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Against the Current has found a home on the Philippine stage as they have returned to the country for the sixth time, delighting Filipino rock fans with another world tour, Nightmares and Daydreams last October 8, 2023, at SM North EDSA Skydome, presented by PULP Live World.

Against the Current, which consists of Chrissy Costanza, Daniel Gow, and Will Ferri, seems to have a Pinoy bug fever that they can’t get enough of and that their fans can’t get enough of either. They had to return and not miss the Philippines as their stop.

Legends Never Die

A tour-hour-long concert took the place of a setlist by Chrissy Costanza, Daniel Gow, and Will Ferri, along with their touring bassist David Whitmore, who played their most popular and nostalgic songs plucked from their decade-long discography under an incredible rock atmosphere that embraced both the band and the crowd.

An electrifying playlist ensued, while the band interacted with the crowd, who to their surprise, found fans who had been present since their first show in the country.

“How are you doing Manila? It’s been a while since we’ve been here, 5, 6 years?” recalled their vocalist Chrissy. “I think I was 17 when I came here the first time!” She talked to a fan on the barricades who mentioned they were only 15 when the band came here and it’s evident that the band has formed a solid fanbase in the country with fans who never miss an attendance whenever they bless Manila with their music.

A playful banter throughout the night took place with the band and the fans, and a switch up with the band’s drummer, Will played an acoustic guitar with the song “‘Chasing Ghost.”

A notable stage was when they played, “Legends Never Die” as their encore opening, easily being their most popular track, the anthem for League of Legends Worlds 2017, and currently the game’s most played original anthem track.

Check out the full ‘Nightmares & Daydreams’ setlist here:

1. “good guy”
2. Wildfire
3. again&again
4. jump
5. Strangers Again
6. Personal
7. Running with the Wild Things
8. blindfolded
9. silent stranger
10. lullaby
11. Paralyzed
12. Another You (Another Way)
13. Roses
14. Almost Forgot
15. Chasing Ghosts
16. Voices
17. Gravity
18. Wasteland
19. that won’t save us
20. Legends Never Die
21. weapon

Will the Against the Current come back? If they came back the 6th time, what would stop them from coming the 7th time, especially with the Pinoy crowd’s always on-another-level concert energy, never failing to leave a mark on any artist’s memory in every concert stop? The fans sang along, jumped along, lost themselves on important high moments, and sang back to ATC when they were asked to sing along to the song “weapon”, their closing song, to sing the song back to the band, with a promise they will never give up. Enough motivation to go on your daily lives? We daresay it is.

Words and Photos by Arielle Elep

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The AGAINST THE CURRENT ‘NIGHTMARES & DAYDREAMS’ 2023 World Tour in MANILA was presented by PULP Live World. Special thanks to PULP Live World for the invitation.

We love Hwang Min Hyun in every universe.

The 2023 HWANG MIN HYUN MINI CONCERT ‘UNVEIL’ in Manila at the New Frontier Theater last October 8, 2023, was an unforgettable night for his fans (called Hwangdo). The evening kicked off with a VCR, setting the mood for an evening filled with music and memories. The artist’s favorite song, “Universe,” played, and anticipation was high as the fans eagerly awaited his performance.

Hwang Min Hyun began the night by performing “Hidden Side” and greeted his PH Hwangdo with a warm “kamusta kayo.” The fans’ cheers and excitement filled the venue as he took the stage. Before diving into another performance, Kring Kim had a chance to interview him, asking how he felt about being back in Manila and what the fans could expect. The singer-actor expressed joy and promised more fantastic performances and fun segments for his Hwangdos during the concert.

The concert continued with Minhyun serenading the audience with “Honest” and “Earphone” from NUEST’s 2nd Album Romanticize, captivating the crowd with his amazing vocals.

One of the most memorable segments of the night was the “Unveil Timing Game.” This engaging segment consisted of three parts: guessing which part of the music video was displayed on the screen and performing it, singing along flawlessly to the song even when it stopped and started again, and continuing a line from his K-drama Alchemy of Souls. Despite losing the games, Min Hyun cheerfully accepted the challenge, wearing headbands chosen by fans and dancing along to “Betcha” by EXO’s Baekhyun and “Super Shy” by New Jeans. He continued to wow the audience with performances of “Perfect Type” and “Cube,” as well as the heart-touching “Tree” from Alchemy of Souls.

In the following segment, he transformed into a radio DJ and read a heartfelt letter from someone named “Yul,” who coincidentally shared the name of his character from Alchemy of Souls. As he provided advice, he sang songs by K.Will, Jung Seunghwan, Zitten, and Martin Smith, showcasing his versatility as an artist.

The emotional peak of the night came when Min Hyun performed his song “Universe.” This track held a special meaning for his fans, and his heartfelt rendition left not a dry eye in the house.

The concert reached its climax with an encore performance featuring another song from Truth or Lie, his 1st mini album, “Crossword.” As Min Hyun prepared to take a photo with the fans on stage, a fan VCR played, leaving him visibly surprised.

In closing, the My Lovely Liar actor shared a heartfelt message with his fans: “Even though you guys are from far places, you always continue to support me. It keeps me really going and gives me the energy to stand up whenever it gets tough for me. Thank you so much. I will never forget the love and support you constantly give me every single time. This will always encourage me to stand up. I’ll always remember this moment.”

Hwang Min Hyun’s concert in Manila was more than just a musical performance; it was a heartfelt exchange of love and appreciation between Minhyun and his PH Hwangdos. The night will undoubtedly be cherished in the hearts of all who were lucky enough to be part of this unforgettable experience.

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The 2023 HWANG MIN HYUN MINI CONCERT ‘UNVEIL’ in Manila was presented by PULP Live World and Happee Hour. Special thanks to PULP Live World for the invitation to the press conference and event.

The year-end event redefines the concert-going experience with “select” orchestral arrangements and special guests!

Filipino music icon AEGIS is set to stage a concert that aims to capture the spirit of the holiday season. Dubbed AEGIS: The Christmas Bonus Concert, the year-end celebration marks the first time that the OPM stars will be serenading their fans with Christmas-themed songs as well as their career-spanning Greatest Hits set.

The concert will take place on December 20, 2023, from 8:00 p.m. onwards, at the Theatre At Solaire in Paranaque City, Metro Manila.

Backed by an orchestra and rendered with intricate arrangements that elevate the experience of listening to AEGIS live, the concert finds the Pinoy vocal powerhouse at the top of their game, celebrating with fellow Filipino people in expressing gratitude for year-long blessings and love, and for the opportunity to spend more time with family during the holiday breaks.

“It’s hard to imagine the Christmas season without music that signifies humanity and love,” AEGIS shares in a press statement. “We feel that this concert is a great way to uplift our spirits during trying times. We want this event to be as festive and colorful as possible, but at the same time, we want to perform with the goal of spreading happiness and positivity among those who are yearning for something to make them feel at home.”

Tickets will go on sale this Friday, October 13 at exactly 1:00 pm via Ticketworld outlets nationwide and their official website.

AEGIS: The Christmas Bonus Concert is presented by True Creators Studio, Upplause Events, and Solaire Resort Entertainment City, in partnership with event management partner, GNN Entertainment Productions.

It took years, but on September 16, at The Big Dome — the very site where the first encounter took place — ATEEZ and ATINY teamed together to make the boy group’s first solo concert in the Philippines a tremendous success and to bring the BREAK THE WALL World Tour to a successful conclusion.

ATEEZ, composed of Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho, made their musical debut in 2018 with their extended play Treasure EP.1: All to Zero. Since then, the boy group has grown significantly to become a recognizable K-Pop group noted for their exceptional vocals and raps, remarkable performances, and captivating stage presence.

They were given the titles “Global Performance Idols” and “4th Generation Leaders,” which they have lived up to, and Philippine ATINY had the good fortune to see them in person last September 16 when The Fellowship: Break The Wall World Tour, which had been on the road for nearly a year since its launch in Seoul in October 2022, finally touched down in the nation. Local fans of the boy group who had waited patiently for Manila to be added to the list of cities had their wish and a dream come true.

As a result, it was only natural that anticipation was high from the moment the Manila stop was announced until the very conclusion of the concert. Despite Jongho’s absence from the concert due to health issues, ATEEZ and ATINY did not hold back in giving each other the time of their lives.

A variety of tracks from their early releases to their most recent discography were included in ATEEZ’s setlist, which mixed distinct musical styles and performances. “Halazia” from their 2022 single album, Spin Off: From the Witness, kicked off the concert. The boy group immediately mesmerized the audience with their performance, which was further enhanced by the stage setup and lighting. They continued with their trademark greeting, made individual introductions, and pledged to offer the Filipino ATINYs a fun and unforgettable concert.

Men of their words, Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, and Wooyoung continued to display incredible performances with “Answer,” “The Ring,” and “Hala Hala,” before transitioning to their tender and uplifting songs, “Dazzling Light,” “Mist,” “Aurora,” and “Sunrise.” Each performance demonstrated the boy group’s ability to perform superbly in a variety of genres. As they conveyed the feelings of the songs, which became more apparent during their emotive tracks, the members showed off their ability to fill the room with their powerful voices and raps. This provided an appealing juxtaposition to their opening set, which displayed their stellar performance abilities.

I almost cried… with all ATINYs singing along.

Seonghwa on “Sunrise” performance with ATINY

Following these stages, ATEEZ delivered the summer-fitting twin title tracks “Illusion” and “Wave” off their 2019 album TREASURE EP.3: One To All. They then came back on stage with “Win,” an anthem of epic proportions and great force that wonderfully displayed their commanding presence on stage, followed by the explosive, electronic-influenced song “Horizon.”

But ATEEZ wasn’t through yet; they also performed “WONDERLAND (Symphony No. 9 “From The Wonderland”)” from Mnet’s Kingdom: Legendary War, which earned them first place in experts’ vote and self-evaluation and second place overall for the performance. Being able to witness the exceptional performance in person was magnificent, mind-blowing, and phenomenal in every sense. And the boys didn’t hold back, giving the audience the complete experience with costumes, amazing set design, and even a mock pirate ship. This song’s strong performance served as another example of the defining energy, which soared even higher in “BOUNCY (K-Hot Chilli Peppers)”.

Filo ATINYs doing the Bouncy challenge. #Break_The_Wall_MNL pic.twitter.com/7S3g4HMBQr

— Philippine Concerts (@philconcerts) September 16, 2023

As everyone stood up to join ATEEZ in doing the dance, a remarkable excitement permeated the space and was amplified by the selected ATINY, who enthusiastically danced to the music. The boy group got the concert going with “THANXX”, a medley of “Good Lil Boy”, “The Leaders”, and “To the Beat” from their extended plays, Zero: Fever Part.1 and Zero: Fever Part.2.

They performed their timeless classics “Say My Name” from their 2019 EP Treasure EP.2: Zero to One and “Guerrilla” from their 2022 EP The World EP.1: Movement, to a thunderous reception from the audience. The Big Dome was electrified as the audience roared in support of ATEEZ with each performance that took the stage. The boy group that shook up the Philippine concert stage is definitely deserving of a round of applause. It was no longer shocking since, in the first place, you can rely on ATEEZ to provide more than you had anticipated and demonstrate excellence above and above the usual when it comes to fantastic and spectacular performances.

HAKUNA MATATA ❤️ Keeping this memory dearly with ATEEZ and ATINY.#Break_The_Wall_MNL @WilbrosLive pic.twitter.com/ATdFlm7Qcf

— Philippine Concerts (@philconcerts) September 16, 2023

Additionally, Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, and Wooyoung graciously interacted with the audience members in every section, doing their best to look at everyone from the VIPs standing to the far end of The Big Dome with eyes and smiles reflecting their immense gratitude for the crowd that attended.

It was a proud moment to cherish and a memory to retain. The BREAK THE WALL World Tour served as evidence of ATEEZ’s and its fandom’s continuous growth. As the boy group wrapped up the tour with 40 performances in 29 cities across Asia, North and South America, and Europe, it served as a reminder of the humble beginning, the arduous effort, and the tenacity that allowed such accomplishment to arise.

With “Turbulence,” “Celebrate,” “From,” and “The Real,” the boy group said goodbye as Manila witnessed the triumphant conclusion of the Break the Wall tour. The concert’s conclusion was highlighted by a gracious bow to Philippine ATINY from Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, and Wooyoung, who also pledged to return.

Manila, you’re the best!

San

ATEEZ #Break_The_Wall_MNL marked the end of the boy group’s The Fellowship: BREAK THE WALL tour and its encore which staged 40 shows in 29 cities across Asia, North America, South America, and Europe.

Congratulations, ATEEZ and ATINY! #Break_The_Wall_FINALE pic.twitter.com/nXBvHDPoA7

— Philippine Concerts (@philconcerts) September 16, 2023

The Fellowship: Break The Wall World Tour in Manila was presented by Wilbros Live. Special thanks to Wilbros Live.

Words and photos by Dan