SB19’s Stell captivates in playful Cebu leg of ‘Room Tour’

CEBU, Philippines — Three words to describe SB19’s Stell as a performer: talented, charming, and playful. This won’t come as a surprise whether you’re an A’Tin (fandom name of SB19) or you watched him last year as one of the coaches on GMA Network’s “The Voice Generations.”

These qualities were on full display at the Cebu leg of his “Room Tour” held Saturday, August 10, at Ayala Malls Central Bloc where he promoted his debut EP “Room”, released Aug. 2 on music platforms.

The setlist exclusively featured the four tracks from the EP, including “Anino” and “Classic.” Despite the absence of SB19 songs, Stell managed to carry the show on his own, providing a great opportunity to showcase his chops as a solo performer.

What truly stood out from the show was Stell’s humorous engagement with the audience. Before performing “‘Di Ko Masabi” (written by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab), he asked the crowd to guess the name of the song he was about to sing. When they responded, Stell jokingly called his fans selfish for not wanting to reveal the title.

Afterwards, he asked them to sing along to test if they were able to memorize the lyrics a week after the EP’s release. Although the crowd managed to get some of the words right, they stumbled over the latter parts, leading to shared laughter between Stell and his fans. These interactions are what make him one of the most entertaining P-pop idols.

The show was relatively low-key compared to other P-pop events, which suited the EP’s intimate sound. Most of the dancing was reserved for the closing song and the EP’s lead single, “Room,” for which Stell delivered a saucy, disco-inspired performance with his backup dancers. He also showcased minimal dancing when he opened the show with “Classic.”

Before leaving the stage, some lucky Cebuano A’Tins were invited to dance “Room” with Stell onstage — a moment they surely won’t forget.

Opening the show were Stell’s Warner Music Philippines labelmates, Reanne Borela and Cliff. While many were there primarily for Stell, it was nice to see the fans singing along with the openers as they closed their respective sets.

It takes immense talent and effort for a P-pop idol to deliver a solo show without their group members, especially when fan interaction is a crucial component. As SB19’s main vocalist, Stell effortlessly ticked all the boxes, with his captivating stage presence and funny banter with fans as icing on the cake.

The “Stell Room Tour” will continue in Cagayan de Oro on Aug. 17 before concluding in Taguig on Aug. 24.