Kean Cipriano in solo concert: 'I'll never leave Callalily'

Callalily singer and TV/movie actor Kean Cipriano held his first major solo concert at the Aliw Theater on Saturday, November 26.

And, at some point during the gig, the rising star told his adoring audience that he would stick with Callalily, the band that got him noticed in the first place.

Dubbed as “One Stage, One Night: BBS featuring Kean Cipriano,” the show was a tribute to OPM hits from the distant and recent past. Cipriano, backed by BBS - the pop project band formed by 6Cyclemind's Rye Sarmiento and Darwin Hernandez of Soupstar Entertainment - delivered a high-energy show that roused the crowd. 

And got the girls screaming.

“Welcome to my show,” exclaimed the tuxedo-clad rocker who then proceeded to stretch out his arms as if soaking up the adulation from the crowd.

Repertoire from Sandwich to South Border

After an interesting rendition of Sandwich's hit single “Betamax” with the band's Mike Dizon himself on drums, Cipriano proceeded to go all-out pop with the Labuyo/Side A classic “Tuloy Pa Rin Ako" followed by a very tender rendition of Smokey Mountain's “Kailan.”

BBS was eventually joined by Pupil drummer Wendell Garcia and Paraluman's Madeline Ramboyong for the BBS song “Bata” and the Barbie's Cradle song “Tabing Ilog” (the theme song to the television song of the same name).

South Border's Jay Durias also made an appearance, singing South Border's “Habang Atin ang Gabi” before Cipriano joined the the former for “Kahit Kailan.”  Interestingly enough, Cipriano carried the song well enough that he could have been a South Border vocalist himself.

Former E-heads take the stage

The much-awaited number for the night was the special appearance of former Eraserheads Raimund Marasigan and Buddy Zabala, performing the late 90s band's hit “Harana” with the actor-rocker.  They then proceeded to jam to another BBS song, “Payong Kapatid.”

Cipriano's bandmates from Callalily then joined him onstage.  “Kung wala ako, wala ang Callalily; kung walang Callalily wala ako,” the frontman told the audience. “I have the best bandmates in the world.”

The now crazily-enthusiastic crowd (Cipriano dubbed the venue as “Baliw Theater”) danced and cheered as the band played their hits “Susundan” and their first single “Stars.”

Despite a shaky rendition of “Kaleidoscope World” in the finale, the concert ended on a high note as far as the audience was concerned. 

And as if to dispel any speculation about the future of Callalily, Cipriano assured the crowd: “Hinding-hindi ko iiwanan ang banda ko.”