One night and one more time – American rock band Fall Out Boy performed their hearts out for their Manila fans during a sold-out show on December 9 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The boys tirelessly performed for nearly two hours, giving their fans an unforgettable show that embodied the showmanship, theatrics, and energy that fans know and love. From the general admission section to the floor standing area, their loyal Filipino fans matched their energy throughout the night.
Although it’s customary for most bands to have an opening act to warm up the crowd, Fall Out Boy needed none. Right off the bat, they began their show with a lively performance of “Love From The Other Side.”
Riding on their audience’s high from the opening song, they played “The Phoenix” immediately after. And what better way to raise the crowd’s spirits than with some fire in the show? Besides the pyrotechnics that made the song even more impressive, Fall Out Boy’s bassist Pete Wentz attached a small device to his guitar that lets him spew fire from his instrument.
By this time, the crowd was roaring to see more from the boys. This enthusiasm did not go unnoticed. Wentz told fans that although Manila is the second to the last leg of their tour for 2023, it’s the loudest show they played at. The bassist also took this time to address how long it’s been since the band returned to the Philippines, with their previous Manila concerts held in 2013 and 2007.
Much to the delight of their fans, Fall Out Boy continued to fill the Araneta Coliseum with electrifying notes. They played more of their recent and all-time hits, including “Sugar, We’re Goin Down,” “Dance, Dance,” and “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up),” among other songs.
The band and the crowd’s energies never wavered as they performed and sang along to each song with much gusto, turning the Smart Araneta Coliseum into a sea of lights and making the floor shake as they jumped, danced, and rocked along to the songs that were a significant part of their lives.
In the middle of the show, Fall Out Boy frontman Patrick Stump changed the pace with a piano medley that included “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Yet before that, he couldn’t help but say, “I missed the Philippines.”
Stump proceeded to delight their fans with a quick glimpse into his personal life by sharing how he married into a Filipino family through his wife, Elisa Yao, and how he wore a barong during their ceremony.
“It means a lot to me to be here and you guys have been the best audience this entire tour,” the vocalist said.
As their show ended, Wentz couldn’t help but get up close and personal with the band’s Filipino fans. He went down the stage to shake the crowd’s hands, making their experience memorable.
With such a strong connection between the band and their Filipino fans, let’s hope it doesn’t take another decade before Fall Out Boy returns to the Philippines to rekindle their bond with their supportive audience.