LIV5: FIVE BANDS ON ONE STAGE!!!

For those who find it impossible to move on from the three-amazing-bands-on-one-stage LIV3 concert last year, such as myself, here is another gift from the Ayala Mall for the love month. And this time they did not just bring three bands, nor four but five... five incredibly talented bands who performed on one stage. 

LIV5, the unofficial anniversary tribute to the success of LIV3 which featured The Maine, We The Kings and Nevershoutnever, is a four-day concert event at four different Ayala Malls.  

This year's lineup consisted of equally great musicians: A+ Dropouts, Forever the Sickest Kids, The Summer Set, The Ready Set and A Rocket to the Moon. Artists from different places, flew all the way to Manila to showcase their undeniable talent in front of their Filipino fans. 

FEB 18: THE TRINOMA SHOW

Despite the alternate of rain then shine, Filipino avid fans of the bands did not seem shaken by the crazy weather changes and started to pile up five hours before the show.

At five o'clock on the very populated Mindanao open parking, the lights dramatically dimmed and on the huge monitor on the stage showed an advertisement of the Ayala Mall which featured The Ready Set's Jordan Witzigreuter. The crowd went wild and the female population shrieked as the dexterous, not to mention good-looking, musician endorsed a new application being offered by the mall.    

The concert officially started after recounting the previous artists featured by the mall. Then the voice over--that was drowned by the screams of the elated fan--announced that the show has started. The lights dramatically lit up again.  

The young and the talented A+ Dropouts revved up the ride with their fast-phased songs and rocking female lead who, I must say, is a very good performer despite the fact that the band members are just teenagers. One very interesting fact about A+ Dropouts: Cheska Zaide is a Filipina! 

The Summer Set kept the tempo rising with their upbeat and catchy songs (Chelsea, Must Be the Music, Someone Like You...). Brian Dales, the lead vocalist of the band, surprised every one  in mid set and said "Mahal Kita" to the fans which made the Filipinas shout at the top of their ecstatic lungs. Interesting fact about The Summer Set: Jess Bowen, the female drummer who is so cool, is also a Filipina!

The Ready Set stepped up, third in the lineup, and graced the stage with his electronic, techno songs and his flawless voice(despite the running around the stage). He sang his hits such as More Than Alive, Killer, Spinnin', and his famous Love Like Woe which the giddy fans sang and jumped along to.

The fourth set was the much-awaited, for me and--based on the scream and surge of excitement--for the crowd around me as well. The band A Rocket to the Moon came next and hailed the stage with their undeniable charm and talent. They sang their hits If Only They Knew, Dakota, On Your Side, Give a Damn, No One will Ever Get Hurt, Baby Blue Eyes, Like We Used To, She's Killing Me and Mr. Right. The crowd even repeatedly shouted for more. One word to describe their performance... PERFECT. 

Forever the Sickest Kids followed, kept the beat from hitting the ground with their hit songs and ended the rocking night with a huge bang.

To say that the concert was great could make it to the top 10 understatements of the year because the night was far beyond any great words to describe it. And certainly those who had come and witnessed would agree with me. 

And it was not only the fans who had lots of fun but the artists as well who experienced the world-renowned Filipino hospitality (check their twitter accounts).

Now we do not only have the memories of  LIV3 in our heads but also the arrival of five great bands that rocked it all out in LIV5.

Will it be LIV6, LIV7, or perhaps LIV8 next year? We do not know yet. But one thing is for sure, we know it is going to be as rocking as LIV3 and LIV5.