The Cab Live at Ayala Malls

INTRODUCTION TO THE CAB

          It was sometime in May when I first heard of The Cab's Endlessly and right then and there, I decided I'm in love with their music. Little did I know that I've been playing their song, Falling Up, in my iPod since I discovered Claude Kelly's compositions a little over two years ago.

THE CAB LIVE IN MANILA?

          I listen to their songs with blatant admiration and was openly wishing for the band to visit the Philippines when an officemate told me that they were here just a few months ago, March to be specific, for the Smash Project. They performed a mini-concert together with the other bands like Dashboard Confessional and Cobra Starship. O $h!+ I missed that one? Well, to be fair, I don't know them yet then. So after that, I was wishing for them to come back but that I know is going to be a long time if not impossible. Let's face it! They're not that big (yet) and God knows I'm waiting for them to be a big name in the music industry.

THE CAB OPENING FOR MAROON 5

         Last June, I came from a dinner when I checked  my twitter account and saw "Any The Cab fans here?" tweet from Dayly Entertainment. I was so stoked I can't wait for the official announcement. I was anticipating a mall tour since I don't think they can fill Araneta yet. Honestly, I was a bit disappointed when I found out they will only be opening for Maroon 5. Admit it, we Filipinos are a bit oblivious, if not hostile, to front acts. And I want a solid The Cab fans screaming for them. But I cannot risk losing another chance to seeing them perform live. So even if I am not so excited with Maroon 5 (which I eventually did), I volunteered to accompany an officemate to the concert. General Admission will be fine since I'm only after the front act. (We ended up watching with two more oficemates --the more the merrier they say).

       Days passed and we were still undecided which ticket section to buy. News came that tickets are almost sold out and GenAd is the only section available. Well, I guess there's no need for argument. The situation decided for us and left us without a choice. Good thing we didn't waste any time after that because days after purchasing online, tickets were sold out. Sold like hot pancakes.

THE CAB MALL SHOWS
 

        Weeks before the big day (Sept 18), The Cab fanpage posted a link. "Free shows in Manila". I swear, it made my day that I had to share it as if all of my Facebook friends give a damn. I don't care if they don't care. My wish was granted and that's all that matters.

THE CONCERT - OVEREXPOSED TOUR

 
         I walked inside the coliseum more prepared for the front act than the main act. 8:03 when the band started playing and I begin to recognize the intro of Temporary Bliss. Honestly, I didn't expect such a warm welcome from the Maroon 5 concert goers. I guess I'm not the only lost soldier there. I can clearly hear the people singing along to their songs. Wow! I am too negative, am I not? I was up on my feet as soon as the band started playing. Singing along and oblivious of my friends and the people around me. I love their songs and I will sing along. They performed Bounce which they also sang last March (I've seen videos on Youtube to answer that question in your mind). Moreover, they did sing three of my favorites --Bad, Endlessly and La La. The latter is such a fun song to sing along with during a live performance. Don't forget to jump and throw your hands in the air while following the beat. They also sang Animal which they co-wrote with the boys from Maroon 5. But then a 30-minute invasion is enough and people are anxious to see Adam Levine. Give 'em what they want.

SETLIST:

 
Temporary Bliss
Bad
Bounce
Endlessly
Animal
La la

FREE SHOW

            As if these guys are never coming back, I was present in two of three of their free shows. If only I haven't bought the ticket to the American Idol Tour, I could've completed all three shows. Sadly, I can never be in two places at the same time.

ALABANG TOWN CENTER (ATC)

 
            At 4:30 while we were en route to ATC, I was a bit nervous because I forgot to check the details regarding the free show. According to my forgetful mind, it will start at 4pm and calculating the time, it would be too late once we reach the venue. Good thing, I was wrong (probably the only thing good about being wrong). Since we were not familiar with the place, we asked the guard where the activity area is not knowing that there are two of them in ATC. So we were directed to the badminton event. Really? Good thing the concierge is just around the corner. The problem was... to avail the ticket, we have to present a Php 1,000 worth of food purchase (each!). How the hell am I supposed to consume that? As the criminal minds that we always are, we decided to just ask for receipts from the enumerated food establishments. First stop, Italianni's. To our delight, the lady gave us Php 6,000 worth of accumulated receipts! Cool! I guess we don't need anymore begging. And who said we begged??? :)
 
          Fifteen minutes before the show starts, we are in! People are already singing along to the songs being played (The Cab songs of course). And as if on cue, the screen showed some of the artists who had performed at Ayala Malls like Dashboard Confessional, Train, Mike Posner, The Maine, We the Kings, A+ Dropouts, Forever the Sickest Kid and a bunch of artists/groups I have never heard of. I was surprised that everybody in the crowd knows all of them and all the songs. And I mean everybody! That was the very first time I felt so outcasted in a concert/show. It was a moment of shame. My friend and I were surrounded by teenagers and not just teenagers, but coño teenagers. Fangirling over The Cab is our only common denominator.

        "And now we bring you, The Cab!" are the words that everybody is waiting for before pandemonium. Temporary Bliss opened the show and monoblock chairs are not very much welcome. Maybe to step onto but not to sit on. Take My Hand followed and then my favorite, Bad. It was written, according to Alex De Leon, for the bad girls out there because nobody wants a girl that is boring. I was like ????? While singing, he grabbed an iPhone from the audience and video-ed himself and the crazy crowd which made the fans even crazier. Furthermore, he grabbed a poster from the crowd that says "Bad Girlz" with an arrow pointing to the girls. Insane! 

            The fifth song that they performed is dedicated to all their fans whom they call #SOLDIERS because we fight  for what we love just like real soldiers who fight for their country. The song is Angel With A Shotgun-What Makes You Beautiful-Teenage Dream mash-up. Their "last song", Endlessly, is a love song which they co-wrote with Bruno Mars. It is their "last song" (which De Leon kept emphasizing the " ") but they will come back if we miss them. Then turning back and showing us his right hand with fingers-crossed. Hahaha! That was cute! The love song ended. De Leon was the last one to leave the stage and he hasn't even left yet when the people started yelling "we want more!".

         After a few, very few minutes, Dave (the drummer) is back in his throne doing the Bounce beat. Then Chantry showed up, Joey showed up, Marshall showed up and De Leon took the stage and we are back to chaos, jumping up and down to ♪♫♪ bounce, bounce, baby, bounce back to me ♪♫♪ De Leon ignited the crowd even more by letting us sing the Intoxicated acapella version before he decided on Living Louder. The real last song, another favorite of mine, was La La. Again, it's really a fun fun song.

           The show lasted for an hour and they left the stage for the second time to take a breather before the meet and greet. I had no idea that it will be very open to viewers. Open and intimate at the same time. All the band members lined up in front of the stage while the winners give them hugs and occasionally kisses. Some gave them gifts while some wanted something off them (like Marshall's dog tag and De Leon's beanie). I stood in one corner envious of the girls who got to talk, shake-hands, hug and kiss those guys. I've witnessed how warm, sincere and sweet they are to their fans. And I've never seen any other band who can be that genuine to their supporters. Especially a foreign band. They are just so lovable and they really pay attention to the conversation. I saw Marshall exerting an effort to read young girls' notes, and explain to every fan why he can't give away his dog tag. Those whispering in the ear of every girl who wanted it was painfully hard for me to see. It looks like he's kissing them on the temple. Really! Joey took time to sit at the edge of the stage to chat with some excited fans. He didn't even remove the head dress that a fan gave him. He was so cute wearing it! De Leon moved closer to the fans who cannot enter the restricted area. He gave away his bottle of water. For the fans, a bottle of water from your most favorite person is EVERYTHING. Chantry was always trying to cheer up the fans and Dave was bear-hugging everyone. I can go on and on telling you how sweet they are and this entry will never end.

GLORIETTA
 

           I decided to come earlier hoping to get a meet and greet pass only to be disappointed that even the general admission tickets are gone. Sad sad news :'( But to compensate, I was already in the area trying out a beanie when I heard the screaming girls and the band playing. I was surprised to see the band on stage at 2:30. I thought the show doesn't start until 6:30? Oh, it was a sound check. Good. At least I saw Marshall and Joey up close. There's one thing that irritates me though. There are a lot of people watching who don't have  any idea who The Cab is. USI(sero)!!! Gossip whores! Worst thing is, they are occupying the good seats and the real fans are left at the back trying to peek in between people's head. I don't get it! How can you stand, waiting and  watching for hours without even knowing who the performer is? I don't know if it's a Filipino thing or it's also the same outside the Philippines but please, just please, give way to the real fans. I even heard a man saying "ah yung bagong version ng F4". Dude, really??? Jeez! Where'd he get that idea? They're not even four-piece.

          Anyways, I didn't take note of the setlist because it was the same in ATC, same coño-teenager fans, same spiel from De Leon. One girl got so lucky that Sunday night though. De Leon invited her on stage while singing Endlessly (if I remember it right). Joey danced with her, Marshall played the piano with her by his side (perfect place to be). Chantry hugged her and De Leon kissed her. Very lucky girl.

          I left while the meet and greet is ongoing. I can't stand the sight of Marshall kissing girls' temple and embracing them tightly. It really breaks my heart. That should be me he's hugging and kissing. If only chances wasn't so bad. I could've thrown myself at him and got my five seconds of heaven. Too bad it had to be my last glance of him. - C

SETLIST:
Temporary Bliss
Take My Hand
Bad
Animal
Angel With A Shotgun
Endlessly
Intoxicated (acapella)
Living Louder
Bounce
La La

Maroon 5 Overexposed Tour Manila

      No backpacks allowed. No umbrellas allowed. Jeez! This is news to me. I've been watching shows from the general admission section and security have never been this difficult. But forget whatever happened before the show and enjoy whatever will happen during the show.

       The Cab opened the night with a 30-minute show at exactly 8:00pm singing six of their hits as follows:

 
Temporary Bliss
Bad
Bounce
Endlessly
Animal
La la

      Stage was re-arranged. Instruments were tested. Sound was checked. And the crowd was anxious. Screaming to every change of light color. Squealing for every person to come up on stage only to find out that he is just a crew. And finally at 9:15, five people appeared on stage but all eyes are on that hot hot man singing Payphone. The girls and the gays went wild and the guys, I can't tell. They are tight-lipped, pretending not to be excited and watch Adam Levine as if they see him everyday. Pretenders!!! For all I know, the UNFAIR word is echoing inside their head.

         The first song was followed by more hits from the band --Makes Me Wonder,  Sunday Morning, If I Never See Your Face Again and Won't Go Home Without You. While Adam kept showcasing not just his almost girly voice, not just his sexy dance, not just his ability to make love to the stage but also his guitar skills. It's very apt that he sang Harder to Breathe because it's getting harder and harder to breathe.

          During the Wake Up Call, Adam played the red guitar and used it to take a quick break and breathe. They sang three more songs and people sing along as if all of them are anthems.

          He then introduced his band mates which is a cue that it is almost the end. However, I didn't understand a thing that he said except for"thank you" and "Philippines". I guess the sound system is really bad up there and Adam's voice can only travel so far. Plus the crowd kept screaming every time he speaks as if he is asking them to. So when he sang This Love, whatever flaws you hear, you just wouldn't care and no matter how far you are, you just wouldn't mind.

          During the encore, Adam came back and took over the drums. Wow! This guys is talented. Playing the drums while singing. Not everybody can do that. I want to say that it is so sick but I know a Filipino vocalist who can do the same and not just monotonous drum beat but a full-body-drumming rock song.

            Anyway, Adam's satisfaction is visible on his face. Seeing him smiling is like a contagious disease, you will find yourself infected and incurable. An old hit was followed by another, an acoustic version of She Will Be Loved. Then they shifted to a newer song called Stereo Hearts. He sang both his and Gym Class Heroes' part. Yes, he did rap. Earlier he sang Rihanna's part in If I Never See Your Face and now this. Oh boy, what else can you ask from him?

         Daylight was performed next and it was fun singing to the ♪♫♪  oh-woooh-oh ♪♫♪ part. He was like a leader and we are his worshippers. We sing whatever he sang. We do whatever he tells us to.

       Before the last song, he did some exhibition with Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back and the newest craze Ooppa Gangnam Style. I thought he was going to dance. But I was disappointed and I know I wasn't alone. Moving on, of course they cannot leave the country without singing the anthem, Moves Like Jagger. Guess what? He sang Christina Aguilera's part. Are you still surprised? Now we know he can sing the phonebook.

          In the end, it doesn't matter which part of the crowd you are as long as you can see Adam making love to the stage, you'll be fine. As long as you can hear his almost girly voice, you'll be entertained.

          The only disappointment I believe would be the fact that he didn't take his shirt off. That would have completed that steamy night. And to end this, let me borrow a quote from Will Smith, just because summer's over doesn't mean that we can't be hot. -C

SETLIST:

 
Payphone
Makes Me Wonder
Lucky Strike
Sunday Morning
If I Never See Your Face Again
Wipe Your Eyes
Won't Go Home Without You
Harder to Breath
Wake Up Call
One More Night
Put Your Hands All Over Me
Misery
This Love

ENCORE:
 

She Will Be Loved (acoustic)
Stereo Hearts
Daylight
Don't You Want Me
Moves Like Jagger

For The Foxes

          Checking RX 93.1's music chart has been a weekly routine for me since I started listening to the station. When I see unfamiliar songs, I'll look it up on youtube. So I typed in 'The River by For The Foxes' and I heard the song playing and I must say it's a good stuff. I like the voice I'm hearing. And almost always, when that happens to me, I automatically downloads the album of the artist. Because I can listen to any alien songs as long as I like the voice of the singer. This time, I searched for another song and I found this...

 

          My initial reaction was, "the vocalist looks like Asian. Is he a Filipino?". Well, Filipino or not. It doesn't matter. He's good and that's all that matters. Make more good music and I will be a fan :) -C