That should put the band’s initial reservations about the reception to their new sound to rest.
It’s interesting to note that the crowd sang along to every song with gusto, whether it’s from the new album or the old ones. The main set ended with the band’s first mainstream hit “This Love” that segued into Adam’s guitar solo of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Don’t Forget Me.” New ditties “Lucky Strike,” “Wipe Your Eyes” and “One More Night” were joined by past hits that included “Sunday Morning,” “If I Never See Your Face Again,” “Misery,” and “Harder To Breathe” with a Skrillex intro. 1 single “Makes Me Wonder” from the sophomore album “It Won’t Be Soon Before Long.” The band teased the crowd with a few bars of Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” then segued into the no. The band opened with current radio charttopper “Payphone,” followed by a heady mix of old and new favorites that had everyone grooving nonstop. Composed of Maroon 5’s hottest singles, cover medleys and a six-song encore, the setlist showcased the band’s versatility and paid tribute to their various pop-rock influences that spanned decades. After a few songs by young American band The Cab, who had been here for the Smash Project music fest last March, the members of Maroon 5 took the stage amid shrieks - bassist Mickey Madden, drummer Matt Flynn, guitarist James Valentine, and keyboardist PJ Morton, who’s replaced original member-on-hiatus Jesse Carmichael.Īs soon as frontman Adam Levine’s unmistakably sexy falsetto filled the air, the massive crowd erupted into thundering screams that shook the Big Dome from top to bottom. The crowd was so thick that moving around made it literally harder to breathe. Inside the venue, a different kind of chaos ensued. Both did not have sparkly outfits and costume changes, backup dancers or fancy digital backgrounds to do the (performance) work for them - just the basic premise of a singer, with great songs and a solid band.MAROON 5’S third sold-out Manila show in four years proves just why the band thinks Pinoys are the most passionate music fans in the world. It was a good night for Levine and Hadley, as they proved that a charismatic frontman makes all the difference. But when they put on their most familiar songs such as Chant No 1, True and Gold, it sparked a dad-dancing frenzy in the audience. It was a slow start to warm-up the audience, as the band started with a newer song, Soul Boy.
Perspiring heavily from the the get-go - he really should have kept the suit at home - Hadley, who has since packed on the pounds, proved he still had the strong baritone vocals to belt out their poppy sounds. Just like Levine, the 55-year-old was a strong frontman, leading his band in a tight, musically-charged set. He rewarded the adoring audience by taking off this shirt at his end, and strapped on a pink, neon guitar - making it alluringly sexy, yet manly, in a way only Levine can.Įarlier in the night, a former heartthrob, Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet brought nostalgia back for a middle-aged crowd, of mostly expatriates and tourists, in their hour-long set at the Village Stage. Sing along to an acoustic version of This Love. Could they cheer louder for keyboardist PJ Morton? Sure.
And the crowd were happy to accede to anything he wanted them to do.