For Vertical Horizon, there’s a ‘very special joy’ performing in Phl

Vertical Horizon, led by its frontman Matt Scannell, is making its Philippine stop today, July 18, to share its own brand of alternative-rock music again to Filipinos fans. Showtime is at 8 p.m. while the venue is the SM Skydome North Edsa.

Vertical Horizon Live in Manila is part of the American band’s 2023 world tour. It headlined a concert at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila back in 2014. Prior to that, the group performed in the country twice. Araneta Coliseum was the venue where Vertical Horizon first played.

“I just got goosebumps thinking about it and it was absolutely magical,” said Matt of the band’s debut performance here in a recent virtual group interview. “I grew up in a town in Massachusetts, on the far east coast of the United States. For me, when we landed in Manila, we saw people at the airport, who wanted to say hi and there was an excitement in the air, about us being there. I had never dreamt as a young aspiring songwriter or as a kid that I would ever get to go to the Philippines and certainly not be invited to come and sing my songs. So that was absolutely incredible.”

Aside from meeting fans and performing before them for the first time, Matt had a taste of Pinoy food and described it “amazing,” and replete with “wonderful flavors.” He is definitely excited to have such gastronomic experience again, if one may add.

The singer-songwriter-guitarist in him is simply glad and grateful to be back in the Philippines. Although each city or country holds a special place in every artist’s heart, and the reason is only known to him or her, Matt said that “there’s a very special joy in the Philippines” that he experiences.

“I don’t know what it is particularly about the culture, but there’s a joy and I guess I’m just excited to experience that joy again — whether it’s just saying hello to someone on the street or singing along with people at the concert,” added he.

“And what you have in the Philippines is very unique and very different… (it’s) worth embracing and celebrating and showing gratitude for. So, I’m just excited to get back there and to experience the joy again.”

During the press conference, Matt was also asked about his source of inspiration in churning out songs, particularly the hit Best I Ever Had. His answer was this: “I almost always start (by) trying to fix the places inside of myself that are kinda broken. Best I Ever Had was a story about a woman that I was totally in love with, but at the same time, we kinda both knew that it wasn’t gonna work, that couldn’t work and it was OK.

“I feel like sometimes in life that you meet someone, who is incredible, and you can be together for a long period of time, and there’s sometimes when you meet someone and you almost like cross (paths) for a moment and you go on your way.

“There’s a beauty to that actually. Knowing in the moment that this isn’t something that can last forever almost makes it, if not more special, certainly makes it really, really special and important to recognize in the moment, and that’s where that song came from. We knew we were like a firework in the night sky, and you’re just gonna last for a minute and that was OK.”

“But for me, I try to write about the stuff that hurts a little bit and sometimes, every now and then, the stuff that tells me with joy,” continued he, whose band is also known for other songs such as Everything You Want, I’m Still Here, Send It Up and You’re A God. “But mostly, it’s to try to make myself feel better to be honest.”

Speaking of songs, if there’s one ditty that Matt would like to dedicate to his Filipino fans, it would be Forever.

“I love it that Best I Ever Had resonates as deeply as it does there. It’s amazing for me that some of my songs are sort of welcome into people’s lives there,” said he. “But I guess I would probably say, there’s a song called Forever and the chorus is basically like I will feel you forever in my heart. I’ll never forget that feeling of traveling so far away from my home and people singing with beautiful voices and arms up in the air. I guess I’d probably dedicate Forever to our Filipino friends.”

In tonight’s show, Vertical Horizon will be joined by Autotelic and Join the Club as front acts. And as for what else fans can look forward to, aside from the signature songs they can sing along with the group, Matt said, “I think we would probably play a song or two from other bands that we love. That might be a surprise.”

What’s clear on the horizon is a fun, musical night that awaits the band and its fans.

(Tickets for the show are available at SM via bit.ly/verticalhorizonsm and Ticketmax: bit.ly/verticalhorizonticketmax and the show is presented by DMC Philippines.)