Concert Review: Back To The 80s - Modern English | The Alarm



 

The Alarm performing in Manila (Photo by Josh Ke Photography) 

                  Robbie Grey of Modern English performing in Manila (Photo by Josh Ke Photography) 

New wavers at heart were all in cloud nine after watching the Alarm and Modern English play at the Mall of Asia Arena last night, May 3, 2013.

 The concert started around 9PM with front act Juan Miguel Salvador & The Authority. There was a very good mix of new wave songs in between the acts that kept the audience excited for the main bands.
The Alarm before hitting the stage (Photo from the Alarm's FB)

About 10:23PM, the Alarm went up to the stage. Mike Peters (vocals/ guitars) was very active on the stage and asked the audience to stand up to rock out with him. Their sixth song on their setlist: "Rain in Summertime", made the crowd go run in front of the stage.  Funny thing is that Mike made use of four bottled water as rain props substitute while singing the song. What a wet party, especially for those in the front! It was very timely for it is scorching hot in Manila for weeks now and it just rained in the afternoon - "Love to feel the rain in the summertime!" For those who were able to notice, that Mike somewhat sounded like Bono on some songs.  After a few more songs, they played their number one hit, “Absolute Reality” into the delight of the crowd. That song was a big favorite when I was young, especially the acoustic version.

The Alarm - Rain in the Summertime (live in Manila) from DJ Bayonic (youtube)

The Alarm - Manila Set List:

 Marching On
Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke
The Stand
Down The Road
Sold Me Down the River
Rain In The Summertime
Superchannel
Strength
Spirit of '76
Absolute Reality
Sixty Eight Guns
Free Rock And Roll
Rescue Me
Blaze of Glory
The Alarm set list for Manila

Robbie Grey of Modern English


Next is the last performer of the night:  Modern English. They went straight ahead and played their post punk  songs and new ones as well.  Aside from singing, Robbie Grey would be a great stand up comedian and had lots of laughs on his side comments. I liked most of their songs with some dark wave feel, reminisce of Joy Division. After a couple of songs, they played one of their commercial hits "Ink and Paper." A funny moment: Robbie Grey pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket to read some lyrics for "Ink and Paper" because they had not played the song for decades, "Ink and Paper" indeed! The people went frenzy singing the chorus with Robbie. When they sang "Hands Across the Sea," the audience on the front got really excited that they sang the first verse ahead of Robbie that made him say that it is his job to sang it and not the audience. Hilarious!
Gary McDowell of Modern English
Gary McDowell's guitar works and effects were awesome, reminds me of Bernard Sumner meets Tom Morello on his occasional guitar scratching. Then they played their most famous song which supposed to be their last song on their set: "Melt with You." Robbie sang the first words of the second verse on the first verse but it was forgivable. The crowd went wild and there was a big videoke in the MOA Arena. Everybody was dancing and jumping while singing the song. What an awesome performance! After they bid goodbye, people went screaming 'more' in which the band obliged with two more songs for the encore, including the stripped down, dreamy, atmospheric and weird (as what Robbie said) version of "Melt with You." It was a real treat to their fans. Robbie said that he wants to see the videos uploaded in youtube so I found some:
Modern English - Ink and Paper (Manila) from midoilarnold (youtube)

Modern English - Melt With You (Weird version) from DJ Bayonic (youtube)

Modern English - Manila Set list:

 Someone's Calling
After the Snow
Tables Turning
Swans on Glass
Black Houses
Life in the Gladhouse
Come Out Of Your Hole
Ink and Paper
Moonbeam
Hands Across the Sea
I Melt With You
Encore:

 16 Days
I Melt With You (Weird Version)

It was a great night for new wavers and for these 80s kids who were not fans of glam rock/ those who did not attend the other concert on the same night. It was indeed a flashback of my child hood days: vinyls, mobile discos in debuts on the streets, my sister's spray nets and the fashion of the 80s.  This could be the closest thing watching U2 and Joy Division. But Modern English and the Alarm had already own a place in my music heart and it was indeed awesome to watch them perform live in this lifetime!  Thank you Modern English and the Alarm!!!

 Kudos to DMC Philippines for bringing Modern English and the Alarm in Manila!




Thank you to Giz and Sheila of Subkulture!

 Check out some pictures days before and after the concert:
Mr. Jesse Gonzales Cambosa Sr of DMC Philippines and Mick Conroy of Modern English at the press interviews
(photo by Rebellettesjunior and Miguel Marfori from Giz Roque Palma's FB)
Modern English Press interview (photo by Rebellettesjunior and Miguel Marfori from Giz Roque Palma's FB)

Modern English Press interview (photo by Rebellettesjunior and Miguel Marfori from Giz Roque Palma's FB)

Modern English Press interview (photo by Rebellettesjunior and Miguel Marfori from Giz Roque Palma's FB)

Modern English Press interview (photo by Rebellettesjunior and Miguel Marfori from Giz Roque Palma's FB)


Modern English's Stephen Walker with Subkulture Production's Giz Roque Palma and Sheila Lontok
(photo by Rebellettesjunior and Miguel Marfori from Giz Roque Palma's FB)





Giz Roque Palma and Modern English (photo by Rebellettesjunior and Miguel Marfori from Giz Roque Palma's FB)

The band's last night in Manila
(photo by Rebellettesjunior and Miguel Marfori from Giz Roque Palma's FB)
You can also check Robbie Grey's TV interview (via ABS CBN):




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