles!

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    At the PICC Plenary Hall, complete with their signature shiny gray suits & ties, the Bootleg Beatles, with members Adam Hastings (as John Lennon), Steven White (as Paul McCartney), Andre Barreau (as George Harrison), and Hugo Degenhardt (as Ringo Starr), gave us a night of reminiscing the music of one of the greatest rock bands in the world.
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  • Capital Cities live in Alabang Town Center Photos

    Capital Cities live in Alabang Town Center Photos

    Capital Cities live in Manila
    Alabang Town Center
    January 11, 2014

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    Ryan and Sebu pumping up the crowd during their cover of “Staying Alive”

     

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    The duo makes a ‘shady’ entrance in dark shades and retro inspired jackets

     

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    Ryan taking a moment to watch the energetic crowd

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  • Bamboo Christmas@Home Concert Photos

    Bamboo Christmas@Home Concert Photos

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    Bamboo had a Christmas Concert last December 6, 2013 at the Music Museum

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  • Alicia Keys: The Girl on Fire Illuminates Manila

    Alicia Keys: The Girl on Fire Illuminates Manila

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    “Music has a way of lifting your spirit and that’s what I hope to do for the Filipino people … To the people of the Philippines: my heart is with you” – Alicia Keys

    14-time Grammy winner, singer, songwriter and pianist Alicia Keys delivered a powerhouse performance on a Monday night at Mall of Asia Arena.

    It’s strange to think that when Alicia Keys first stepped into the music business with her already amazing vocal skills, she was but a fresh faced 19-year old. Her debut single Fallin’ took over the charts and spent weeks at number 1. She hit the ground running and it wasn’t long before her music and her signature braids achieved iconic levels worldwide. The good thing is that even in present day, she’s still just as relevant, writing hits to inspire people.

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    Last Monday, the now 32-year old singer set out to put some much-needed smiles on all the concert goers faces as the country goes through post-Yolanda healing. Hours before the show, Alicia took the time to go to Villamor Airbase to visit the survivors of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). The singer’s presence boosted morale and helped ignite hope among the typhoon survivors as she chatted with them and provided supplies to help the relief efforts.
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  • The Tegan and Sara Live in Manila Experience

    The Tegan and Sara Live in Manila Experience

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    Indentical twins Tegan and Sara rocked Manila last November 25, 2013 at the NBC Tent.

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    Up Dharma Down opened for Tegan and Sara and got a warm reception from the crowd.

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    Tegan and Sara started their set with Drove Me Wild
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  • The Sarah G Experience

    The Sarah G Experience

    Flashback 2003 when it all started, who would have thought that it was decade ago? A decade of maturity, strength and who she is right now as a performer. 10 years ago before this has all began, 10 years in the industry that she ever dreamed of from Music to Movies, 10 years making her the undisputed pop star of the country and this day is a celebration of a decade fairy-tale journey to her most deserved FAME.

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    The show started with prayers for the victims and survivor of typhoon Yolanda.

    Fil-Am Jason Farol warmed up the crowd, the 24 year old, 6’1″ tall power balladeer placed 3rd in the reality singing show “Duets” where he was paired with American Idol Kelly Clarkson. He is now also a signed artist of Viva Records, he showcase his charm as a balladeer singing songs from his album such as “I believe in love again”, “Kung ikaw at ako”, and “When the love is gone”.

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    Chants started and excitement is something perceptible around the sold-out crowd of Araneta Coliseum. Sarah opened the stage singing her rendition of Alicia Keys “Brand New Me”, Will.i.am ft. Justin Bieber “that POWER”, and Imagine Dragons “Radioactive”. She also intone some of her songs from her previous albums like “Ikaw”, “Sa Iyo”. Embracing the challenge for her 10th year she sang latest single “Tayo”, fan favorite “Ikot Ikot”, telling a story from the libretto of “Sweetest mistake”, and a statement of “some things can be change and some cannot” from the lyrics of “Eyes on fire” all from her new album entitled Expressions.
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  • Creed Takes Manila Back to a Different Era of Rock

    Creed Takes Manila Back to a Different Era of Rock

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    Around the closing of the 90s to the beginning years of the 21st century, Creed was one band you could not have possibly ignored. They’re that rock band with the burly vocalist with long, dark, curly dark hair whose voice that draws on the depths of earth or something. Armed with killer guitar solos and lyrics that delved into your existentialist views, Creed is a band that would have made an impact on you regardless of what age group you belonged to. You surely would remember “With Arms Wide Open”, “Higher”, “Bullets” and their more recent and more iconic hit “My Sacrifice” – songs that now seem to belong to a different era, but fortunately, Creed was able to give Manila a taste of it through their concert in the Big Dome last November 11, 2012.

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    The mesh of foreign acts passing through Manila is no news to anyone, but there’s still a bit of surprise in everyone when it was announced that Creed would play in Smart Araneta Coliseum. We surely haven’t heard much from them in a long time. Hey, we weren’t even sure they were still together. (Remember Alter Bridge?) But whatever the case, anyone who had seen their show that evening was more than glad that they were there to witness the band’s intense performance.
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  • The Fray Raised the Big Dome’s Heartbeat

    The Fray Raised the Big Dome’s Heartbeat

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    “Mahal ko kayo!”

    Isaac shouted right before playing “All At Once”, the first song the band played. In an instant, the audience was uprooted from the comfort of their seats. 10th of November 2012, roughly five months after the postponement of their concert, the fans were still the edge of their seats, screaming and cheering at every song and every word that the band had to put out. As first-timers in the mystical place called Manila, The Fray was uniquely well-versed with some of the basic Filipino greetings such as “kamusta” and “mabuhay”. While anyone could easily dismiss that as a casual sign of respect in any foreign land, you would know in the way Isaac let go of those words that he meant them; that he wanted to connect with the Filipino audience in a different level. That was precisely what kept the fans markedly thrilled during that evening. That is, of course, excluding the fact that they were superlatively excited to see The Fray for the first time ever.

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    “We’re The Fray. We’re from Denver, Colorado. You guys like to sing? You guys like to dance a little bit? It’s gonna be a good night. Hold on to your horses.”
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  • SugarSmashGin: 4-Hour Trip to the 90s

    SugarSmashGin: 4-Hour Trip to the 90s

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    The Big Dome became a portal back to the era of 90s alternative rock as three prominent bands of that time, Smash Mouth, Sugar Ray and Gin Blossoms, came together for a one-night concert on the 21st of October. The show, which lasted for almost four hours, filled the Dome with that lingering nostalgia as the three bands played the songs that filled the airwaves and television screens from 15 to 20 years ago. (Just counting how many years it has been is enough to inspire that longing)
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  • Ballads of the Past Back to Back to Back

    Ballads of the Past Back to Back to Back

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    October 18, 2013 – Three great balladeers of the 70s to 80s: Michael Johnson, Stephen Bishop and Joe Puerta performed their unparalleled hits together at the Big Dome. Titled as “Back to Back to Back”, the event turned out to be a jam-packed stage graced by a variety of talented local and international performers with a few bonuses here and there. The three-hour concert lingered with the songs that undeniably induced nostalgia among the crowd.

    The evening was opened by two significant Filipino acts. First up were the classical pop tenor trio, The Angelos who performed a resounding rendition of “Anong Nangyari sa Ating Dalawa?” and Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are”.

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    Shortly after, one of the most enduring OPM bands, Side A, also took the stage to perform a set of their unforgettable hits including “Hold On”, “So Many Questions”, “Tell Me”, “Forevermore” and “Tuloy Pa Rin”. Their set received a warm reception from the crowd who sang along and cheered as they played one song after another.
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  • Jazz, Soul and Blues: George Benson and Patti Austin at the Big Dome

    Jazz, Soul and Blues: George Benson and Patti Austin at the Big Dome

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    September 5, 2013 – The Big Dome was transcended to the age of jazz, soul and blues as two of the prominent artists of the era graced the Manila stage for a night of pure classic music. Grammy Award winning artists Patti Austin and George Benson treated their audience to a trip down the good, old memory lane with the songs that captivated their generation’s hearts at one point in time.

    The crowd was sizable, composed mainly of people who are in their 30s and above. They are not to be taken lightly though, because even with their age, they do know how to enjoy the show. Throughout the concert, the hoots and cheers were undying. Anyone can tell that people were having a great time, enthralled with the classic hits performed by the two.
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  • Another One for the Books – Bazooka Rocks II

    Another One for the Books – Bazooka Rocks II

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    As typhoons hit the Metro, one after the other, there is no mistaking the hurricane that swept us all away – Bazooka Rocks 2013. On its second wave, the music festival was a surefire hit that left its attendees with the aching nostalgic experience dubbed as post concert depression. Twelve bands in fourteen hours; who wouldn’t want to keep replaying those memories in their heads?

    The vibe throughout the festival was palpable: thousands of bodies swarming around the venue,their voices thrumming against the background music, waiting for their favorite acts to come on stage. And when they did, the energy that pulsated in the crowd was undeniable.

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    The halls of the SMX convention center had come to life. Numerous tents bordered the venue – food kiosks, a photo booth station, phone charging areas, San Miguel stalls giving out free flavored beer, and carnival-like booths — pop the balloon, neon face paint, rent a plush animal ride, and the giant inflatable slide. Lee Jeans Philippines even had their own nook at the venue, hosting a lounge area for fans and a balcony section for VIP guests. The booth that held the most attention was, of course, the merchandise booth, where fans could meet and greet their favorite band during intermission.

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  • Japandroids Live in Manila Photos

    Japandroids Live in Manila Photos

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    Japandroids showered its fans with a performance well worth the wait, the price of admission, and the trouble typhoon rains and wind brought just to see the critically-acclaimed indie rock band. Hard Rock Cafe filled up with fans who received the band with the same intensity as the weather they braved. Brian King and David Prowse delivered a tumultuous set only a power duo can pull-off.

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    Fans were treated to their favorites such as “Young Hearts Spark Fire, “The House that Heaven Built,” “Wet Hair,” “Younger Us,” and other tracks from both their albums Post-Nothing and Celebration Rock. Sharing vocal duties, King’s sharp-edged guitar work flowed along Prowse’s bedrock beats, administering a sonic dose for fans of high impact indie/garage/noise rock. Whatever you may call their sound, Japandroids truly is a force of nature.
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