MANILA, Philippines - Once again, Vertical Horizon will perform in Manila on June 5 at Newport Performing Arts Theater. The band stands for a commitment to superior music. It’s a concept that has always meant a steadfast striving for the artistically-creative high road.
Consistently at the wheel, founder, writer, lead singer and guitarist Matt Scannell drives and unites the group, always exploring new territories of inspiration. Perhaps, the most significant key to Vertical Horizon’s success today is the freedom they have from the constraints of a major recording label.
Scannell says, “Our music is coming from the purest place — there are no other considerations beyond ‘Do we like this? Does it mean something us?’†Vertical Horizon works at a tempo that fuels the creative process. It’s no wonder why so many performers cite them as influences.
Founded in the early ‘90s as a duo, Vertical Horizon released three albums independently (There and Back Again, Running on Ice and Live Stages) and toured extensively. In 1999, Vertical Horizon signed with RCA and experienced meteoric success with Everything You Want, selling over two million copies. The title song captured the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 and Adult Top 40 charts, and went on to become the most played single of 2000. Having carved out a page in the annals of music history, the band also garnered further radio attention with You’re a God (No. 4 on Billboard’s Adult Chart) and Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning), which became a 2005 Top 20 country hit for country star, Gary Allan.
As a follow-up, in 2003, the band released Go. Tracks such as Inside (a frequent concert opener), I’m Still Here and Forever provided true commercial appeal, whereas the deeper tracks, like When You Cry, Sunshine and Echo kept the band established as a formidable, no-nonsense rock entity. Unfortunately, music-industry mismanagement drove the band to seek a hiatus from “the business,†and they took time to reevaluate the creative process and distribution model. After some time away, Vertical Horizon emerged with the same conclusion their fans had: You can’t keep a good band down.
Today’s Vertical Horizon shares the practices of most long-enduring acts: Different creative personnel have entered and exited, adding to the ever-expanding sonic tapestry. Experienced bands also run the gamut where it comes to variety, and Vertical Horizon is no exception here. Genres, styles, sounds are the band’s “tools of the trade,†but they’re used with such variety — such intricacy — that it’s a challenge to “classify†the band’s sound. Sure it’s rock, but nuances mean so much.
“As someone who battles a ‘glass is half empty’ outlook at times, I actually find myself in a very positive place right now,†says Scannell, and well he should be. Vertical Horizon’s high energy shows are filled with an assortment of their well-known and latest hits. The band plays off each other with an almost feverish dynamic energy, drawing the fans into a riveting musical experience at every show.
Vertical Horizon is what it always has been: A vibrant, growing musical entity. It’s not a reissue: It’s bigger, better and reloaded. The band’s “wheel of change†continues to turn. Hold on to the wheel, and you’ll be dragged. Instead, let it roll — and enjoy the ride.
Vertical Horizon live in Manila is produced by Ovation Productions. The event is presented by The Philippine STAR, Manila Bulletin, BusinessWorld, Monster Radio RX 93.1, MYX and Marriott Hotel Manila.