“Dam, ano’ng pakiramdam?”
—was the question SB19 posed at the beginning of the show, with a cloaked ensemble of 70 or so dancers and singers on stage, chanting as the live band made the music swell to fever pitch. In front of them, a 55,000-strong crowd roared enthusiastically back at them. And if Pablo’s words were a battlecry, we made sure we were all heard: We’re all in this together, Pins. Let’s fucking go!
On May 31 and June 1, SB19 mounted their most ambitious concert yet: The Simula at Wakas World Tour Kickoff at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. Expectations were off the charts for this one because it’s the group’s first time doing their own show at the venue. A’Tin were so hyped they sold out first day tickets in less than seven hours, and 1Z Entertainment decided a few weeks later to add a second concert date.
I was one of those people who initially said they won’t go because getting to the venue was too inconvenient, but as the day of the ticket sale grew closer, my co-A’Tin titas and I decided we COULD NOT miss this for the world.
So ayun na nga, nag-concert ang mga tita. And even though I know I cannot encapsulate the entirety of my Simula at Wakas World Tour Kickoff in words, it won’t hurt to try. Right?
“Nagsimula na pero wala na ‘kong balak na tapusin…”
As a musical theatre enjoyer and book lover, the way the show was laid out tickled my brain in a good way. I was so happy with how they crafted it as a hero’s journey and even segmented it into chapter-like parts (Genesis, Echoes, Reckoning, etc.). I became a casual SB19 fan in 2021, and through my four years of falling down the SB19 rabbithole, I’ve wondered a few times about how an SB19 musical would look and sound like. I’m sure I’m not the only one, because 1) their songs’ messages explore many human emotions and experiences, and; 2) they have a narrative quality that would lend well to a musical production.
We were given a glimpse of that last weekend.
They gave us amazing stage and lighting design. They gave us pyrotechnics, sound engineering, shiny AV packages, puzzles. They gave us a live band—with strings! They gave us an ensemble of theatre actors and professional dancers. Most importantly, Stell, Justin, Pablo, Ken, and Josh gave their all, left their hearts on the stage with every single performance.
Indeed, they started a movement when they made it a personal mission to uplift the country through their music and artistry, and they have come to the point where they’re reaping the fruits of their labor. And by the looks of it, they are nowhere near the end of their quest.
“’Di lumalapag lang basta, mas lumalakas lang asta…”
So let me tell you everything I loved about the Simula at Wakas World Tour Kickoff concert:
- The stage design – In keeping with the whole DAM aesthetic, mountain-like structures were built on stage, which served as platforms for SB19 and their ensemble at different parts of the show. These structures framed their LED screen really nicely, still providing a creepy, woodsy aesthetic and also partly concealing their live band. I loved this because it gave the stage a more theatrical feel, immersing the audience in a world of SB19’s creation.
- The setlist – Like I mentioned earlier, the show was segmented in several parts, signifying different chapters of SB19’s story, and it wouldn’t have worked if the setlist weren’t curated like it had been. The song choices for every section simply made sense, and I loooooved the new arrangements for some of the songs too!Shoutout to whoever thought it was a good idea to make Moonlight a full-on sexytiemz song — you deserve a raise!
- The VTRs and live feed on the LED screens – Impressive mix of VTRs and live feed made for a dynamic experience. We were seated at the Lower Box and I could see a clear view of the stage and its periphery, and it was such a beautiful sight to see. Notable parts of the show where I found the entire view so amazing were 1) the opening act, 2) Moonlight, with the laser lights and the bright moon on the screen, 3) DUNGKA! with the dancing crab, and; 4) the DAM encore.I also loved the use of the drone camera during certain numbers because it allowed us a view of the audience while SB19 were singing and it was just beautiful. Love love lovedddd it.
- The overall sound – I knew coming in that they were working with a live band, but it didn’t occur to me until later that they had a string section! And a chorale! Composed of theatre actors! This was such a lethal combo, I was pretty damn sure SB19 was out to end me that day. They made the sound so full and immersive, at some point I felt like I was ascending to another plane of existence.**I’m aware that there were other sections in the arena that didn’t have good audio, and it’s unfortunate that we didn’t all have the same experience…but I hope that if SB19 decides to hold concerts at the Philippine Arena again, these issues may be addressed.
- SB19 – The energy Stell, Justin, Pablo, Josh, and Ken gave was OFF THE CHARTS! You could tell that they were really locked in and were on a mission to not only give us the best performances, but also to enjoy the precious time they have on stage. I know they are called “live monsters” because they always sound so good live, but being in the presence of such greatness was such an amazing experience. Core memory ‘to, for sure.
All this, and the immense love of A’Tin for SB19 as evidenced by the many, many fan projects we saw around the arena, plus the company I was with, made for such a memorable day.
I’m not a big concert-goer, but I have seen my fair share of stage productions, and I can say this is one of the most immersive and well thought out shows I’ve been to. Whether you’re a fan of SB19 or not, you cannot deny the artistry, the talent, and the utmost care these boys and their team put into this concert, and EVERYTHING that led up to it.
You can tell that they are here because they love what they do and they’re on a continuous quest to improve their craft. They pour their hearts, minds, and souls into everything they do and that’s why their work resonates with a lot of people. I cannot wait for these five boys to conquer the world, and I know it’s only a matter of time.
Check out the concert behind the scenes below!