CEBU, Philippines — It may have been 20 years since pop-rock band The Moffatts have last been here, but the brothers are set to make new and more memories with fans as they return to Cebu for a reunion tour. While the band did a farewell tour sans Dave last year, fans are in for a treat as the group also plans to spend more time with them.
In a press conference Wednesday at Solea Mactan Cebu Resort, Scott, Bob, Clint, and Dave Moffatt shared how great it is to be back in Cebu, reminiscing about their 1998 performance here. While Scott couldn’t remember much, the rest of his brothers did.
“It feels wonderful. We’re older now, and we’ve learned a bit more about the music and whatnot and how to deal with the dynamics of being in a family band. It’s wonderful to get to spend time over here and see the Philippines through different eyes,” Scott began.
The group decided to go on tour – which opened in Indonesia – because of the fans. While they heard in passing that there are a lot of Moffatts fans in the Philippines, it still took them a while to get the ball rolling.
“We hadn’t given it too much thought. We were talking amongst ourselves how kind of fun it would be to do that. It blew us away that after all these years, people over here still resonated with us and cared about what we did,” Scott said about their Filipino fan base, before adding that the tour might either be the last or the first of many.
The Moffatts definitely dedicate their hit song “Miss You Like Crazy” to their Pinoy followers.
“It’s a song that resonated here with our fans. Whenever we sing it, the Filipino fans definitely come in mind. They’re the reason why we’re back here, they’re really why we’re putting on a show here,” Dave quipped. “It’s the Filipinos who are so vocal about how much we were a part of their lives. And that’s vice versa – they’re instrumental in a huge part of our lives.”
Dave also observed that Filipinos are sentimental. When they find something they like, they don’t necessarily discard it for something new.
Set to perform at the Hoops Dome Arena in Lapu-Lapu City tonight, fans should expect a trip down memory lane with the band’s greatest hits such as “Miss You Like Crazy,” “If Life Is So Short” and “Bang Bang Boom” among thers. The Moffatts also promise a unique experience that will strike a balance between their albums “Chapter I: A New Beginning” and “Submodalities.”
“It’s a real fun and amazing experience,” Clint said of the reunion tour. “All shows are different. Each has its own kind of flow. As the show progresses, emotions start to unfold even more and that’s because of the relationship of the people who are singing our songs. It feels new again too in a weird way.”
Becoming one of the biggest bands in the 90’s, The Moffatts were kids in a big world. Spending their childhood as a vocal group and blowing up in 1998 – attaining Gold, Platinum and Multiple Platinum record sales – the brothers travelled the world and become proper artists in their own right. Since their disbandment in 2001, they’ve done individual music work: Scott as a producer, Bob and Clint together as a duo called Endless Summer. Dave has been a yoga instructor for a while. While their experiences when they were younger were like winning the lottery, much of it also feels like a blur in retrospect since they were living the fast life.
A lot has changed for the siblings. While they’re used to touring and performing, the reunion concert is both a familiar and yet brand new experience. Scott said that this time around, they’ve built more of a friendship with one other.
“It’s exciting. We’re having a bit more fun. We also get to express ourselves a little bit more whereas in The Moffatts back in the 90s, we didn’t really have a self-identity because we were so connected to the band. Being away was able to bring us back together and make shine what we’re good at individually,” Dave chimed in.
Speaking of identities, Scott understands how now, there is never only just one side of them as individuals nor as a band. For him, identities aren’t as direct as what everyone makes it out.
“We have different feelings and thoughts throughout the day. We’re not just one thing all the time,” said Scott.
The same goes with their latest music. They recently released a six-part EP, which Dave describes as a good combination of bridging their past albums together. The latest EP has “Secrets” as the lead-off track, while a song called “Practice Makes Perfect” is eyed to be the next single.
“A concept album would be wonderful but this isn’t one. This is a bunch of thoughts put together,” said Scott.
Having written their own music ever since, Bob mused that they’ve gotten better as artists with the time that’s passed.
“You learn and progress the more years that you do it. A lot of people think that when you hit a certain age, nobody cares anymore. But the more you do it, no matter what age you’re gonna be, you’re better at what you do. And I hope that’s the truth for us. We’re better in our delivery and the way we produce or records.”
Since they’re brothers, Scott shared that they can’t just get up and leave the group. At least, if they do feel like going their own way, which they have done before, they have the decency to do it properly and make it feel like a little detour and not a permanent breakup.
A lot has fallen into place for The Moffatts to come together and take this Southeast Asia tour. They will have to wait and see what comes after this. ‘Til then, fans can make new memories with them through Moffat X, an event for their fans to not only interact with the band, but also to meet with fellow fans
Clint thought of the special event as a way of building a relationship with fans apart from giving them a good show.
Happening tomorrow, Nov. 24, still at the Solea Mactan Cebu Resort, Moffatt X is a fun-filled day for fans who bought the Moffatt Bundle tickets which included a VVIP concert ticket and Moffat X entry. The brothers will be spending the day with fans playing games and so much more, getting competitive for teams led by one Moffatt each.
Standing the test of time, The Moffatts are still among the most beloved artists of their generation. Asked about their advice to young artists, Dave reminded them of hard work and not sitting on one’s laurels.
“Work hard. No matter what it is you’re doing. If you have passions, you have to work really hard. You have to put in hours. You can’t expect anything to just happen for you. If you want something to happen, you have to think of ways of getting it and then you have to act on it,” Dave said.