A guide to the Broken Hearts Club
The holidays are over, but the feelings are still hanging around. You’re back to your usual routine, then one familiar song plays, and you remember someone you promised yourself you were done with.
That is the mood Broken Hearts Club is going for at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Jan. 7. The concert is built around the five stages of heartbreak, and each artist represents one chapter. Think of it as a breakup story told through live performances. You start by pretending you are fine, you get angry, you start making excuses, you crash, then you finally feel ready to move forward.
Denial — Ebe Dancel
Denial is when you tell everyone you are okay, even when you are not. You laugh it off, you change the topic, you act busy, then one line hits, and you suddenly go quiet.
That is why Ebe Dancel fits this part. His songwriting has always lived in that space where you convince yourself you are managing, even as the words quietly undo you. Songs like “Burnout” and “Halik sa Hangin” do not rush the pain. They let it linger, the way denial usually does, until you realize you have been feeling it all along. Expect a set that starts soft and steady, then slowly gets heavier as the lyrics sink in.
Anger — Kamikazee
Anger is when you stop being sweet about it. You want noise. You want to shout. You want to let the frustration out, not explain it.
That is where Kamikazee comes in. Their music turns heartbreak into something physical, the kind you release by yelling along instead of holding back. With songs like “Huling Sayaw” and “Halik,” the hurt is no longer quiet or polite. It is loud, raw, and shared with everyone around you. Expect a set that makes the crowd loud and fearless. After all, this is the release part.
Bargaining — This Band
Bargaining is when you start talking yourself into one more try. One more message. One more chance. One more reason to believe it can still work.
This Band lives in that kind of thinking. Their songs sound like conversations you rehearse in your head late at night, hoping something will still change. Tracks like “Kahit Ayaw Mo Na” and “Hindi Na Nga” feel like emotional negotiations, where you already know the answer but keep asking anyway.
This part of the night will likely feel like group karaoke. People sing because they know the words and because it sounds like what they have been thinking.
Depression — Nina
Depression is the quiet stage. The fight is gone, and what is left is the weight of it. You are not trying to be dramatic. You are just tired.
Nina fits this chapter because her voice has always carried sadness with control and sincerity. Songs such as “I Love You Goodbye” and “Someday” do not beg or accuse. They sit with the pain, allowing it to be felt without rushing toward relief.
This is the part where the crowd slows down. The singing gets softer. People stop joking and just relish the moment.
Acceptance — Rico Blanco
Acceptance is not forgetting. It is when you finally stop chasing answers. You still remember, but you are not stuck.
That is why Rico Blanco is a strong closer. His music often sounds like reflection after the storm, when you can look back without falling apart. With songs like “Kisapmata” and “‘Wag Mong Aminin,” the emotions are still there, but they no longer stop you from moving forward.
Expect a final set that feels like a reset. Not perfect, but lighter than when you came in.
Tickets are available via smtickets.com.
