Yael owned the night, but people got to listen to other strains of rock
Rock-oriented mall shows, in general, tend to be loud yet cold affairs—audiences hanging over railings, trying to nurse feet and arms, or just wondering what infernal racket is ongoing.
Yet, in the Ayala Terraces Fairview mall, you could feel the attentiveness and anticipation from hundreds of smiling mailers, hanging on every note and syllable from the afternoon’s featured bands.
It probably also helped that Yael Yuzon, frontman of main act Sponge Cola is playing one of his last gigs… as a single man. Hearts (female and female-oriented) are broken, but they wish him well.
Gave away a signed guitar
The gig was put together by musical instrument store Lyric to promote 50 years in the business; their branch in Ayala Terraces Fairview is their 31st, making them the largest chain in the country.
Sponge Cola is one of their brand ambassadors and the band autographed an ESP/LTD Viper electric guitar which was given away before the band’s performance. (Jessica Mae Lazaro won the coveted instrument.)
The afternoon was, from a musical standpoint anyway, not entirely reliant on the popularity of the band. The anticipation of their performance helped rally attention from the audience who appreciated the different bands that preceded the headliners.
Diverse: Autotelic, Mayonnaise, Kastigo
Autotelic’s brand of catchy indie-pop, driven by clean shimmering guitars, was a delightful opener: their sound screams hipster-cred but the lyrics pure Pinoy.
If Pinoy pop and rock are dismissed as creatively dead (which it isn’t), Autotelic can be considered flag-bearers for the next chapter.
Mayonnaise followed suit with their hits, including “Jopay,” and Kastigo’s over-the-top metal histrionics stunned people.
They came for Yael but left exposed to other types of Pinoy rock
Sponge Cola, of course, owned the event, launching hit after hit, girls and near-girls screaming and singing along.
The best thing that happened was the audience overall was exposed to different strains of local rock, and they did listen to everyone on the bill.
It is an encouraging thought, even if, initially, they came to see a soon-to-be-married man.
Related: Karylle and Yael’s wedding video within a music video
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