The journey continues for Martin - DIRECT LINE by Boy Abunda

I have (somehow) seen Martin Nievera inside out – singing, talking, crying, laughing, loving, raging – I’ve seen all! And I’m not complaining! I have seen his concerts ever since the guy came into show business, 18 years ago. While this is not at all surprising having been Martin’s consultant – for many years now. I doubt that anybody would disagree with me when I say that his recent concert series Martin Nievera XV3, The Aftershock – The Crossover Live Tour was among his best live performances ever.

Making its Manila stop on Feb. 3 at what used to be known as the Ultra football field in Pasig City, Martin Nievera XV3, The Aftershock – The Crossover Live Tour was a thrilling mix of dazzling theater, powerful musicality and personal testimonial. I can say that while Martin’s public may have grown fondly familiar with his live performances, I’m certain that many of them regard his last concert to be unlike any of his most recent outings.

No matter what Martin had been feeling a bit under the weather only days prior to concert night, he went through his repertoire with customary expertise and emotion. I realize that I could be revealing my age by saying this but my personal favorites among his many affecting covers that marvelous night were such ’70s classics as The Harder I Try, Lovely Day, MacArthur’s Park and that Stevie Wonder medley.

Also wonderfully received were Martin’s touching readings of You Take My Breath Away, All Night Long, his medley of Phil Collins songs, and yet another medley of songs by Huey Lewis and the News (I’m not exactly sure if Huey Lewis’ resurgent popularity – or that of his repertoire – is due to Duets, his recent movie "musical" outing with Gwyneth Paltrow). Of course, Martin’s medley of his own smash hits also sent the mammoth audience wildly cheering, and did his cover of the popular Carpenters song Love Me for What I Am in which the audience gladly participated in at the Mad Man’s urging.

The provincial stops of Martin Nievera XV3, The Aftershock – The Crossover Live Tour featured such a stellar line up of special guest performances as Lani Misalucha and Regine Velasquez, but I doubt that Martin’s Manila audience missed the presence of other top-drawer guest artists. After all, there was his very special guest, his son Robin who enjoyed the privilege of "opening" the concert.

And who can forget Martin’s other equally exceptional guest whose surprise appearance so totally floored him? Of course, there will be those who will presume that the appearance of Pops Fernandez, his estranged wife, was a stage-managed "surprise" but I can assure everyone that her unexpected presence at the concert was one of the very few occasions that I saw Martin truly at a loss for words. The surprise and joy he conveyed was something impossible to fake. Besides being an electrifying concert experience, Martin Nievera XV3, The Aftershock – The Crossover Live Tour also had sublime moments of spirituality, particularly the Mad Man’s medley of Our Father and I Believe that he did against the video backdrop of footage of People Power 2. If you were among the hundreds of thousands who massed at that now twice-historic site along Edsa, I am sure you caught Martin’s stirring reading of these spiritual songs, and the legion’s hushed and admiring reception that very early morning at Edsa last January was replicated that February night at the Ultra.

Martin Nievera XV3, The Aftershock – The Crossover Live Tour ended with a video presentation that promised there would be more Crossover journeys for the Mad Man. I can only hope for this to be so – and not only because I have a professional association with the guy. Martin Nievera is the best male vocal artist we have around.

If I somehow forgot to tell you this shortly after that spectacular concert, Martin, let me rectify the oversight by congratulating you. It was definitely a musical experience never to be forgotten.

And whether singing or ranting, I’m always in awe of the firestorm in your exquisite madness!