MANILA, Philippines - They sing straight to a teenager’s heart and stay there. They urge the audience to go Shake It, and they do so at the drop of a hat.
American pop rock band Metro Station has been so busy lately the members hardly have time to bother about jet lag.
That’s the price the group has to pay for staying on the Top 10 of three US charts, No. 3 on Hot Digital Songs, No. 9 in Pop 100 and No. 10 in the Billboard Hot 100 — all for Shake It. Nine months later, the upbeat song Blake Healy, Trace Cyrus and Mason Musso wrote (drummer Anthony Improgo is half-Pinoy) charted at No. 43 in the Billboard 200, No. 1 Top Electronic Albums and No. 2 in the Top Heatseekers.
Another single, Seventeen Forever topped the Unsigned Charts on MySpace Music.
No one is more surprised than the band itself and even Trace’s parents — country star Billy Ray and Leticia “Tish” Finley Cyrus (Hannah Montana’s Miley Cyrus is Trace’s kid sister).
“ I surprised them because we (the band) did it on our own,” reveals Trace.
But chart figures don’t lie; the demand for tours in Europe, Japan, all over the US, etc., keep on coming.
The band, on tour for several months straight, hardly sees their respective families anymore. The most they’ve been home is a mere five to six days at a time, says Tracy.
And their hearts ache for the family they leave back home all the time.
Their antidote to loneliness? Each other. Trace, Blake, Masson and Anthony call themselves a band of brothers.
They come over to each other’s place, chill out or watch a movie together. It was during these times that Shake It was born. The inspiration came unplanned. The process was as natural to them as breathing itself.
Just as natural is the squeaky-clean lifestyle hidden beneath Trace and Anthony’s tattoo-studded arms, Mason’s headband and Blake’s detached stance.
No, these are not your typical rock stars. Blake keeps an early-to-bed-early-to-rise routine. Trace, Mason and Anthony stay holed up in the hotel when they’re on tour.
Yes, the tattoos are just for show. People may stop and stare at the multi-colored figures (care of Hollywood Pinoy tattoo artist Chris Garcia), but that’s all there is to it. Trace doesn’t mind a bit.
What’s more important is their music and the friendship that comes with it.
The foursome vow that nothing, not even an offer to go solo, will break their band apart. They also promise to steer clear of the usual bane of many an otherwise solid band — money squabbles. Everything will be fair and above the table.
“We want to be everlasting. We won’t fight over who gets the bigger share,” the four declare.
That means being around for a long, long time, even after the teen fans have grown up and moved on to develop new musical tastes.
“We’ll grow up with our audience,” vows Trace. He adds, “There’s nothing else I would do. And I don’t care if only five people watch us perform.”
That’s the understatement of the year. Metro Station is performing before millions around the world. And Manila will have the chance to watch them too, when the band performs at Glorietta Activity Center tonight at 6; tomorrow, June 11, 7 p.m. at TriNoma Activity Center and June 12, 6:30 p.m., Alabang Town Center.