September 12, 2024 | 12:00am
The highly-anticipated concert by Secondhand Serenade, made possible by local event organizer Pulp Live World, was a remarkable reminder of why John Vesley’s music continues to resonate deeply with fans in the Philippines. With the New Frontier Theater packed with devoted listeners, it was a night filled with nostalgia, emotional singalongs, and exciting surprises.
Both nights opened with a captivating performance by Thai-Italian artist Valentina Ploy, marking her debut in front of a Filipino audience. Expressing her gratitude for the opportunity to perform, she shared, “I’m very excited to be here today… Thank you so much, Secondhand Serenade.” Her heartfelt set, which perfectly complemented the evening’s mood, warmed up the crowd and set the stage for the much-awaited main act.
As John Vesley took the stage, the energy surged through the theater. Fans were treated to some of his most iconic songs, including Broken and Maybe, with the crowd passionately singing along to every word.
Vesley expressed his excitement to be back, saying, “Boy, am I glad to see you again. It’s been a while since I’ve been here. This is the very first day of the Asia tour.” He added, “It’s amazing that I can come to the other side of the world and be treated with so much love and respect. To be able to come here and play songs with you beautiful people, it’s incredible and it’s a blessing. I’m the luckiest man alive.”
The pinnacle of the night came during the performance of Fall For You, the song that solidified Vesley’s place in the hearts of Filipino fans. The entire theater erupted as fans sang the iconic lyrics, creating a magical moment that transported everyone back to the time the song first touched their lives.
Secondhand Serenade’s fans were showered with confetti as they sang along to Fall For You.
In a special moment, Vesley shared some exciting news with the crowd — he’s set to release new music soon. He even performed an unreleased track, inspired by a humorous yet harsh letter from his neighbor. “I got a real mean letter from my neighbor on my door… It started with ‘Dear Neighbor, shut the f*ck up, it’s late at night,’” he recalled, sparking laughter from the audience. Fans were immediately drawn to the song’s beat and lyrics, with Vesley announcing its official release in October.
The show was an audiovisual spectacle, and fans loved every minute of it.
The concert ended on a high note with an encore of Last Song Ever, leaving the audience with a lingering sense of joy and anticipation for Vesley’s return. “I’ll be back soon with new music,” he promised before stepping off stage.
On the second night, as the crowd filed out of the theater, they gathered in the lobby for an impromptu singalong of Fall For You, with some waving their lit-up phones in the air — a touching tribute to a song that continues to unite fans across generations.
For two unforgettable nights, Manila’s New Frontier Theater became a place where old memories were brought back, and new ones were made, all to the sweet sounds of Secondhand Serenade. Vesley’s connection with his Filipino fans remains as strong as ever, leaving them with a renewed sense of nostalgia and excitement for what’s to come. — Julian Mauricio
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