The saying, “When it rains, it pours” doesn’t just apply to the weather. Expect a barrage of musical acts to lift our dampened spirits this month, starting with three concerts scheduled one after another at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Flanking bubblegum pop sensation Carly Rae Jepsen’s Aug. 7 show are two gigs from the “Boys of August”—British electropop duo Pet Shop Boys will perform in Manila for the first time on Aug. 6, while American alt-rock outfit Fall Out Boy will be back for the third time on Aug. 8.
Here’s a quick update on what the “Boys” have been up to lately.
Highest charting record
Pet Shop Boys’ original members Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have remained active, and their efforts have been rewarded when the group’s 12th studio album, “Electric,” released only last July, debuted at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart—its highest-charting record since 1993’s “Very.”
Produced by Stuart Price (who’s also worked with Madonna, Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue, and The Killers, among others), “Electric” serves up eight new dance anthems plus a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “The Last To Die.”
Both refreshing and nostalgic, the album is a vibrant throwback to Britpop’s glorious era; one can bet that its carrier singles, “Axis” and “Vocal,” have already begun making their rounds in clubs all over town.
Since breaking out in 1984, the three-time Brit Award winners and six-time Grammy nominees have recorded synthpop gems that helped define the new wave-dance scene. Iconic singles include “West End Girls,” “Suburbia,” “It’s a Sin,” and a remake of the American country single “Always on My Mind,” a tribute to Elvis Presley’s version of the song.
To date, Pet Shop Boys have sold more than 50 million records worldwide and are listed as the most successful duo in UK music history by The Guinness Book of Records.
No. 1 on iTunes
Back from its four-year hiatus, Fall Out Boy returns with a spanking new album, “Save Rock and Roll,” and a summer/fall tour.
The record debuted at No. 1 on iTunes in 27 countries, including the Philippines. It comes as no surprise, since this comeback is one massive joyride from start to finish.
“Save Rock and Roll” is full of signature jaunty hooks and tongue-in-cheek lyricism which had propelled the band to mainstream stardom, but with more pop/dancehall overtones (and considerably shorter song titles, except for one).
It also boasts of guest performances by Sir Elton John, Courtney Love, Big Sean, and English up-and-comer Foxes, best known as the vocals behind the club anthem “Clarity” by Zedd.
Fall Out Boy—Patrick Stump (vocals, rhythm guitar), Pete Wentz (bass), Joe Trohman (lead guitar), and Andy Hurley (drums)—has also taken on an ambitious project connected with “Save Rock and Roll” called “The Young Blood Chronicles,” which sees the band filming and releasing music videos for each track in a miniseries of sorts.
Four videos have already been uploaded on the band’s official website, in the following order: “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up),” “The Phoenix,” “Young Volcanoes,” and “Alone Together.”
The Manila leg of the “Save Rock and Roll Tour” serves as the band’s third visit, following its sold-out, two-night debut show in 2007 and the “Folie à Deux” tour gig in 2009.
For those who weren’t able to catch the first two gigs, they can likely expect chart-topping faves “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down,” “Dance, Dance,” “Thnks fr th Mmrs,” “The Take Over, The Breaks Over,” “I Don’t Care,” and “This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race” to make it into next week’s setlist.
Call 911-5555 or visit ticketnet.com.ph.