Fiesto
Bandido—that musical wizard more popularly known as
singer/songwriter/showman Rico Blanco—has pulled it off once again.
On
Philippine Independence Day, June 12, 2013, Rico made history as he
held his first solo concert dubbed “Rico Blanco LIVE!” at the
Music Museum. The event was sold out by the week it was held as his
fans, friends, and supporters trooped to the venue to witness what
was promised to be a highly visual out-of-this-world journey through
Rico Blanco's musical career. This wasn't just your standard concert;
it was a show
in every sense of the word.
Ever
since the artist introduced the feather-and-chrome-clad persona of
“Fiesto Bandido” for his newest album “Galactik
Fiestamatik,” Rico
Blanco's fans all over the country have been treated to a dose of the
spectacle that has become the trademark for the musical chameleon's
current persona. What with all the ati-atihan-inspired
attire, the beats, the tribal dancing reminiscent of town fiestas
(assuming fiestas are held in space), and the colorful light show
that accompanies the music beat by beat.
“I'm
doing away with my old habits with a rock band,” he declares. Which
is exactly what he did, removing any semblance of the traditional
rock setup; stripping his music down to primal beats, electronic
textures, and his trademark keys. At the same time, Rico brings back
the concept of a “rock show,” a visual experience which Filipino
music fans haven't had in quite sometime. It is pure audacity not
present in a lot of artists, a brave move that was so crazy that it
actually worked.
Lights
out. Fiesto glided onstage to the haunting opening keys of “Amats,”
the first single from his latest album. By the time the thunderous
beats started, the concert turned into a space age light-and-sound
show. The musical bandit didn't stop there as he dove right into his
next single, “Burado.”
He
may be a forward-thinking artist, but not one to disavow his roots.
Blanco proceeded to do an electro medley of his old band Rivermaya's
hits: “Umaaraw, Umuulan,” “Kisapmata,” “Elesi,” and “Kung
Ayaw Mo, Huwag Mo.” The audience caught on to their old favorites,
and sang and clapped along as the Fiestamatik Ringleader egged them
on.
After
performing his newest single, the wistful “Lipat Bahay,”
singer-songwriter Kitchie Nadal joined Blanco onstage for a different
take on the Rivermaya ditty, “214.” The man of the night then
went on to another look back, as he performed “Balisong” and
“You'll Be Safe Here” before wrapping up the number with a tender
track off “Fiestamatik,” “Hours and Days.”
Blanco
wore the Filipino flag on his sleeve as he performed the Heber
Bartolome classic, “Tayo'y Mga Pinoy.” The song is also the theme
song of SMART Bro's “Tayo'y Mga Pinoy” campaign which featured
the artist collaborating with other musical greats Ely Buendia,
Raimund Marasigan, and Barbie Almalbis.
He
then went a little forward in time again, back to his Rivermaya days
as he performed “Panahon Na Naman” with a pre-recorded Chito
Miranda, a riff off their viral video on Blanco's Youtube channel,
RicoBlancoTV. He also went on to do another medley from his old band,
with an apt focus on positivity (“Posible,” “Awit ng Kabataan,”
“Hinahanap-Hanap Kita,” and “Liwanag sa Dilim”), after going
off with the declarative “Antukin,” off Blanco's first solo
album.
And
because Fiesto Bandido is the Intergalactic pied piper, he kicked it
up a notch further with the hypnotic “Sayaw,” featuring Ira Cruz
on guitars, breaking his own “no guitar” rule, further proving
that nothing is sacred to him as far as musical exploration is
concerned...not even his own rules. People took their cue from the
song as the audience left their seats, throwing their hands in the
air clearly wanting more.
It
was all dance mayhem from then on, as Blanco went the 80s route with
his song “What It Is,” before ending the night with the powerful
“Yugto,” his breakout single as a solo artist. But people can
never ever have enough of an experience such as this show, so he
returned with the intimate “Your Universe,” before punctuating
the night with what could possibly be his personal artistic statement
through his song “Ngayon.”
Celebrities
spotted in the audience included veteran actor Christopher de Leon,
Bela Padilla, Melissa Ricks, members of Parokya ni Edgar, Never the
Strangers and General Luna, musician/producer Francis Reyes, and
singer Paolo Valenciano.
And
because the concert was sold out, Rico Blanco hinted at a possible
repeat: “We're probably going do another show for those who didn't
make it!"
The
'Galactik' adventures of Fiesto Bandido have only just begun.
Rico
Blanco Live! was brought to you by Warner Music Philippines and
presented by Smart Communications. Can’t get enough of Rico? Get
his ringback tone just text RICO
to
2447 (Smart Subscribers only). Galactik Fiestamatik is available in
your favorite record bars and iTunes store.
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