Still on top of his game

After a prolonged absence to pursue his Las Vegas dreams, Martin Nievera is home again to reclaim his undisputed Concert King title. His concert series at Onstage in Greenbelt more than makes the mark.

Martin has been homesick and performing for the "toughest crowd" in the world puts him right in his element. And boy, did he show us how!

The show opened with a montage of videotaped interviews of some of the brightest stars in Las Vegas including Clint Holmes himself. The Vegas celebrities who all had nothing but praises for our Concert King, were according to Martin, "not paid to say what they said".

This, of course made us truly proud of Martin’s achievement in the entertainment capital of the world. It was a great teaser for his grand opening in the show.

Martin opened the show with just the sound of one guitar instead of a more grandiose big band. Then one by one, he introduced the members of his band as they came to join in the music making to the tune of Mac the Knife. The music crescendoed to the big band sound people were expecting in the beginning and the number ended with the Concert King proclaiming, "Martin’s back!". It was a well-crafted opening which somehow transported the audience — Martin’s Las Vegas stage.

After a couple more Vegas-y numbers, Martin brought the audience back to a time in the past with a medley of Kenny Loggins hits, with videoclips of the shoulder-padded Martin Nievera of the ’80s. He explained that he was celebrating his 22nd year in showbusiness this year.

Martin, who looked dapper even in comfortable clothes, was his usual hyper-bubbly self, joking "just to show you how well I did in Las Vegas", pointing to his distressed/tattered jeans and funky shirt. He then sang a few more of his earlier hits which include Be My Lady and Say That You Love Me, which still illicits the usual shrieks of delight from fans.

It was a show that stretched his range as an artist and performer. Martin is one performer who will try his hand at anything, from the more current OPM hits like Let Me Be the One and Rainbow, to an almost campy medley of Tom Jones hits. And then there were his tributes to Las Vegas giants Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra.

For his encore, Martin performed his new Broadway medley, now considered a staple in Martin Nievera concerts. Starting with the melancholic Home (from The Wiz) and finishing off with his signature version of This Is The Moment (from Jekyll and Hyde).

Martin had at least three standing ovations that night. One got the feeling that this was not a perfunctory show of approval from his audience but a genuine expression of respect, admiration and appreciation of an artist they have grown to love.

Martin is a singer who charms his way into the hearts of his audience, simply by opening himself up for us to really "know" him.

That Martin Nievera is a father who misses his children when he’s on the road. That Martin Nievera is a singer who always gives 101 percent whenever he sings any song. That Martin Nievera is a Filipino, who wants to show the rest of the world that being one is something to be truly proud of.

And it clicks. All the time. Twenty-two years and countless concerts later, the Concert King certainly still has the toughest crowd at the palm of his hand.

Martin Nievera’s Tough Crowd series has been extended until July 17. Catch him before he flies off again to pursue even bigger dreams.