Easter Sunday. As the good Lord has risen, the stations of the cross in Walkway led to a full-on gig as American alt-rock band Switchfoot held a free show at Bonifacio High Street Amphitheatre. The band is no stranger to the Philippines as their guitarist Jerome Fontamillas is our 'kababayan'. This is also their third time in the country, having been here last 2011 and then twice in 2016 (for an Easter gig and for a video shoot). Third times a charm indeed as the crowd flocked to the venue despite still reeling from the Holy Week.
The show had singers/guitarists Robin Nievera and Julianne Tarroja belting out a few songs to warm up the crowd whilst displaying their mastery of their chosen instrument. Those suffering from major fomo were not spared as they ended their set with a show-off of sorts with a superb cover of Coldplay's "Fix You".
And an uproar it was when Switchfoot finally came out to play. They started their set with "Float". Said song is the debut from their 10th album "Where The Light Shines Through". Coincidentally, the music video for Float was shot in Tondo, Manila last year. Jon Foreman, the band's vocalist, said that really felt an affinity with the Filipino fans which is why they decided to shoot a music video here. They quickly followed this with one of their biggest hits "Meant To Live" and then "Stars". Jon Foreman performed an acoustic version of "Only Hope", which he poked fun of as being more popularly known as a Mandy Moore song due to it being the soundtrack to her film "A Walk To Remember". Soon thereafter, they wrapped up the show with their biggest hit to date, "Dare You To Move" yet another soundtrack to Toby Maguire's "Spiderman".
Or so we thought it's a wrap.
The band went back onstage for an encore, this time really ending the show with the back to back songs "Live It Well" and "Where I Belong". The band teased that they might just make this an annual thing and that they might just come back for Walkway's 10th anniversary in 2018. Dare we move?
Comments