[usr 4]
βThese are the moments, these are the times. Letβs make the best out of our lives.β
Fifteen years after their debut album, Camino Palmero, Alex Band and The Calling gave an all-out debut performance at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Friday, November 11. Naturally, the venue was filled with those who grew up listening to pop rock anthems that defined the 2000βs.
The night started a few minutes after eight as local rockersΒ Bonifacio Republic and Johnny Cross warm up the crowd with original songs.
![Β©AsiaLive365](https://asialive365.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/calling-m-4.jpg)
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We were approaching nine oβclock when the lights began to dim and smokes filled the stage. This was it. People screamed their lungs out in anticipation as The Calling kicked off the set with a long instrumental intro to βOne By Oneβ. Hits after hits followed, including βAdrienneβ, βTonightβ, βCould It Be Any Harderβ, and βFor Youβ as well as stripped versions of βAnythingβ and βThings Will Go My Wayβ.
![Β©AsiaLive365](https://asialive365.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/calling-m-6.jpg)
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After βWhy Donβt You and Iβ, frontman Alex Band, who sounded exactly like his record by the way, was left alone on the stage for a solo acoustic version of βWherever You Will Goβ. The singer told the crowd that he wrote the song when he was 16 and did not expect it to be a phenomenon that it was, being dubbed as the Song of the Decade (2000-2010) by Billboard and all.
βI wanted to play this song twice tonight,β he said in an introduction to the major hit. βLater on we will rock it out. For now, Iβm gonna play it how I wrote it.β If that wasnβt a treat, I donβt know what was.
Alright, maybe a physical souvenir. During βStigmatizeβ, Alex threw the guitar pick heβd been using to the pitβs direction, which found its way on my right shoulder. It took me seconds to realise what it was before I let out a squeal and laughter. Itβs safe to say I didnβt let go of the pick for the rest of the show.
![Β©AsiaLive365](https://asialive365.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/calling-m-5.jpg)
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The audience did not expect for the band to perform anything outside of their song catalogue, but here we were, listening to a rendition of of U2βs βWith or Without Youβ, something we didn’t know we wanted and it simply added to the night’s nostalgic power pop experience.
The cover quickly transitioned to the next and final song. And it was, you guess it, the studio version of βWherever You Will Goβ just as promised. This time around, with a full band and a give-it-all finale bolt of energy from the artists and audience alike, The Callingβs biggest single drew the perfect conclusion to their Manila debut.
![Β©AsiaLive365](https://asialive365.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/calling-m-7.jpg)
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The band said their goodbyes and left the stage, and naturally fans cried out for an encore (βWe want more! We want more!β). Despite a surprisingly concise setlist, fans would have to be content with what they had and begin snapping group selfies for keepsake.
While the show took us back in time, it points in an equal degree how far weβve come and how much weβve grown. The genre that are almost out of place today amidst dance pop and endless EDM collaborations made more sense than ever. Itβs a comfort for the twenty and thirtysomethings out there who privately long to be the kid waiting for their favourite video on MTV again.
![Β©AsiaLive365](https://asialive365.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/calling-m-1.jpg)
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Through the years and hiatuses, The Calling still managed to gain the support from their Filipino fans and vice versa. And with such a strong fanbase here, thereβs no doubt the Californian band will return. Perhaps sooner than weβd think as theyβre working on a new album and, who knows, maybe another Song of the Decade.