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Pinoy rock bands dominated radio and television in the late 90s and early 2000s. At its forefront was a slew of female-fronted bands who lent their voices, words, and instruments to produce the anthems of a generation.

On November 26, Acel Bisa of Moonstar88, Hannah Romawac of Session Road, Aia de Leon of Imago, Barbie Almalbis of Barbie’s Cradle, and Lougee Basabas and Kitchie Nadal, both of Mojofly, came together for Tanaw, delivering a four-hour concert filled with emotion and nostalgia.

SEE ALSO: INTERVIEW: Pinoy Rock Queens On OPM, Coming Together for TANAW, and More

From Lunch to Launch

It started over a meal. On September 14, the ladies gathered for lunch and posted their photos online. Kitchie was absent as she’s based in Spain but was edited in the comments section. Fans were quick to send love and requests for a concert. Understandably so, seeing them all at one table is probably the 90’s kid equivalent of seeing The Avengers eat shawarma. Gabi Na Naman Productions then picked up and produced the concert.

Fans and Family

These rock icons grew up in the music circuit. Acel, the oldest in the line-up, started singing at 18. She’s currently 46. They now carry different last names and have transitioned from cool girls to cool moms. But even after several decades, their voices, instrument expertise, and stage presence remain phenomenal. And they look as youthful as they have in their heydays.

The artists have grown, and so have the fans. During the concert, Lougee joked about how the audience probably had to contact their parents to look after kids, and the reaction confirmed she hit the nail on the head. Over and over, the artists gushed about how unbelievable it was to go from venues like Mayric’s and Club Dredd to selling out the posh halls of Solaire.

The show was a family affair.

Acel’s parents came to watch because finally, there was no smoking or drinking, or cramped spaces. Her Dad is 91, her mom is 80, and it was their first time seeing Acel’s gig. Hannah introduced her daughter to the audience. Taking a cue from Hannah, Barbie had her two kids and husband come up. She pointed to a lot of family on their seats: her dad, her mother who turned older at midnight, mother-in-law who styled her for the occasion, future in-laws, and three brothers with a shout-out to youngest Mark who bought tickets to her show for the first time in her 25-year career. Lougee’s niece Sam ran up to hand her a poster filled with messages from Sam’s classmates and teachers.

The onstage crew was also family. Ali Alejandro is Mojofly’s drummer and Lougee’s husband, Karel Honasan who plays bass for Barbie is her in-law. Hannah’s brother, also a member of Session Road and an event staff, dashed to deliver tissue when she cried.

Top of the Bops

When a concert has Moonstar 88’s Sulat as the opener, you just know the rest of the night is going to be glorious. Acel’s set continued with One Love, her first project as a solo musician in 2008 after leaving Moonstar in 2004, and a rendition of Your Universe, a Rico Blanco-original she recorded as part of the Between Maybes movie soundtrack. As the first notes of Torete played, the crowd went ecstatic with recognition, and the venue needed no prompt to sing along.

Hannah was a ball of uncontainable energy as soon as she walked onstage. Leaving You and Blanko played back-to-back, with Hannah admitting that she was purposely delaying her speech to avoid the tears that came inevitably with talking. She shares that her ”why” for doing music has evolved. Now at 44, she’s giving music another go-to model bravery and showing her teenage daughter that she can chase her dreams regardless of age. Cool Off and Suntok sa Buwan rounded off the set.

In the video shown in-between acts, Aia said the best part of music is when it means something to people other than one’s self, that it’s beautiful when people sing an artist’s song to them. There was no lack of that for Aia as she sang Akap and Sundo. A funky cover of Spoliarium and Taralets kept the set fresh and fun.

Barbie brought her different eras: Torpe from her days as Hungry Young Poets, Tabing Ilog from Barbie’s Cradle, and soloist Barbie Almalbis with Say Goodbye. Hardcore guitarist Barbie also made an appearance with a Metallica Master of Puppets interlude.

Kitchie has been based in Spain for the past five years with her husband and son, but couldn’t pass on the opportunity to hold a concert with good friends. The Kitchie Nadal Medley is an essential addition to any karaoke session and watching it live felt like the holidays came just a bit early. Huwag na Huwag Mong Sasabihin was interspersed with Spanish translations, followed by Same Ground and Bulong.

The last solo of the evening went to Lougee, who played Rally, Tumatakbo, and Mata
Her dream of playing a drum duo with husband and drummer Ali Alejandro finally came true. She quipped, “Ang bilis ng panahon, kabanda ko lang yan noon, asawa ko na ngayon.”

Duets and Collaborations

Lougee recalled being a huge fan of Mojofly before becoming its vocalist and called on the band’s original vocalist Kitchie. Together they sang Kitchie’s favorite Mojofly track Another Day.

The duets continued with Hannah and Aia mashing Imago’s Rainsong with Sheryl Crow’s Strong Enough. Acel and Barbie performed Moonpools & Caterpillars’ Soon, with Acel on double duty on guitar and harmonica.

The night would not be complete without all six coming together as a mega group. Lougee, Kitchie, and Barbie were on guitars, with Barbie in charge of solos. The others switched up their instruments – Acel on keys, Aia on bass, and Hannah on drums.

Playing homage to Pinoy rock heavyweights, they played Sampaguita’s Nosi Balasi and Francis M’s Kaleidoscope World, followed by a heartfelt rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s Landslide. They exited for a moment before heeding requests for an encore with Rivermaya’s Panahon na Naman. By the end of it, they were met with rousing cheers and a standing ovation.

Thinking Back, Moving Forward

The women of Tanaw are sisters in music, motherhood, and faith. They speak of each other with fondness and admiration so warm it radiates. Hannah shared she was content with being a mother and an athlete and leaving music behind, but the rest showed her there was still something more for them.

These ladies are not stopping anytime soon, still releasing original tracks which they also performed at the concert. Acel’s Buhangin was released in April this year, while Barbie’s Days Are Long came out last year. Aia showcased Tao Lang which has yet to land on streaming platforms. Kitchie sang a song she did not mention the title of but notes it’s a life update of what has happened since the last time she was in a Gabi Na Naman gig where she announced her pregnancy.

With the concert done and dusted, the ladies have high hopes for the future – more songs, more collaborations, and more gigs together. Lougee put it best when she talked about her music journey, which likely encapsulates how it is for everyone else – it wasn’t a smooth journey, but true passion persists at the end of it all.

The TANAW concert was presented by GNN Entertainment Productions. Special thanks to GNN Entertainment Productions for the invitation to the press conference and event.

Epik High was here and we love love love it!

On November 30, Epik High performed a dynamic and explosively fun show at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City. Just a month ago, the Korean hip-hop trio was also part of the line-up for Hallyuween 2022. This time, the stage was solely theirs and the Filipino (High Skool) crowd enjoyed every minute of it.

“Epik High is here!”, Tablo announced before introducing themselves at the beginning of the show. Exactly as their tour and album title go, that declaration was precise yet meaningful. After capping off rounds of successful shows in North America, Seoul, Australia, and other parts of Asia, it was Manila’s turn to get the full Epik High Experience.

SEE ALSO: INTERVIEW: Epik High on their Career, Future Plans, and How They Wished to be Remembered

When the lights dimmed, the succinct “Here” followed by “Prequel” was enough to get the crowd going. To add to the fire the 2006 setlist staple “Fly” formally started the party. People were already waving their hands in the air, vibing hard to their music, and this energy continued to flow throughout the evening. The fierce “Rosario” and “Burj Khalifa” were met with roaring sing-alongs during the chorus.

“We stopped by about a month ago, but honestly, it was a little too short. We missed you very much. We’re happy to have you here all to ourselves. We don’t have to share you with anyone. We have your attention. You have ours. You have our love. Good to be back,” Tablo told the crowd.

Being in an Epik High concert was a unique experience. As much as their show inspired a spectacular hip-hop dance pit, it was also a comedy of epic (or epik) proportions. In the middle of performances, the trio pulled their own shenanigans onstage, poking fun at each other every chance they got.

In the middle of their set, Tablo revealed that they were playing a game with one simple rule: the last person to drink water gets to order the other two around. Having won the game, Tablo ordered Mithra Jin who is the maknae (or youngest) of the group to perform the K-pop ritual aegyo (wherein the person has to act cute).

DJ Tukutz was ordered to give the crowd “The Full Tukutz Experience” or “TKX” for short. He was more than willing to oblige as he showcased not only his skills as a DJ, but also as a rapper who doubles as a substitute vocalist, and his formidable breakdancing chops.

Epik High’s classic hits were also given their time in the limelight — “Love Love Love”, “One” and “Fan”, a combination that only served to amplify the audience’s energy.

The group also took their special time to thank the crowd with the additional effort of looking somber while a cheesy melancholic song was in the background (reminiscent of the kind you hear during a sad scene in a soap opera).

“We are very grateful for the beautiful night that you gave us tonight. We hope that we made you jump, we made you laugh, we made you smile. For just a little bit of time, we made you forget all the problems in your life. We hope that the memories we made together will last until we meet again,” Tablo said in between smiles, stifling his laughter. “Even though we can’t solve any of your problems, we hope that we helped a little bit. And I want you to know that you being here tonight helps us deal with our problems as well,” he continued this time, with a sincere tone.

The upbeat techno fury unleashed by “High Technology”, “New Beautiful” and “Don’t Hate Me” immediately dispelled the bittersweet mood.

—

It was my third time seeing Epik High live. The first was during their Parade Tour stop in Manila in 2015 and the second was during their set at Someday Theater Pleroma in Seoul in 2019. In all the shows I had attended, they had consistently made it a fun, fulfilling experience for every person in the crowd. It’s like attending a rave dance party where you just lose yourself in their beats, their music even if you don’t fully know every song that plays – which is quite frankly one of the best ways to enjoy a concert.

Their latest tour is the most enjoyable one so far. Maybe one reason for it is the band’s and the crowd’s renewed energy after being held back by the pandemic for almost three years. Surely, though, the new additions to Epik High’s repertoire from their two-part eponymous album “Epik High is Here” has given their music more color and layers. It’s admirable how Epik High has been in the Korean hip-hop/pop industry since 2003, yet they still manage to keep releasing fresh, innovative songs and collaborations with other artists. It’s even more amazing how they can keep performing with passion, energy, and humor during their live shows.

by Sandra Mae Laureano

The Epik High is Here in Manila was presented by MakeItLive Asia and CK Star Entertainment. Special thanks to MakeItLive Asia for the invitation to the event.

Coming to you live: DPR: Regime World Tour in Manila

Setting the Dreamer’s dreams a reality, the collaborative and multi-genre music, and video group, the DPR gang made their Manila debut as a part of their Asian-Pacific leg of the DPR: Regime World Tour at the Filinvest Tent in Alabang on November 30, 2022.

The event headlines DPR Live, DPR Ian, and DPR Cream who electrified thousands of their fans, each act showcasing their own uniqueness and creativity while staying true to their purpose in music: engaging all audiences by actualizing a distinctive audiovisual experience.

Dressed and glammed up, the dreamers showed their enthusiasm for the group’s long-awaited performances, cheering even before the show even started and successfully executing multiple small fan projects that signify a piece of DPR in their career.

Cream Colored Drive

Grasping the first set, DPR Cream brought his producer skills by setting off the mood for the night, with the trancelike music he played on stage. With nothing but a laptop and his keyboard, Cream showcased his impressive remixing skills in creating music, already giving the fans a treat, albeit his short set with the dreamers.

Coming to you LIVE

Making his landing on stage, Hong Dabin, famously known as DPR Live, immediately made the crowd jump with his song “LEGACY”, energizing the room with his electrifying performance and giving a nod to the music video of the song in an orange jumpsuit. Staying on theme, an enormous astronaut balloon appeared behind him while performing the songs “S.O.S.” and “NEON”, all three songs coming from his first studio album IS ANYBODY OUT THERE?

After the visually pleasing space-themed shtick, he breezed through some of DPR’s previous tracks from the ‘archives’, “thirst”, and from his first mini album Coming To You Live, “Cheese & Wine”, “Know Me” and “Laputa.”

Live had a small sit down with the dreamers and threw roses to the crowd as he serenaded them with the song “VENUS.” He also grooved and flirted with the fans while dancing freely and performing the songs “Kiss Me” and “Jasmine”, which are known classics in his discography.

Jam and Butterflies in your stomach

Live made the Filipino fans extra special as he reminisced that his first crush ever was a Filipina while growing up in Guam. He noted as well that it “…feels like home going here (in Manila)” as he also shared that his best friend growing up is a Filipino. With this, he performed “Jam and Butterfly”, and transitioned to “Yellow Cab” and in return, the fans made him feel extra special by waving pink wigs, also a reference from the song’s music video.

He then promised they will definitely return but left the fans for now and asked the dreamers to “…text me when you’re free”, an excerpt of lyrics from his song “Text Me.”

It was a back-and-forth gimmick from Live and the fans as he let them have fun with transparent lifebuoys he threw to the crowd during his fun and the jumpy song “Hula Hoops.” He also tapped on “Summer Tights”, and “Geronimo”. Of course, a fitting song to perform is “Martini Blue” while a portion of the dreamers also enjoyed liquor drinks and Live capped his set with DPR Cline joining him on stage with the song “Set It Off”, a track they created for League of Legends, specifically the South Korean region LCK for the 2022 Mid-Season Invitational online battle arena.

A Fallen Angel

Following DPR Live, a completely different set was performed by Christian Yu or known as DPR Ian, who let the fans have an immersive, intense experience from the get-go. Coming on stage with a horned costume and transforming into a fallen angel, DPR Ian gave the crowd a chilling intro while “Mito” is playing, which is also the intro song of his first album, Moodswings in this Order. In two tracks coming from the same album, Ian danced to “So Beautiful” and “Dope Lovers” while unveiling his bedazzled jacket and accentuated red eye makeup, making him even more ethereal looking than we are already used to.

In between the songs, he mentioned how he feels so much of the energy the Filipino crowd is giving, leaving a great first impression as he emphasized that this is his first time in the Philippines. We’re off to a great start, am I right dreamers?

He continued his setlist by plucking some songs from his newly released second album, Moodswings In to Order, “Avalon”, and “Miss Understood”. One of the biggest treats the dreamers tasted from Ian was bringing off “Calico” while dancing under his fedora hat and then proceeding off in playing the bass. We can all agree that not only Ian is a charismatic performer, but also a multi-talented beast, and this kind of eccentricity gracing the Philippine live stage is something that doesn’t happen often.

Ballroom Extravaganza

It’s safe to say that DPR Ian’s stages are a different experience than most artists and he proved this throughout the night with the diverse stages he carried out.

The room’s temperature just got a little higher as Ian takes off his jacket and comfortably presented “Sometimes I’m.” The fast-paced 12th track from his second album is not an easy song to sing but he was able to nail it with the fans singing along, matching his energy. And literally setting the stage on fire, he enacted “1 Shot”, turning the whole room red and even more steamy than the last.

Also a natural storyteller, Ian became intimate and shared his insecurities and fears with the fans on how he hated being in the spotlight and was grateful that the fans let him overcome it by letting him share his stories through art. With this, he performed the song “Scaredy Cat” with another stage gimmick that is visually appealing as multiple hands appeared on the curtain behind him while performing.

Another impressive stunt he made was when a giant hand grabbed Ian backstage after performing “Ribbon”, a rather funky tune that will want you to get up and dance.

He returned a few minutes later wearing a black oversized fur jacket and performed “Mr. Insanity”, driving the fans a little over the edge. And probably the best stage he has done for the evening was setting the stage on snow while doing a modern interpretative dance of “Winterfall”, slowing it down to set the mood while “snow” drops on him, showing a perfect picture-perfect moment every second.

He finished his set strong with incredible performances of “Nerves” and “Ballroom Extravaganza” before DPR Live joined him on stage.

Together, the duo sang “No Blueberries”, which is probably Ian’s biggest hit, and bid the fans goodbye for the night.

Manila Officially Part of the DPR Gang

Of course, the ensemble cannot end the concert easily without performing the song that made the group’s mark in the music industry as the fans jumped in honor of the song “To Myself” with the chant “DPR WE GANG GANG!” The whole group: DPR Live, DPR Ian, DPR Cream, and joined by DPR Cline, and the whole DPR crew joined the dreamers with a final photo.

The multi-faceted crew closed off the night with a promise that they will return, as Ian undoubtedly became impressed with the Filipino fans saying, “The best so far!” and of course, the members of the crew saying, “Mahal kita!”

The Filipino dreamers answered back with much enthusiasm to this, creating a long-lasting bond with the team, and as passionate as ever, the fans will wait for another concert, hopefully soon and surely with the right hunger in continuing to support the group for releases and more aesthetically pleasing audio-visual art in the future.

Written by Arielle Elep for Philippine Concerts

DPR: Regime World Tour in Manila was presented by Karpos Multimedia. Special thanks to Karpos Multimedia for the invitation to the event.

November 26 was all about coming together for a purpose at the Ripples for Hope 2022!

The Ripples for Hope 2022 brought together K-Pop fans from various fandoms for a jam-packed day and night of celebrating friendship and K-Pop through entertaining and thrilling games, which came to a grand conclusion with performances by Everglow, Momoland, and AKMU.

The first Ripple Champion named

During the day activities, the 12 competing teams consisted of 19 fandoms aiming to be the first Ripple Champion. The teams began the festivities with a parade of colors that emphasized their team pride and showcased their respective fandoms. The Ripple Society and the Color Guard Alliance of the Philippines performed “Be Happy,” the slogan song for Ripples for Hope 2022.

Following the oath of sportsmanship, PULP Live World’s Happee Sy-Go took the stage to provide inspiring opening remarks, reminding everyone what the Hallyu community represents.

With Happee Sy-Go’s signal, the games began. All participants took part in the warm-up game of The Boat is Sinking where four fans who outlasted everyone each won a ticket to any PULP show of their choice.

After the warm-up game, the energy is high and the competition is on with the 12 teams competing for the pride of being the first Ripple Champion. The teams battled it out through games of Red Light, Green Light popularized by the Netflix show, Squid Game, variety-show-inspired Team Jump Rope, party-favorite Trip to Jerusalem, an intense Obstacle Course, and sports-day-like Tug of War.

In the end, Team BangKon emerged victorious with the members winning VIP tickets to any PULP show until May 31, 2023. Team Pink Day also earned themselves Lower Box tickets, while Team SEVENTEEN won Upper Box tickets after placing second and third, respectively.

Celebrating K-Pop in a night of music and fun

But the Ripples for Hope 2022 festivities were far from done, as the event closed with a concert featuring Everglow, Momoland, and AKMU.

Everglow opened the evening program with their singles “LA DI DA,” “Adios,” “DUN DUN,” and “Pirate.” The girls’ efforts to deliver their thoughts in Filipino stirred hearts as well. They expressed their delight at finally performing in the Philippines and meeting their local supporters.

Momoland grabbed the stage next, belting out “Yummy Yummy Love,” “Ready Or Not,” “Wrap Me in Plastic,” “Bboom Bboom,” and “BAAM.” The girls shared their joy at returning to the country after a long while and reconnecting with their fans through Ripples for Hope 2022.

AKMU made their Filipino fans’ wait to see them on the Philippine concert stage worthwhile by performing breathtaking performances of “Hey kid, Close your eyes,” “NAKKA,” “Dinosaur,” “How People Move,” “Don’t Cross Your Legs,” “How can I love the heartbreak, you’re the one I love,” “Last Goodbye,” “Give Love,” “200%,” and “Let’s Take Time” to close the night show.

The three K-Pop singers also presented awards to the top three winning teams from the day activities.

By performing breathtaking performances of “Hey kid, Close your eyes,” “NAKKA,” “Dinosaur,” “How People Move,” “Don’t Cross Your Legs,” “How can I love the heartbreak, you’re the one I love,” “Last Goodbye,” “Give Love,” “200%,” and “Let’s Take Time” to close the night show, AKMU made their Filipino fans’ wait to see them on the Philippine concert stage worthwhile.

The three K-Pop singers also presented awards to the top three winning teams from the day’s activities.

Ripples for Hope 2022 was a demonstration of the country’s ever-growing Hallyu community’s dedication to going beyond K-Pop and extending their camaraderie to foster a ripple of goodwill and generosity.

Ripples for Hope 2022 was presented by PULP Live World, Happee Hour, The Ripple Society, and the Philippine K-Pop Convention. Special thanks to PULP Live World for the invitation to the event.