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‘You guys want to hear something crazy? This is kinda heartbreaking, I almost don’t want to say it. This show almost didn’t happen,’ Porter Robinson tells the Filipino crowd
MANILA, Philippines – The Manila leg of Porter Robinson’s “SMILE! :D” worldwide concert tour had a surprising disclosure: the show almost got cancelled at the last minute. Robinson took a moment in between songs to explain.
“You guys want to hear something crazy? This is kinda heartbreaking, I almost don’t want to say it. This show almost didn’t happen.”
As the sold-out crowd at the New Frontier Theater on December 8 reacted in astonishment, he continued. “This morning I woke up to a text saying that we had to cancel the show and I just cried. The reason that all of our equipment and backlight stuff wasn’t going to make it into the country on time. Everything got delayed. And I just want to say, Live Nation and my whole team pulled together a miracle to bring the show’s happiness.”
After he thanked various groups and specific Individuals, he then noted, “Think how much of a tragedy it would have been for me not to have been able to do this tonight.”
And he’s right about that. There would have been thousands of disappointed fans. There was palpable energy transferring from the artist to the fans and vice versa. And it wasn’t just for a moment, the feeling washed back and forth throughout. I’m not an avid follower like most in attendance but the love of his dedicated fans was obvious.
Robinson performed with a vibrant energy that I wasn’t expecting from a DJ/Producer. The sound of the band was all in harmonic balance. The stage accoutrements were well-placed. The lighting and the accompanying video backdrops were a spectacle but not so much that they were a distraction. Robinson was engaging. The love of his craft was obvious. The concert was fantastic, 9 out of 10.
The reputation of Filipino concertgoers as the best sing-along crowds in the world did not disappoint either. Most of the fans knew every word of every song. At one point, he repeated a song’s last chorus, instructing the crowd to sing along as he played an acoustic guitar. The band members sat on the floor at their stations with genuine smiles. All of them were impressed with the crowd’s singing capability.
He even noted that he would love to have some samples of the crowd singing to add to his recordings. “You have exceeded my expectations,” Robinson said. The crowd even sang along with “Meow meow meows” to the melody of a Billie Eilish song, “What I Was Made For,” a cover by Bongo Cat.
The concert was broken into 3 sections which coincided with his studio albums. He began with songs from his most recent album, Smile! :D. Then performed songs from his second studio album, Nurture. Finishing up with selections from Worlds, his first album.
The overall theme of Robinson’s work would be electro pop, as some critics, as well as myself, note. There are similarities to Passion Pit, Owl City or M83. Perhaps it’s unfair judgment to compare any artist to another. They all sound like themselves.
With the three album releases, you can see a growth in the work. His first album charted well in the EDM scene, garnering awards such as Single of the Year. He collaborated with various vocalists on this album. Amy Millan of Stars and Broken Social Scene was on a track by one of my favorite singers. The second album is a dramatic shift. With less emphasis on electronic sound. This album has a blissful feeling. These ethereal songs use fewer electronics and more acoustic instruments with the guitar, piano and violins. Exposing thoughtful lyrics which provide insight to the artist. His latest album is more of a combination of the first two — an Indie pop style with an electronic dance vibe thrown in the mix, along with a polished feel with a meaningful approach.
That’s the beauty of his works so far. The music and the man have developed and evolved into something more than their parts. The diversity he has produced with each project is impressive. This music is much more than what many folks would think of as EDM, which often gets a bad rap of continuous loops or samples that become mind-numbing. This may be wonderful for a rage party but not thought-provoking. Remarkably, he brought that all together successfully to a live performance.
I’m looking forward to seeing what the next project reveals. – Rappler.com