Manilla, Philippines (Araneta Coliseum), Rescheduled to April 28, 2012 Options

[jayda]

I hate Zion. I hate all those songs. I played them a lot in the car and they become familiar enough but still would not have liked LIVE to play any of them. He can keep em.

[FishOutaWater]

about zion, didnt chad gracey allude to the possibility that the song was written well before ed's solo album? Something along the lines of ed playing "new" material in a lounge act ...

It was first performed on April 19, 2009 in Alexandria Virginia and again on April 20, 2009 in Philadelphia PA. This was long before Ed released his solo album and even before the final show on July 19, 2009 and the announced hiatus. At the time it was first performed, it was not clear to fans whether this was a Live song, or something else.

I addressed this stuff in my latest blog post on my website.

[+Ed+]

Zion is a wonderful song with a horrible text. Musically it would perfectly fit the 90s Live stuff. Lyrically it is out there, where it belongs. Together with awful drumming.

[Wambangalang]

i think lyrically it is fine. Not as deep and thought provoking as some of the legends, but not offensively embarrassing like 'In your Light' or 'You are Not Alone'. The song is pretty sweet, lets give credit where it's due.

[dancing queen]

I love Zion. I think it's Ed's best effort in years.

[SJN1279]

Opening song:

Just in Time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvKwdZ_1VHw

[IndyYakr]

Opening song:

Just in Time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvKwdZ_1VHw

Nick, did he have someone open for him? Does he typically?

[OutToDry]

vertical horizon opened.

I thought ed said in the interview that it was an acoustical concert no? Unless he had this full band show in the contract since it was rescheduled twice. I wonder if his musicians got paid

[SJN1279]

vertical horizon opened.

I thought ed said in the interview that it was an acoustical concert no? Unless he had this full band show in the contract since it was rescheduled twice. I wonder if his musicians got paid

I'm pretty sure it was always full band since it was held in an arena.

[SJN1279]

Yet another review:
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/life-...-live-in-manila

Vertical Horizon and Ed Kowalczyk Live in Manila

Written by : Paul John Caña

I had to dig out my dusty old Vertical Horizon CDs to prepare for their double-bill show with Live’s Ed Kowalczykat the Araneta Coliseum on Saturday night. Along with a few friends, I went on a long drive out to Pampanga earlier that day and blasted the band’s songs for the most part of the trip. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed their music back in college and during my early years as a young adult, trying to find my way out in the real world.

Vertical Horizon is essentially Matt Scannell. The bald frontman had formed the band in the early ‘90s with a classmate and friend, and have kept it going through the years. Best known for their alternative sound, they were at the tail end of the college rock boom during the ‘90s and early part of the new millennium. Their very first hit was “Everything You Want,” a sassy, incredibly catchy song about jealousy and the uncomfortable feeling of coveting something (or someone).

The band first came to Manila in December 2007. It was a solo headlining show and I remember the Big Dome was quite full then. Five years later, the same venue was nowhere near as packed. Fans of Vertical Horizon may have considerably thinned since the early 2000s, but I had thought the addition of Kowalczyk, who was playing his first ever show in Manila, would have been reason enough for more people to fill the seats at the Coliseum.

Still, when the lights dimmed, the audience loudly made its presence felt. Scannell and his current band mates—Steve Fekete on guitars, Ron LaVella on drums and Cedric LeMoyne on bass—started with “Save Me From Myself,” a song from their latest album Burning The Days.

The band quickly followed up with one of their biggest hits, “You’re A God.” Introducing the next song, “The Lucky One” Scannell said, “When I wrote this song, I kind of hated myself for it.” He explained that it shouldn’t be that easy to write something that just felt right. By that time, it was obvious that the band sounded just as good as they did when they first made it big years ago.

Scannell himself didn’t seem like he aged at all. He endeared himself to the crowd by reciting short Filipino phrases like “Magandang gabi sa inyong lahat” and “Gusto ba ninyo kaming bumalik?” At one point, he said he thoroughly enjoyed his meal earlier of chicken and pork adobo, to which the reply was enthusiastic screams and applause.

After a few more enthusiastically received songs from Matt and the band, it took almost 45 minutes to get the set ready for the next act. Reports of Kowalczyk performing in Manila began to circulate as early as last year, but it took the ex-vocalist of Live almost a year before finally coming to our shores.

The audience gave the frontman (also bald, like Scannell), a warm welcome when he came onstage singing the Live hit “All Over You.”

Beyond inquiries of “Are you guys alright?” directed at the crowd, Kowalczyk, who is of Polish descent, was not as chatty as the Vertical Horizon frontman. He did, however, moved more freely around the stage.

The singer also performed songs unfamiliar to all but the most hardcore fans. The 40-year-old father of three released a solo effort called Alive in 2010 soon after his less than amicable split with the other members of Live.

He finished the regular set with a new song, “Dolphins Cry,” but came back for a five-song encore.

The noisiest howls were reserved, of course, for the biggest hits of his former band: “Selling The Drama,” “Lightning Crashes and the big finale “I Alone,” when fast-aging rock fans let out their inner angst that have undoubtedly laid dormant since they were in high school and college.

Concert organizer Ovation Productions hit the nail on the head by bringing two bands that still have sizable followings here in Manila. There is much to mine from the ‘90s if they’re looking for more artists to bring to these shores. Perhaps Goo Goo Dolls next?

[OutToDry]

how bout using quotes mr education?? proper quotes please if youre going to actually contribute some modicum of ed crumbs to this place.

[jclive]

how bout using quotes mr education?? proper quotes please if youre going to actually contribute some modicum of ed crumbs to this place.

Is that really necessary? Its getting very old.

[dangum]

........wow Ave Maria? Hallejulah?? Is he channeling Handel?

Here's what the 'Ave Maria' track sounds like. It's just a piece of pre-recorded music that gets played just before the first song. Ed's been doing it for most of his full band shows - he was doing it in Australia in 2010.

Here's a video of it in Manilla (Ave Maria --> All Over You)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExlLPUFSe1Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUOvnAINj-w (Selling the Drama)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDL94HMeCm0 (I Alone)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvKwdZ_1VHw (Just in Time)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i81q-ls1c9w (Beauty of Gray)

[dangum]

Here's an interview with Ed while he was in Manila that was posted recently...

Rekindled Ed Kowalczyk: Live And Alive (Last Part)
Malay
By VIM NADERA
May 28, 2012, 3:37pm

MANILA, Philippines —

Vim Nadera: What did you take up in college? Why?
Ed Kowalczyk: After high school, I went straight into the University of Rock and Roll, I’m guessing the cover of Rolling Stone and a few million records sold counts for at least a bachelor’s degree. LOL.

VN: What was your ambition when you were a young boy with a unique surname?
EK: I was just happy to have people say it correctly!

VN: How Polish are you?
EK: My father’s side is 100% Polish, my mother’s side is English and German. Add in America and you get the melting pot of Ed K.

VN: What about your kids? Could you tell us about your family?
EK: I have three wonderful daughters. They are 10, seven and one year old. They and my wife are the lights of my life.

VN: In the Philippines, we usually equate Poland with Pope John Paul II. Are you, being a Good Samaritan, a Catholic too?
EK: I was born and raised a Roman Catholic and have recently returned to practising the faith of my youth.

VN: How active are you with World Vision?
EK: We have an ongoing partnership. We have connected over 200 children with new sponsors as a result of my tours. We are on our way to raising money to dig a well in rural Zambia as well.

VN: What is your impression about us, the Filipino audience, before and after your first concert in Manila?
EK: Wonderful! So much energy and I could tell that the fans were genuinely happy to see me. What a great feeling!

VN: Were you surprised that you have a huge following in this part of the planet?
EK: It’s always a very pleasant surprise to travel as far away from home as Manila and have such an incredible reception. During Lightning Crashes at the Araneta Coliseum, I was smiling inwardly the whole time thinking: “ I wrote this song in my bedroom in little old York, Pennsylvania, and look at all these beautiful Filipinos singing it back to me!” Such a great feeling.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/360598/rekin...alive-last-part

[OutToDry]

Vim Nadera: What did you take up in college? Why?
Ed Kowalczyk: After high school, I went straight into the University of Rock and Roll, I’m guessing the cover of Rolling Stone and a few million records sold counts for at least a bachelor’s degree. LOL.

So Ed, and of course not to credit the help he had to get it!!