The disastrous rains of August did not dampen the spirit of the Smashing Pumpkins, Snow Patrol, and Tears for Fears as they soldiered on to deliver memorable performances in Manila. In the process, they earned the goodwill of Filipino music fans.
In September, it’s business as usual in the live music scene as Manila welcomes an influx of foreign acts. From Maroon 5 to the Idols Tour (10 acts in total) to a slew of punk and emo bands, we counted 24 acts in all invading our shores.
On Sept. 14, current U.K. pop sensation The Wanted will perform live at the NBC Tent in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. The five-man crew is best known for their more recent hits "Glad You Came" and "Chasing The Sun."
Maroon 5 sold out
Maroon 5 will be taking their Overexposed Tour on Sept. 18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The American pop-rock band fronted by the irrepressible Adam Levine will draw from their latest album which has been described to be a collection of anthemic songs with passionate melodies. Alternative rock band The Cab will open. Tickets are now sold out.
The well-loved Christian band Starfield will return to spread the good news. They will be performing in Cebu on Sept. 18, Iolilo on Sept. 20 and Pampanga on Sept. 22.
Idols Live Tour 2012 will make its Manila stop on Sept. 21, 8 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The extravaganza will feature current Idol winner, Phillip Phillips, and 9 other finalists to the show’s 11th season, including first runner-up Jessica Sanchez.
Tonight Alive will unleash their pop-punk magic on September 22, 6 p.m. at the SM North Sky Dome. The 5-piece band from Sydney, Australia played the entire stretch of the Vans Warped Tour 2012 so they’ve got some serious cred going for them.
Blues, punk and emo
Bluesman Joe Bonnassa is presenting the Guitar Event of the Year on Sept. 22 at One Esplanade in SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City. Bonamassa’s playing bears the strong influence of Steve Ray Vaughn and B. B. King. Guitar Player Magazine named him Best Blues Guitarist in 2007 and 2008, while Blues Wax magazine honored him with its Artist of the Year award for an unprecedented three times.
Under the banner of Bazooka Rocks!, a bevy of punk-pop and emo bands from the U.S. of A will descend at the SMX Convention Center on Sept. 30. Dubbed the country’s first indoor rock festival, the show will feature The Pretty Reckless, Mayday Parade, Marianas Trench, A Skylit Drive, Forever the Sickest Kids, The Maine, Avastera, and The Wonder Years. Local rock warriors Robin Nievera, Penguin, and Salamin will open.
It should be a September to remember and, hopefully, nothing in the order of Ondoy’s fury back in 2009—except in a musical sense, of course.
