‘You never cease to amaze us’: The Vamps marks decade of music with Pinoy fans
Members of the British pop rock band The Vamps had a reminiscing of sorts when they made their comeback on the Manila stage for their 10th-anniversary concert series, Greatest Hits Tour, at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena on Feb. 17.
The four-piece band, composed of Brad Simpson (lead vocals and guitar), Connor Ball (bass guitar and vocals), James McVey (lead guitar and vocals), and Tristan Evans (drums and vocals), had their Filipino fans singing their hearts out with their classic songs in the one-night show, presented by Live Nation Philippines.
The Vamps kicked off their Manila concert with the upbeat summer track Last Night, followed by Girls On TV, and Rest Your Love, enough to get their fans, also known as Vamily, on party mode for the two-hour affair.
With the warm reception from their Filipino fans, Brad said it was only fitting to have Manila as the final stop for the Asian leg of their tour, while looking back on their first visit to the country and receiving the same love and support even after more than five years.
“I remember standing on this stage, maybe in 2015 or 2016, the first time we came here, and we were blown away by the response. We had never been here before, we had just released our first album but we got to play to a packed-out arena, we got to play to all of you, beautiful people,” Brad recalled, shortly after naming his new guitar “Manila.”
“But right now, we are so far away from home, we are on the other side of the world. However, every time we come over here, you never cease to amaze us and make us feel more at home,” he added.
The Vamps first came to Manila in 2015 for the first concert at the MOA Arena, an album signing session in a mall, and appearance on national TV through musical variety show, ASAP.
They were back in the country in the next two consecutive years. The band headlined the 3LOGY concert in January 2016 and an acoustic show in November of the same year. In 2017, the quartet performed at the Luna Drive in Vertis North Mall, Quezon City as part of their Middle of the Night Tour.
Performing hits from their 2014 platinum-selling album, Meet The Vamps, such as Wild Heart, Can We Dance, Oh Cecilia (Breaking My Heart), the boys brought memories and nostalgia among their fans during the recent concert.
The Pinoy fans’ voices reverberated throughout the arena while singing in unison to the band’s Wake Up, All Night, and Risk It All.
“It makes us so happy to see the song hopefully helping people going through a difficult time, whether it’s 10 years ago, whether it’s five years ago, whether it’s tonight. That’s all the music is about. The only reason that we do this is to connect with (you) guys and hopefully bring all of us a little bit closer,” Brad reflected during the show before performing Risk It All.
While The Vamps slowed it down with some acoustic performances, the band also went all out and rocked it out with the crowd, asking fans at some point to get up on their feet, put away their phones, and just enjoy the moment.
The band members also included newer works on their set, including the “scuzzed up, sky-scraping banger” Married in Vegas and Would You, from the fifth studio album Cherry Blossom, which they worked on during the pandemic lockdown.
Towards the end of the show, The Vamps dedicated a message of gratitude to Pinoy fans for always cheering the group on in every tour.
“Tonight, you have reminded us why the Philippines or why Manila is one of our most favorite places on this planet,” said Brad. “You have reminded us why we’re so unbelievably lucky to get to call this a job and get to travel the world and get to play in front of people like you because you out there, well you’re just the best people in the world.”
He added, “For us, four boys, to travel so far away from home and get to be received with this much love is beautiful, so thank you so, so much.”
They capped off the night with the all-time favorite and 2014 hit Somebody To You, which is also included in the latest release, Ten Years of the Vamps album, a compilation of the band’s greatest hits over the past decade.
The band, who launched their career through YouTube covers in 2012, will carry out the rest of their world tour in cities across Europe in March.
- Latest
- Trending
