Graphics by Alanis Baron
Are you looking for somebody to love? Look no further, as the British alternative pop band The 1975 has returned to Manila!
The 1975: At Their Very Best World Tour came to the Philippines, playing for their Filipino fans for two monumental days last May 3 and 4, 2023, at the SM MOA Arena, Pasay City. And I was there for Day 1 to experience the true definition of Happiness.
As I got to Mall of Asia, I immediately saw people in black and white outfits (like me), most of them recreating the suit looks that Truman Black himself, Matty Healy, would wear for the show. It was the vibe check of the year! At that moment, I knew it was going to be something special.
As the gates opened by 6 pm, the excited fans swarmed the Marina Way entrance as they were about to see their favorite band. As our bags got checked and our tickets scanned, we finally got in and were welcomed by a long line at the snack bar area and a free photo booth!
The seats filled up, and the sound of hearts beating increased as the time ticked. By 8 pm, the lights dimmed, and the cheers roared all over the arena as the opening act, Wallice, walked to the stage. Wallice is an American singer-songwriter with an alternative rock genre similar to The 1975 and Beabadoobee’s sound (in my opinion). Even as a new artist, the audience got pumped up by Wallice’s 30-minute set. I highly recommend you listen to Funeral and 23 and add them to your playlist! As she thanked everyone for their support and thanked The 1975 for the opportunity to play overseas, she bid goodbye to the audience.
In a few minutes, the lights started to dim again - and the screens opened up, revealing “ATPOIAM” or A Theatrical Performance of an Intimate Moment, on the screens. This skit is an ongoing series that the band has been doing online - showing behind-the-scenes moments of their lives in preparation for shows or simply what goes on about their day. For this concert, we got a special ATPOIAM where Matty, George, Adam, and Ross were on motorized ride-on animals on their way to the stage, followed by the rest of the band walking behind them.
And as lead singer Matty Healy walks to the stage, the whole MOA Arena goes wild. It was just him, his cigarette, and alcohol - a classic Truman Black entrance. The rest of the band starts coming out, and I’ve never heard a louder crowd than this in my life. It was the start of the most memorable 2 hours of my life.
Everyone stood up from their seats and sang along to their opening song, Looking for Somebody (to Love). Everyone was dancing and screaming - it was exhilarating to feel you were finally listening to your favorite band live.
They played most of their famous songs, “If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know),” “Robbers,” “About You,” and more. We even got to hear songs not included in the setlist that night! Matty replaced “Sincerity is Scary” and “Chocolate” with the oldies but goodies “Pressure” and “Me.” Despite wishing to hear Sincerity live, the last-minute song change was a great addition to the setlist to thank their Filipino fans for being supportive since 2014. As Matty said at the Day 2 concert in the country, “Manila has dibs on The 1975 because we were big here even before we got famous in the UK.”
One of the highlights of this concert was that we got to be intimate with the band as Matty asked everyone to turn off their phones and live the moment of being present. As he sang Me, everyone was quiet, as if everyone was a main character in a film. Sometimes, being present and able to feel everything in the moment is better than taking videos and photos every second.
And another highlight of this night was when the whole arena shook as everyone jumped to The Sound. Euphoria is an understatement. No words could describe how everyone was feeling. No matter who you’re sitting with, even if you went there alone as I did, you won’t feel lonely because it was not just a concert. It was a moment - a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Comments