Listen, TNT Boys just made history at the Big Dome

Emotions poured out during the show’s finale. Amid the eye-catching pyrotechnics and flying confetti, they were hugging and comforting each other onstage after belting out “Listen,” a cover of Beyonce’s iconic torch song, which also took them to many parts of the world performing to live TV audience. Pop sensations Mackie Empuerto (13), Keifer Sanchez (14), and Francis Concepcion (12), collectively known as TNT Boys, couldn’t hold back their tears as they thank the massive crowd that flocked to the Araneta Coliseum on Friday night to see them in a historic show—the boys are the youngest act to ever perform a full show on the stage of the almost 60-year-old multi-purpose arena. Known for their electrifying belting showdowns and impersonations of legendary music icons, the trio featured powerhouse performances in their first major show billed Listen: The Big Shot Concert. The show began with a tribute video that chronicled the trio’s humble beginnings to their rise to fame.  Then, the crowd”•a diverse group of kids, teens, parents and adult fans”•erupted in ear-shattering screams when TNT Boys officially opened the show with their dynamic performance of “And I Am Telling You.” The same amount of enthusiasm was felt throughout the entire evening as the boys dished out powerful performances in succession with their covers of classic hits popularized by Bee Gees and Queen.

The two hour spectacle also witnessed TNT Boys perform the Christmas song “O Holy Night” and sing the pop hits “A Million Dreams” from the blockbuster film The Greatest Showman, Beyonce’s “Halo,” Jessie J’s “Flashlight, and the bouncy tune “Bang Bang” of Ariana Grande, Jessie J and Nicki Minaj. The trio also sang a new repertoire of songs they have not performed in public before including the new Bantay Bata theme song, and original track “I Wanna look That Way” by Hill de Roberts and Froilan Canlas. Joining them as special guests were Vice Ganda, Jed Madela, K Brosas, and fellow Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids performers Chun-sa Jung, Esang de Torres, Krystal Brimner, Marco Masa, Noel Comia Jr., Onyok Pineda, Sheena Belarmino, and Xia Vigor.

Initially known as grand finalists of “Tawag ng Tanghalan Kids,” Mackie, Keifer, and Francis shot to fame and were launched as the TNT Boys after their singing showdown on Gandang Gabi Vice in June 2017 went viral. Since then, they have traveled the world to perform for different audiences, appeared in Little Big Shots in the UK, US, and Australia this year (the first Filipino act to do so), and won the second season of Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids. Listen: The Big Shot Concert was a solid testament of what these kids can do vocally, and what they can offer as music artists and performers in the years to come. And even if they hit puberty, with a strong and growing following, like what we have witnessed in their concert, TNT Boys can definitely make history and even break more records.