Martin returns to the basics

It has now been 30 years since Aug. 21, 1983. Everybody remembers the date. That was when Ninoy Aquino tried to go home but was instead shot dead on the tarmac at the Manila International Airport. I still recall how hard the heavens cried. It rained very hard that day and Philippine history embarked on its way to very important changes.

Changes, too, were what were in store for the young balladeer Martin Nievera on that very same day. Aug. 21, 1983 was the day of his big concert debut. The show was Martin Live and it was held at the Folk Arts Theater at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex on Roxas Boulevard. It was remarkable in a lot of ways and Martin remembers them all.

There was a street kid who tapped on the window of his car while he was on his way to FAT and Martin gave the boy all the cash he had — P100. He remembers the long shower before the concert. This has since then become part of his pre-concert ritual, an invigorating moment when he goes through his whole show via the sequence guide pasted on the wall.

He recalls that there was no coverage at all, no video or recording of the whole concert. That is nothing to be sad about, really. In fact, he is glad there is not any because the show was just plain awful. The sound system was so bad and it was just too, too noisy that nobody not even Martin could hear what he was singing.

But it must have been good enough for his fans because in response to the huge demand for tickets, Martin Live was back at another sold-out show at the Folk Arts only a month later on Sept. 19, 1983. And I am sure that Martin made sure that it was a better performance than before, one that maybe should have been saved for posterity.

Just as the assassination of Ninoy Aquino can never be undone, so is it of any attempt to recapture that first time that Martin stepped on a concert stage. Unknown to many then it was really the birth of a Concert King, who will only get better and better and better with his every performance, alongside of course his other accomplishments as a recording artist and TV host.

Memories of that time plus other great moments in his life these past 30 years are what Martin will bring to the Araneta Coliseum stage on Sept. 13. And it will be most especially a throwback experience where it will be mainly Martin and his music. That was how it was in the beginning, just Martin, his voice, the band and his songs and that will be what the audience will get at the Big Dome.

Brace yourselves for a surprise guest or two to spice up the goings-on. Most of the time though there will be Martin and the orchestra with Be My Lady, Pain, Each Day With You, Forever, You Are My Song, Somewhere, and so on unfolding into your ears through the best sound system possible. The sound will be a far cry from 30 years ago and the man and his music will be even better.

Martin NIevera 3D, The Anniversary Concert will be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao on Friday, Sept. 13. Produced by Viva Live and Redstone, the show is directed by Rowell Santiago with Louie Ocampo as musical director. Martin will celebrate 30 years of hits with The ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gerard Salonga.

Tickets to 3D are now available at Ticketnet, 911-5555 or at Viva Concerts 687-7236. Ticket prices are VIP P4,000; Patron A P3,500; Patron B P3,000; Lower Box P2,500; Upper Box A P1,500; Upper Box B P750; and General Admission P400.

For more memorable songs and lots of Freestyle memories, check out the concert Top & Jinky Reunited. Presented by Viva Concerts, a division of Viva Live, the show will be held at the Music Museum in Greenhills on Friday, Aug. 30.

Featured performers are Top Suzara and Jinky Vidal, the former lead vocalists that made the band Freestyle a by-word in Philippine pop music two decades ago. Remember hit songs like Before I Let You Go, So Slow, Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang and others? Those were by Freestyle with these two singing together.

As Freestyle fans surely know by now, a falling-out within the group separated Top and Jinky for several years during which both pursued solo careers. But they have since then reconciled and are performing together again. They are also set to release a duet album soon, also titled Reunited that will bring back the unique sound of their combined voices. Their version of the Peaches & Herb title track is a sure winner.

Tickets to Top & Jinky Reunited are now available at Ticketnet, 911-5555; SM Tickets 470-2222; Music Museum 721-6726; and at Viva Concerts 687-7236. Ticket prices are P2,500; P2,000; and P1,000.