THROUGH THE EYES OF A CONCERTGOER IN MANILA

[mmilived]

Imagine Dragons @ SM MOA Arena Aug.27.2015

Cue the dim lights, fog, and silhouettes appearing one by one. The excitement was building up in the SM MOA Arena. Opening with Shots, Imagine Dragons definitely made a dramatic entrance.

The band consists of Dan Reynolds (lead singer),  Wayne "Wing" Sermon (guitarist), Ben McKee (bassist), and Daniel Platzman (drummer). The production was very well done from the playful lights and majestic graphics to the strong sound and energetic vibe. 

Of course you can’t forget about the important part of a great concert experience...the performance. This band has that part down in a pretty solid way. Everything was so intense including their connection with the audience. They had amazing energy on stage and I loved watching them dance around. They were even switching instruments with each other at one point. It was beautiful when they slowed down the intro to It’s Time. Dan Reynolds’ control over his vocals and how he played with the mic for different effects was impressive. 

The band has an amazing appreciation for this country. Dan’s two brothers used to live in the Philippines and his best friend in the states is Filipino. He explained how Filipinos are kind and always smiling. It was great to see their love for the Philippines as Dan waved around the flag towards the end of the concert. 

Imagine Dragons has passion written all over them. They really put their all in every song (such as Demons, On Top of the World, Radioactive, and I Bet My Life to name some popular ones) carrying out the emotion each song holds. We were left wanting more. Thank you MMI for bringing yet another must-see talent! 

[mmilived]

One Direction @ SM MOA Concert Grounds Mar.22.2015

One Direction stole the hearts of Manila for two successful days. They said that Day 1 was the best show they’ve done, but they spoke too soon. Day 2 became one for the books too. I guess we can say Manila is the best!

Everyone was heartbroken about Zayn being MIA, but the show must go on and what a great show it was. Liam, Harry, Louis, and Niall all have equally amazing voices. They are such great entertainers. It was obvious everyone loved the show and had a memorable time. 

The boys were very playful on stage and they act like brothers. Liam has such a natural stage presence. He is very comfortable and likes to keep everyone happy with his funny expressions while dancing all over the place. Harry was also showing off his dance moves. Throughout the show the boys were changing up the lyrics of YG’s song and rapping “Mah-nila, Mah-nila”. It made all the girls scream each time. 

They even had the crowd voting for their favorite food between Liam’s Team Nuggets and Harry’s Team Vegetables. They also had the cameras go around and look for fan signs to read. One asked them to take a selfie which Liam kissed Niall on the cheek for. Everyone couldn’t hold their laughter in when one sign requested for them to say “nakakapagpabagabag”. 

1D has such a dedicated fan base. It was hands-down the craziest crowd i’ve ever seen. I love how the boys tried to give attention to as many fans as they could including the ones all the way in the back. They made sure no one was left out and everyone felt like they were a part of the event. The crowd calmed down to sing along beautifully to Little Things. 

The boys like to highlight their hardworking crew. On the first day they sang Happy birthday to Sally and on the second day they sang to Toby. Harry was the official birthday chair. They were even so proud to share another song that their band members practiced playing which was a cover of I Will Survive. 

For the encore One Direction sang You and I, Little White Lies, and Best Song Ever. Facing the end of the concert and having to say goodbye to the boys was heartbreaking. However, the impressive fireworks show that ended the concert left a smile on everyone’s faces. So one more show to go for the British Invasion. Sam Smith is up next and i’m sure it will be perfect! 

[mmilived]

Ed Sheeran @ SM MOA Arena Mar.12.2015

The British Invasion continues with yet another great performance! Ed Sheeran with a guitar in the middle of a stage is all you need. Just when I thought his songs couldn’t get any better, I had the pleasure of hearing him live. Everything about him is amazing from his vocals and rapping to the laid back and comfortable vibe he has on stage.

He sang nonstop song to song without an intermission. Transitions were on point and everyone couldn’t hide how impressed they were. He mixed his songs with Hip-Hop covers such as No Diggity and even changed Chris Brown’s lyrics to “these girls ain’t loyal”. His voice filled up the arena and his rapping was so smooth. 

The talent of Ed Sheeran can bring together people of different genders and ages. He sang Stevie Wonder’s Superstition with his song Take It Back. His songs are enjoyable for everyone. He played both acoustic and electric guitars. He even used his guitar as a drum for a beat.

The graphics complimented his songs well. They weren’t your ordinary concert graphics. They were very artsy and told stories. Even the live feed of Ed Sheeran on the screens had different filters. The lights were very well thought of as they followed the tempo with colors matching the mood of the song.

I love how the crowd appreciated and listened to the songs. They were a great audience with lights waving along to the music and clapping on beat. It was hard to figure out the crowd’s favorite number of the setlist because they were singing their hearts out to every song. However, it was exceptionally beautiful when the crowd sang along to Tenerife Sea with the lyrics “Lumiere, darling. Lumiere over me.” echoing throughout the venue. My personal favorite of the night was the first encore song, You Need Me, I Don’t Need You, with Ed Sheeran layering instruments, beats, and vocals. He made it into a medley with In Da Club and Fancy. It was the best encore i’ve heard. 

Ed Sheeran said he didn’t want to leave the Philippines and that it was the best reception he’s ever gotten. He really puts his all into his performances. The crowd refused to leave and they were still singing along to the tune he had them follow before he left the stage. The expectations of the sold out concert were definitely met and surpassed!

[mmilived]

The Vamps @ SM MOA Arena Feb.01.2015

Part two of the British Invasion was a party with The Vamps. They opened with a great impact. Suspense was built up with lights and a drum beat. 

The venue was filled with energetic fans. From the moment The Vamps stepped on stage all the girls couldn't contain themselves. I haven't seen a crowd that crazy yet. They were screaming when the band called them beautiful and told them that they were the loudest crowd they ever played for. 

Brad Simpson(lead vocals/guitar), James McVey(lead guitar/vocals), Connor Ball(bass guitar/vocals), and Tristan Evans(drums/vocals) are the ones who can be held responsible if ever you were around the area and were wondering what all the commotion was about. Brad's talent had us in awe as he was able to play every instrument at some point during the concert. Tristan's drum solo was amazing and even guys in the crowd looked impressed. 

They transitioned their original songs into covers effortlessly. They covered songs by Bruno Mars, Kanye West, Taylor Swift, All Time Low, Fall Out Boy, and My Chemical Romance. People can appreciate their talent because they showed that they can perform different genres. 

They showed their love for the Philippines by wearing Pilipinas Jerseys. They even had the Philippine flag included in their graphics and tried to say Filipino words such as Salamat. By the end of the concert I think we were the ones thanking them for such a great performance and we were left wanting more.

If this is what the second part of the invasion looks and sounds like...then I can't wait to see the two day craziness with One Direction! Even before that there's still Ed Sheeran. This is gonna be one eventful year. 

[mmilived]

The 1975 @ SM MOA Arena Jan.24.2015

So how did part one of the British Invasion go? It was perfect. The 1975 had it off to a great start. Fans all around were "dressed in black from head to toe".

The 1975 is an indie rock band. It consists of Matt Healy (vocals, guitar), Adam Hann (guitar), George Daniel (drums, backing vocals), and Ross MacDonald (bass). They've been playing together since they were teenagers. 

If I wasn't a fan before, I am definitely one now. They're the type of band you really need to see live. You can tell how passionate they are about their music and how much they love to share it with others. 

Of course Matt Healy had girls swooning. That voice, hair, and accent...who wouldn't go crazy over him? He really made sure to connect with the audience. There were times when he wanted everyone to put away their gadgets so he could see everyone's faces. He encouraged people to enjoy the moment and not just through a phone which I agree is an important reminder these days. 

The band had the audience on their feet throughout the whole concert. Everyone was constantly excited for each song. The crowd couldn't wait to sing along to "Chocolate". It's one of their hit songs. Personally, I loved "Fallingforyou" and "Girls".

They ended the concert with some good news: they're finishing another album with a plan to come back to Manila. So if you didn't get enough of them...they still have more in store for us!

[mmilived]

Jason Mraz and Raining Jane @ Smart Araneta Coliseum Nov.27.2014

Two words to describe this concert. GOOD VIBES. Everything about a Jason Mraz concert makes you happy. You don’t even have to know the songs to appreciate his talent. The music is just that good with lyrics full of optimism and hope. 

Performing alongside Raining Jane made it even better. Their harmonies were perfect. Jason Mraz even made a joke saying “I’ve always wanted to be in girl band.” 

He took us on a journey through his music and breathtaking graphics. Everything was well planned and in sync. You can never watch his concert enough times because each one is different. He always sings his songs in unique ways.

His vocals are a whole other story on its own. He even surprised everyone with his angelic opera singing. I definitely did not see that coming. He can do it all from scatting to falsetto while playing instruments such as the guitar, ukelele, and piano. He can speed up the tempo in songs like “The Dynamo of Volition” or slow them down in emotional songs like “I Won’t Give Up”.

I love the way he interacted with the audience having them sing and dance along with him. “I’m Yours” is still a favorite of the crowd. He encouraged people to plant trees and told them about life changing experiences. He even has a great sense of humor which had us laughing throughout the night. I’m sure everyone left with a smile on their face.