Lifehouse Live in Manila 2012

           

           When Lifehouse first came here back in 2008, I really wanted to watch their show but all the odds are against me. I just graduated from college. I was jobless and I was preparing myself for the board exam. I deprived myself of a lot of things --sleep, watching basketball games live, watching movies and watching concerts. I was afraid that if I indulged myself with too much happiness, something bad and sad will come next like not passing the board exam which at that time was THE GOAL for me. So to cut the story short, I didn't get to see them.

          All the luck came before 2008 ends. I passed the exam and I got a job. I can now afford to be happy, literally and figuratively. 2009 and 2010 passed. Then 2011, April, one of my favorite bands came. The Script. It was the best concert for me. Then my all-time favorite group, Westlife, also came last September. My music life is almost complete. Except for one, Lifehouse.

          2012 started and I have only one wish/condition/new year's resolution. That is, I will only watch a concert if and only if The Script, Westlife and Lifehouse will come back. Come March, I got the news that Lifehouse is coming back. I was so excited that I was again willing to see   them S-O-L-O. But my friends wanted to see them too so, fine! Upper B. But I really wanted to see Jason up close so what I did was, I looked up on the internet, specifically www.sulit.com.ph for a better ticket deal and I found one. Upper A at a discounted price of Php 1,800 from the original Php 2,650. Great deal right? It was bogus! And I won't waste a portion of my blog for those pathetic people behind it.

         Due to timely checking of their fanpage, I found out that they will hold a CD signing in SM Manila, Friday before their show on Saturday. And working in Makati is not really an advantage to get to the venue before 5pm. So I worked my butt off to be able to spend my Friday in one of our sites in Manila and begged a friend to accompany me to the event. After the hardwork and the begging, the event was cancelled. Nice (insert sarcastic tone here)! But I think it was a blessing that it got cancelled. It was rescheduled the following day.

         May 26. Concert day! One of my friends/officemates texted me the night before that she wanted to attend the CD signing too. Good. Companion won't be a problem anymore. The event will be at 1pm so we agreed to meet at 12nn. Before leaving the house, I again checked their fanpage to see if it will push through. Positive. But instead of CD signing, it will be a meet and greet. I thought, fine! Better than nothing. I was actually more concerned that my companion might not want to spend a dime to get inside the venue. I was surprised when I found her already inside the event activity center waving at me. Why do I worry myself for things that should not be a problem in the first place? ^_^ Obviously, we both are fans.

           The band came at around 1:30 to 2pm. I can't really remember the exact time. Late or not, it doesn't matter. As soon as we saw the security and the event organizers hovering, we knew that it's time. The band has arrived! The funny thing was, the crowd outside of the barricades were the ones screaming the loudest. Tsk! Tsk! People.

           It was my first time to see Jay (and the rest of the band) in person. They were 6-feet away. How about that? At that part of the day I already feel accomplished. Complete. Satisfied. Not knowing of the good things that are still to come. I had no idea that they will be giving away tickets and meet and greet passes at the event. I just found out after I entered the place. And knowing me, winning at contests based on luck is not really my friend. 

         When the band arrived, they started calling out names of the 20 winners of the Upper B tickets. During that time, I was busy taking pictures and I had a short moment of hallucination. I thought I heard Jason called my name. So I followed the line of the winners. But the organizers asked us to go back to our seats as the band was leaving for we will be called again to claim our prizes. So the band left. The fans settled down. The just-curious crowd disappeared. As we were told, the names were once again called and that was the time I have confirmed that I was hallucinating. But thanks to the fans who I suspected followed the band when they left. Some of the winners called were not present to claim their prize so they draw another name and my friend was called. Yey! I was genuinely happy for her and not expecting anything though I know that the 20 winners of the meet and greet passes are not yet determined. Again, draw lots isn't really my game. But as I was waiting for her to claim the prize, the organizers started calling out the names of the winners of backstage passes. Charina Fernandez. F! That's me! I asked her, "I was called, right?". Just confirming. No Jason, no hallucination ^_^

           After the SM Manila event, we went straight to Cubao and killed some time chatting, eating and comparing scores of boys haha! Come 8 o'clock, the bogus seller of the imaginary ticket haven't showed up yet so we decided to have a "quick dinner" at KFC. If she decided to stand us up (if it's not yet what it is) then we will buy from the ticket booth. That is the only option we have. We let one friend in so she can update us what was happening inside. She was worried to miss the opening but I for myself know that the show doesn't start at exactly 8pm. Especially when there is a front act. In this case it was Never the Strangers. The band who sang Moving Closer from Close Up commercial. By 8:30pm she was texting us that we should get in and the front act had announced that it was their last song. Still I wasn't worried. The Lifehouse crew will have to re-arrange the stage and test the instruments before showtime. But we decided to purchase the tickets anyway and give up on Kate (you know who you are, sham!)

          The lights are still on when we get in. But it's all good. At least I have time to compose myself before I lose control of my fan mode. 9 on the dot, SHOWTIME!!!

         I can't remember who came in first but I think it was either Ben or Bryce slaying the guitar or the bass. Then Jason materialize in the middle of the stage singing something I do not know! Haha! But I can hear him singing the words ♪♫♪ ladies and gentlemen ♪♫♪. I'm not sure if it's really a song-song but who cares anyway? Everybody is excited so the crowd responded as if it was the number one hit of the band. But I still consider All In as their first song. Followed by Here Tomorrow Gone Today. Both are from their Smoke and Mirrors album. Then Jay made the biggest compliment a band could ever say to their fans, "our show here 4 years ago was the highlight of our career", now I feel bad. I wasn't there :-( Don't do that Jay! And then he bounced back with, "and I believe you could all do better tonight. Yeah?" Well done! I forgive you now keep playing. My friend's request Spin was played, followed by Nerve Damage. Then holy cow! He went down the stage shaking people's hands while singing. Girls gone gaga as if he was naked. Everybody wanted to touch him like a Jason Wade devout. Everybody wants to take a picture of him like a paparazzi. He almost reached the Lower Box section and I think he was willing to go farther if only the bouncers and the guards let him. Darn security, he was looking for me don't you know that? LOL! When he couldn't find me ^_^ he went back to the stage and sing the ever popular You and Me. It used to be the "national anthem" of the Lifehouse fans. Followed by another love song Whatever It Takes. And just like every Filipino, if you know the song, sing along. Jason? Jason? Woohooo? He disappeared! Haha! Okay. Maybe he just doesn't want to steal the spotlight from Bryce because the latter was about to sing Wrecking Ball. Good move. But seriously, I was looking for him while Bryce was singing. But I definitely have a vivid vision of B every time I hear the song now. 

          After being MIA, Jay showed up with his acoustic guitar. Ben, Bryce and Rick left him alone up there. Or in our case, down there hehe. The spotlight is all his so is the next 10 minutes of the show. It was and still is my second favorite part of the show. He was like a music box, a jukebox, a music machine. Just tell him any Lifehouse song that you want to hear and he will play it and sing it for you. It was so intimate for me. You know how it is when inside a small bar or restaurant and an acoustic band is playing in front? That's how I felt. The only difference is, Jason is one sexy musician at your service LOL. He sang bits of the songs Storm, Everything, my favorite Blind, Breathing, Sick Cycle Carousel and From Where You Are. His reaction to the crowd's response is so precious. Just precious.

          Wash and Take Me Away was played next and it was like a breather to me but not for them. It was time to rock it out! I don't know if it's just me but Stanley Climbfall is my least favorite Lifehouse album. Then it's time to sing another anthem, Hanging by a Moment and then their hits back to back to back which got the crowd singing along and swaying their lighting sticks from left to right like worshipers. Then Jay started acknowledging Rick, Bryce and Ben before they bid goodbye. You know how bands do it when the show is about to end. But we ain't first timers. We know you're coming back because we want moooooorrreee!!! Keep chanting people. They have to come back ^_^ For more than 5 minutes, people are screaming, yelling, chanting and begging for them to comeback and of course they did with Bryce saying that the Philippines is their favorite country to play in the entire world. I don't know if that was sincere but what the heck! I believe you, B. Encore is the best part of the show and people are up on their feet, most of them at least, and I am Halfway Gone to insanity. And when the intro for Everything started playing? OH.MY.GOSH! That was my most possessed moment. I thought they won't be playing it again because Jason already sang it during the 10-minute-medley but they did and I'm glad. I remember Colton Dixon of American Idol Season 11 singing it and I'm sorry C but for me, nothing beats the original. My mind is closed like that. You can keep trying though.

          Right after the song, I badly wanted to grab somebody else's binocular and check J, B, B and R's reaction as they were taking their final bows,  thanking the crowd and waving goodbye. I hope we lived to their expectations because they've exceeded mine. I didn't talk about Jay's singing because it wasn't necessary. It was effortless. It was flawless. That's what I like about this band. There are no recording tricks. What you hear is real. I just noticed something, Jay loves rocking with his leather shoes on. Not your usual sneaker guy.

           Crap! Have I been talking that long? Sorry about that. Immediately after the show, I went down straight to the backstage to line up for the meet and greet. I'm touched that they are still willing to accommodate fans even after a tiring almost-two-hour performance. It was a brief meet and greet. Very brief. No cameras allowed. No autograph signing. Just hand shakes. Hi-Hello. How are you? Look into the camera. Say cheese. Thank you. Bye. Yes, that brief. But I swear, it was the most surreal i-don't-know-if-that-even-reached-2-minutes of my life. And since I was the first in line in our group, I rushed into that space between Jason and Rick. I wasn't even able to reply to Rick's how-are-you greeting. But I remember I was able to tell Bryce that he was amazing. With Jason, I think I swallowed my tongue and just wish my shame followed it maybe then I could've asked him if I could give him a hug. Pffff! Regrets. My only consolation is that I was able to touch his sexy back and caress it a bit. Okay. That was inappropriate. A moment of perversion. LOL!

         As of now I am still waiting for Dayly Entertainment to post the pictures and I will not be surprised if I found myself sparkling in sweat and glitter, big smile, blocked by another fan and hair everywhere. Poise is not really my priority when standing right next to one of my biggest crushes. May 26 maybe a long day for me but I'll treasure that day as one of my luckiest days. Well, perhaps except for one thing. They didn't play my favorite song It Is What It Is. But all is well. My heart as well.

          I just hope they'll never get tired of coming back here and they will always see the Philippines as special. I hope they come back soon. Release a new album and do another world tour. Perhaps in two or three years. Maybe in a couple of years, I'll be rich enough to afford myself a VIP ticket and I can buy a couple of extra for my friends :-) Who knows!? When that time comes maybe Jason is single again and he will finally set his beautiful green eyes on me and sing to me the sweetest Lifehouse song ever!... Owww-key! That's my cue. Time to wake up. The dream is over. -C

Meet and Greet picture c/o Dayly Entertainment

Complete Setlist:
1. All In
2. Here Tomorrow Gone Today
3. Spin
4. Nerve Damage
5. You and Me
6. Whatever It Takes
7. Wrecking Ball
8. Jason Wade Medley (Storm, Everything, Blind, Breathing, Sick Cycle Carousel, From Where You Are)
9. Wash
10. Take Me Away
11. Hanging By A Moment
12. Falling In
13. First Time
14. Broken

Encore:
15. Halfway Gone
16. Everything