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| InnerVoices at 19 East on April 24, 2024. |
Last night was the first time we watched them perform a full set at 19th East in Sucat, Muntinlupa City. What do we think? Read on.
NOSTALGIA OR NEW FINDS. The band caters to any age and musical preference. They play songs mostly from the '80s (e.g. Tears for Fears suite, Queen canon) and '90s ("The One I Love" by R.E.M., "Change The World" by Eric Clapton) for Gen X, but they also perform current hits ("Lost Stars" by Adam Levine that night) for Gen Z. Being abled and seasoned musicians, we're sure they can surprise their audience with songs that came out earlier or those just released this year if they choose to. Innervoices just keeps "giving," as they say these days.
COMMUNITY. Innervoices has built loyal following that patronizes their gigs, er, as The Calling puts it, wherever you (they) may go. At 19 East, they know most of the patrons and banter with them like family. Once you're part of the InnerVoices nation too, you'd not think twice about standing up and dancing/singing along, er, as The Care puts it, whatever possessed you; be that the intro of an old forgotten favorite ("Hypnotized" by Wang Chung) or a moving lyrical line ("Shut Up and Dance!"). There's this "tayo tayo lang to" feeling that loosens inhibition with help from a round of beer, of course.
FAITHFUL. We were able to talk to the members of band between sets and commented on how they play the songs "plakado" or as close to the original arrangement as possible. While some bands would like to "own" covers by reimagining them, InnerVoices chooses to play it the way we grew up liking the songs. If you think about it, it takes discipline to play a drum fill or bass line the same way all the time especially when you're swept away by the energy of the moment or the crowd, but, well, these guys do the job like the pro that they are.
SPONTANEITY AND INTUITION. Even if you're an InnerVoices disciple who follow them around, you'll never get the same show twice; at least the songs in the same succession. That's because they (actually, Atty. Rey Bergado, one of the keyboard players and founding member) make their set list right before the show and we think they do that after surveying the crowd and "guesstimating" what would click with them. It takes experience to do that and looking at the band members, you just know they've a lot of that. Just kidding!
CROWD-PLEASER. There was a time when this term would turn off artists who tend to think highly of themselves and, thus, find it beneath them to "sell out." Well, InnerVoices, they know who they are and what makes their audiences happy. We remember thinking why Angelo won't just sing the obvious choices for his kind of voice (Pearl Jam, Live, Nirvana), but it dawned on us very quickly that the show is not just about them, but those who made the effort to come and pay for a good time. As far as InnerVoices gigs go, people come to dance and not headbang. We nod our heads in agreement.
Here's the video of our interview:
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