Foreign Acts
Just recently, I got a chance to be a part of the exclusive press presentation of the two major foreign acts here in Manila—emorock band Fall Out Boy and American Idol alumnus Elliot Yamin. They were definitely hot and fresh, and gave amazing performances for their Filipino fans when they were here.
At first, Fall Out Boy didn’t ring a bell for me. It was nice to know them through their music and mind you, it wasn’t the usual rowdy type but rather a more passionate pop slash rock group. They don’t mind joining the pop bandwagon stereotypes. They write catchy songs that can sound cheesy sometimes, but if you listen well, you might be surprised with what the band has to offer.
Shots from the Fall Out Boy press con at Discovery Suites
Aside from admitting that they’re self-proclaimed nerds, the Fall Out Boy Band is intense. They’re also passionate about nature and environment. One thing that’s very admirable with the band is that they shot one of their music videos in Africa. Exciting, isn’t it? Well, the band members would like to step out of the ordinary, looking at the way they package themselves and their music. It’s very obvious that this band has gone a long way.
Their two-night gigs at the big dome were one of the most awaited performances for this year. I heard that the concert was all sold out since a lot of their fans lined up for tickets. I’m sure people sang “Thnks fr th Mmrs” for them.
On the other hand, world-renowned vocalist Elliot Yamin was such an exciting treat for the Rn’B and soul fanatics. It’s surprising to know that Elliot has a long list of songs that has an everlasting effect to its listeners like his radio hit single from his first album, “Wait For You”. No wonder Filipinos can’t get enough of him. With the way he sings his heart out, Elliot’s a crooner with a whiskey-soaked tenor timbre.
At the press conference, Elliot also deeply expressed his intense musicality through his songs, some of which were not popular, yet memorable. Some people from the music industry describe his every performance incomparably soulful. I guess he really deserves the way American Idol judge Simon Cowell described him during his stint as “potentially the best male vocalist in the history of American Idol”.