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Rey Bergado (fourth from left) with InnerVoices members |
There's more to a concert than voice, skill in playing musical instrument, production value and spiel to make it enjoyable, memorable.
Ingredients not usually noticed are song choices and the order these are presented. Yes, repertoire is so important that a lot of time is spent crafting it because it could make or break a show.
Too many fast songs played successively would tire the ear. Too many familiar or hit songs would make the show predictable.
Too much high notes would numb, while no vocal highlight would bore. Too much originals would be self-indulgent, even as purely covers would be a sell-out.
To paraphrase Brian May, too many love (songs) will kill you.
This is where the genius of Atty. Rey Bergado of InnerVoices comes to fore. Acknowledged as the band's musical director, he is adept at reading any audience and adjusting their set list accordingly on the spot, so that in the end---without fail---everyone is on their feet, cheering.
We've been attending their shows at 19 East, Aromata and, most recently, Hard Rock Cafe Makati for months now. Oh, they perform the staples, of course, but the band can afford to be intuitive with their set list because they have mastered a lot of songs from different genres and eras.
You love Tears for Fears and A-ha? They play those---but also R.E.M. and Rivermaya both of which you also happen to like but didn't expect to hear that night that's why you are pleasantly surprised.
Any Gen Xer knows "Let's Go" and "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" by Wang Chung, right? But InnerVoices chooses to play "Hypnotize Me," a relatively lesser-known hit but just as nostalgic. Suddenly, memories from a different place in your heart come rushing back.
You realize you missed hearing live "Footloose," "Always Something There To Remind Me" and "The More You Live, The More You Love." Well, Innervoices gives you what you want---that's why you are receptive when they play their originals as "Galaw" and "THAL." It's a relationship they have with their audience; a give-and-take thing.
At Hard Rock Cafe Makati few days ago, they opened their third set with a slow song, "Ghost In You." It's an off-center choice and the band knows it. It's artist and audience winking at each other.
Some people ask, "Don't you get tired of watching Innervoices shows?" Our response would be, "Well, which show do you mean?"
Because it's a different show every time.
This Atty Bergado is mind reader and shape-shifter of a musical director.
Contributing much in making InnerVoices perennial crowd-pleaser.
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