SB19’s Felip delights Cebu A’TINs
CEBU, Philippines — Screams from SB19’s fans – called A’TINs – echoed throughout the atrium of Ayala Center Cebu when the stage screen opened in half to reveal the group’s rapper Felip (also known as Ken) during a mall show held Friday, April 11.
The Pagadian-born P-pop idol was the first major artist to perform at the mall’s Activity Center since it reopened after months of renovation. Opened just in time for Sinulog last January, the revamp features new interior layouts and the installation of a monolith LED screen that stretches from the first basement floor up to the fourth level.
With his name plastered on the towering LED wall during his set, Felip thanked organizers for bringing him to Cebu, where he could proudly speak in his native tongue.
During his half-hour set, he performed three tracks from his 7sins album – “sloth,” “ache” and “greed” – along with the standalone singles “fake faces” and “palayo,” all released under Warner Music Philippines.
Much like the mall show of his fellow SB19 member Stell last year at Ayala Central Bloc, Felip’s setlist did not include any of the group’s songs, possibly to reserve them for SB19’s two-day concert at the Philippine Arena this May that will kick-off their “Simula at Wakas” world tour, which includes stops in Los Angeles, Toronto, Tokyo and more.
Opening for Felip was the Cebuano pop-rock band The Sundown. Dubbed a “supergroup” of musicians in Cebu’s alternative scene, it was the band’s first gig of the year, and they performed crowd favorites like “UwU,” “Come Home to Me” and “Last Dance.”
Known for playing in smaller gigs and a handful of music festivals, the band’s lead vocalist Aaron Domingo admitted they were nervous to perform for a P-pop-leaning crowd for the first time.
“It’s kind of nerve-wracking for us because we don’t know if they will respond well, but I think we delivered even though 90 percent of the audience might not know us. It’s our job to hype them up,” he told The FREEMAN after the show.
The Sundown succeeded in engaging the crowd. Some attendees waved their lightsticks during the band’s set, while others recorded close-up videos (known as fancams) of the members, especially bassist Luigi Balazo.
“It’s like we are a P-pop group!” Luigi jested. The band’s other members are Vincent Eco and Gino Rosales on guitars and Alden Panes on drums.
“We have a strong energy as a band onstage, so it helps that whenever we play for a crowd that doesn’t know us, it’s quite natural for us to hype them whenever we can,” he added.
With the renovation expanding the mall atrium’s flooring, the venue is now more spacious, making it ideal for future mall concerts. The addition of the massive LED screen also offers new creative opportunities, making performances livelier and more immersive. — (FREEMAN)
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