Songs for and from the heart: Boyce Avenue alongside December Avenue and I Belong To The Zoo serenaded the Filipinos for a brimming post-Valentine’s Day show at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last February 16, 2020. This also marks the end of their very successful Asian Tour. Earlier in the week, they have performed in Pangasinan, Cebu, and Davao to the delight of their fans from different regions.
 |
| Songs from the heart last night. Photo credit: April Ann De Guzman |
I Belong to the Zoo opened the night with their melancholic hits Balang Araw, Patawad Paalam and Sana. Vocalist Argee Guererro admits that most of their songs are sad, some are even from past experiences making the crowd relate to the songs’ sincerity even more.
Parang tangang kausap ang tala at buwan
Naghihintay ng meron sa gitna ng kawalan
Natutong lumipad kahit pagod at sugatan
Pag-ahon ko sa lupa'y iiwanan na naman
- Balang Araw, I Belong To The Zoo
Following Zoo’s lead is December Avenue who’s main vocalist Zel Baustista even lamented, “Kung di ka masasaktan, hindi mo malalaman kung hanggang saan ang kaya mo.” (If there’s no pain, you won’t know your capabilities.”) Pain is necessary. Then comes the healing.
Lovers and spectators alike sang along to Kahit Di Mo Alam, Dahan-Dahan and Huling Sandali. The band dedicated Ears and Rhymes to all the lovers and reminded the crowd that even though 2019 is full of hurt and people leaving, 2020 is about moving forward and should be spent more on loving ourselves.
December Avenue finished their set with performances of the crowd favorites Kung Di Rin Lang Ikaw and Sa Ngalan Ng Pag-Ibig.
Boyce Avenue then takes the centerstage by hyping the crowd up with their original song called Hear Me Now. Armed not only with covers but originals as well, brothers Alejandro, Daniel and Fabian Manzano then did what they do best: performing acoustic performances that tug strings to the heart.
Singling out “Broken Angel”, a song written by lead singer Alejandro is about a friend who had a broken relationship with her father. The singer sang about moving on, reasoning how people deserve better than to be treated a certain way.
According to the group, they have been performing for the past few years in the Philippines that it almost feels like a tradition to have a show in the country come Valentines’ season and still, they are being overwhelmed by the support of the Filipinos; the unwavering love for acoustic music never grows old.
As if charming the crowd with their vocals isn’t enough, the Florida natives proceeded to perform Oasis’ Wonderwall while uplugging all of their instruments, increasing the acoustic energy even more, something that they don’t normally do given a huge venue and crowd. Their sound was amplified by the crowd loudly singing along making this performance a hands down highlight of the night.
Another highlight of the show is the mini-collab stages with the vocalists Argee (I Belong To The Zoo) and Zel (December Avenue) as they performed covers of Say You Won’t Let Go and A Thousand Years respectively.
The boys ended the night with Goo Goo Dolls’ Iris.
THE SET LIST
Hear Me Now
Wake Me Up
Cinderella
Every Breath You Take
Torn/Castle on the Hill
Queen of Hearts
Imperfect Me
Bitter Sweet Symphony
Broken Angel
Family
Say You Won’t Let Go (with I Belong To The Zoo)
A Thousand Years (with Zel Bautista of December Avenue)
Fast Car
Ride the Wave
A Sky Full of Stars
Story of my Life
Can’t Help Falling In Love
Perfect
Anchor
ENCORE
On My Way
Wonderwall (Unplugged)
Iris
The Boyce Avenue Philippine Tour is presented by Wilbros Live.
Words by April Ann De Guzman
Boyce Avenue photos by Mike Yap
Words by April Ann De Guzman
Boyce Avenue photos by Mike Yap