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Making her debut on the Philippine concert stage, Tori Kelly finally took center stage at the New Frontier Theater in her Purple Skies World Tour on August 23.

The Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter/diva thrilled her fans called Toraays with an enthralling showcase of her new music and old favorites.

As early as the afternoon, long queues were seen outside the theater. Toraays longed for this moment, and they made sure to welcome their beloved star warmly. Many of them have known Tori Kelly from her YouTube cover days as a teenager up to her American Idol stint in 2010. They have steadily followed her career as she released an independent EP Handmade Songs by Tori Kelly in 2012 and her mainstream breakthrough album “Nobody Love” in 2015. Now, with the release of her self-titled album TORI., the 31-year-old diva shines at her brightest as she unleashes a diverse set of songs that showcase her immense growth as an artist.

British singer Maisy Kay glammed up the stage with her colorful dance-pop melodies, a splendid opener for the evening. When Tori Kelly made her way to the stage, loud cheers welcomed her. Starting with “thing u do” and “unbelievable”, she had the crowd singing and dancing along to her melodies.

Tori Kelly is a vocal powerhouse, and watching her perform was mesmerizing. Even with a full live band accompaniment, her stellar vocals stood out as she effortlessly hit all the high notes, her pitch not once faltering. Throughout the show, she had this natural elegance and charisma on stage which made the concert even more captivating.

The Purple Skies setlist featured most of her new music including “diamonds”, “spruce”, “high water” and “shelter”. However, she also took the time to pay homage to the older faves. Armed with only an acoustic guitar and her raw vocals, she asked the crowd for requests of which she played “Dear No One”, “Funny”, “All in My Head”, “Paper Hearts”. It was a nostalgic trip to the past when she performed Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin’ ‘Bout You”.

“This is my first time in Manila, and it definitely won’t be my last. You guys made this little girl’s dream come true,” Tori Kelly told the crowd. She closed the show with “alive if i die” and “missin’ u”.

by Sandra Mae Laureano

Steadily surfing the waves of the new breed of K-Pop acts, renowned Korean boy group THE BOYZ met their Filipino The Bs last August 25, 2024, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena for their Manila leg of ZENERATION II Concert Tour.

The 11-membered ensemble, namely Sangyeon, Jacob, Kevin, Younghoon, Hyunjae, Q, New, Juyeon, Eric, Sunwoo, and Haknyeon, were all excited to meet their Filipino fans and receive their warm welcome. THE BOYZ have done several shows here in the Philippines, making the country a prime destination for them to showcase their talents once again and see their Filipino Deobis on a one-of-a-kind event.

Lights gradually filled the concert hall as the show started, with THE BOYZ’s explosive performance of their hit songs “Diamond Life,” “Out of Control,” and “Maverick.” Their VCRs were perfectly visualized for the fans to appreciate, showcasing the members’ distinct features and charisma. The group continued to elevate the quality of their stages as they performed “Tattoo” and “Levitating.”

During their first ment, THE BOYZ introduced themselves and showed the fans their appreciation for them.

Eric, the group’s maknae and lead dancer, said that the Philippines, especially Manila, is like his hometown and he missed his Filipino fans so much. Kevin, the lead vocalist, interacted with the Filipino Deobis and even did the infamous “Eyyy!” catchphrase popularized by Nation’s Girl Group, BINI. THE BOYZ also congratulated Paris 2024 Olympics double gold medalist Carlos Yulo during their meant.

Juyeon, the group’s main dancer and visual, teasing his fans, said, “Huwag kayong titingin sa iba (Don’t look at other people!)” and hyped the Filipino Deobis who attended the concert. The Boyz continued to wow the crowd with their performances of “Back All Black,” “Breaking Dawn,” “Complete Me,” “Fantasize,” “Right Here,” “Thrill Ride,” and “DDD.”

As their concert progressed, THE BOYZ continued to give exceptional and world-class performances of their songs such as “Walkin’ in Time,” “Horizon,” “Survive the Night,” “Back 2 U,” and “Hurt Me Less.” THE BOYZ took the time to talk to their fans and express themselves. Eric once again got the chance to tell how happy it felt that he was good to be home with his Filipino Deobis, and that they promised to give better performances, music, and a better stage as a group. He also said that Deobis mean the world to them and that they will be back here in the Philippines soon.

Younghoon, who just recently celebrated his birthday, couldn’t hide his happiness performing in the Philippines and even thanked the fans for the immense energy that they received from them. Kevin was grateful to his fans for being loyal and passionate about THE BOYZ. Jacob sang a cover of Zack Tabudlo’s Binibini, making the fans melt with his honey-like voice.

THE BOYZ’s stage turned even more spectacular as it reached its end, singing their songs “Bite Back,” “Reveal,” “The Stealer,” “Watch It,” “Nectar,” and their encore song “Fire Eyes.”

Surely, Filipino Deobis enjoyed the night with THE BOYZ filled with warmth and love, and they are certainly looking forward to their next shows here in the Philippines! ZENERATION II: THE BOYZ World Tour in Manila was presented by DNM Entertainment.

Words by Vinny Real

Secondhand Serenade returned to Manila for two sold-out concerts last August 29 and 30 at the New Frontier Theater, after such a long time.

Presented by PULP Live World and Skesh Entertainment, the concerts were a reminder of why Secondhand Serenade’s music remains beloved by fans, especially in Manila.

John Vesley, who first gained attention on MySpace in 2005, found global fame with the release of “Fall For You” in 2008. The song, a deeply emotional track, struck a chord with listeners worldwide, but it was in the Philippines that it became an enduring favorite. Manila fans have always been some of Vesley’s most passionate supporters, and their energy was on full display throughout both nights.

The concerts opened with a set from Valentina Ploy, a Thai-Italian artist whose heartfelt lyrics and melodies perfectly introduced the evening. Her performance warmed up the crowd by bringing her unique sound to the Manila audience, setting the stage for what was to come during this exciting night.

As soon as Vesley began his set, the atmosphere in the theater started to rise continuously. Songs like “Maybe” and “Broken” were met with an outpouring of emotion from the audience, who sang along to every word. The pinnacle of the night came with performances of “Your Call” and “Fall For You,” both of which drew an overwhelming response from the crowd, transporting them back to the time when those songs first became part of their lives.

In a special moment, Vesley shared that new music is on the horizon, giving fans something to look forward to. The night ended on a high note with an encore of “Last Song Ever,” leaving the audience with a final, lingering memory of a concert that felt both familiar and fresh.

For those two nights, the New Frontier Theater became a place where old memories were relived, and new ones were created, all to the soundtrack of Secondhand Serenade.