Press Release:
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.
Facebook: ricoblanconews
Twitter: ricoblanco
Youtube: officialricoblanco
Instagram: ricoblanco100
