Groban leads 2019 1st quarter concert line-up

Pop opera heartthrob Josh Groban will be performing at the Mall of Asia Arena on Feb. 22. The visit is in connection with his Bridges Tour to promote his latest and ninth studio album also titIed Bridges. Made up of all original materials, Bridges still needs a lot of push to reach the success of his other albums like Awake or Closer. But I am sure that with Josh on tour and performing his hit songs live, Bridges will soon be ranked alongside his other output.

Josh was only 19 years old when he hit the big time with his self-titled debut album and the song You’re Still You after it was used in the soundtrack of the TV series Ally McBeal. He has since then sold almost 25 million albums, his Christmas album Noel topped all sales in 2007, broken concert box-office records worldwide.

He has also gone on to other pursuits like songwriting, he co-wrote almost all of Bridges, and most notably acting. Josh played the lead in the Broadway musical Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, guested in TV shows like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and starred in The Good Cop, a Netflix series co-starring the legendary Tony Danza. 

I am glad that despite Josh’s success as an actor, he has decided to go on tour for Bridges. He has fantastic vocals and is one of those rare singers who is a cross between a tenor and a baritone. Given that it is a Bridges Tour, I am sure that Josh will perform mainly cuts from the album.  His fans are hopeful though that he will include a lot of his early hits like To Where You Are, You Raise Me Up, Believe, Awake, What I Did For Love, Pure Imagination and others.

Other shows to watch out for within the next few weeks are: SiKat Ako starring the Online Sensation with a Comb, the Suklay Diva Katrina Velarde at the New Frontier Theater in Araneta Center, in Quezon City on Feb. 1. This is Kat’s first solo concert and she is expected to give double or more than she does during her packed gigs around town. Those of you who have seen this biritera perform live know that this girl can sing up a most enjoyable storm.

Taking Back Sunday, one of the best bands to emerge out of the New York music scene, is celebrating its 20th anniversary on tour and one of its stops is the New Frontier Theater on Jan. 26. The group consists of vocalist Adam Lazzara; guitarist/keyboardist John Nolan; bassist Mark O-Connell; and drummer Shawn Cooper. Fans can expect an excellent blend of alt-rock, emo and pop punk in Taking Back Sunday music. The hit single release is makedamnsure while the big-selling albums are Louder Now, Where You Want To Be and New Again.

Also at the New Frontier Theater.  Scheduled to perform on March 1 is pop balladeer Mark Bautista. Titled Chapters, the solo concert celebrates Mark’s 15th year in show business. It was also on March 1, 2001 when Mark emerged as first runner-up to champion Sarah Geronimo in the Star for A Night singing contest on IBC-13. 

The break resulted in success as a recording star, Dream On and I Need You; as a concert artist, The Sound of Love; film and TV actor, Of All The Things and Your Song; and in recent times, as the country’s leading male star of the theater. Mark starred in The Full Monty for Atlantis; Bituing Walang Ningning for Front Row; Eto Na! Musikal nApo! for 9Works Theatrical; and as Ferdinand Marcos in the London and Seattle productions of Here Lies Love for David Byrne and Fatboy Slim.

And last but certainly not the least on this list is Maroon 5 in the Red Pill Blues Tour at the Mall of Asia Arena on March 5. That means one of the biggest bands ever in pop music history will be back in town. And frontman is no other but The Voice coach Adam Levine. Now, I do not think the band is bringing along Cardi B to perform Girls Like You but who needs that when these guys can easily dish out one hit after another like This Love, She Will Be Loved, Makes Me Wonder, Misery, Moves Like Jagger, Payphone, One More Night, Daylight, Love Somebody, Maps, Animals, Sugar, Don’t Wanna Know, What Lovers Do, and many more.