Despite garnering abundant respect and admiration from peers, critics, and music fans alike, Rivermaya appears to have not fully enjoyed the same level of accolades as their contemporaries.
The band's ongoing presence likely contributes to the sense that a comprehensive reflection on its deep impact on local music and pop culture is premature.
This sentiment is somewhat odd, considering that Rivermaya, despite numerous roster changes, has been around for three decades already.
Rivermaya is undeniably iconic, but its narrative continues to evolve, and elaborate tributes often occur posthumously after a group has disbanded.
This is why the reunion concert featuring the classic Rivermaya lineup of Bamboo Mañalac, Mark Escueta, Nathan Azarcon, and Rico Blanco feels like finally a celebration of the band's legacy, a well-deserved tribute for a band that rightfully has earned its place among the OPM greats.
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And the band did it in typical Rivermaya fashion — with loads of swag and remarkable showmanship.
REVISITING THE SONGS
The concert commenced shortly after 8:00 p.m., and the excitement within the SMDC Festival Grounds in Parañaque City was palpable.
Rivermaya set the tone for the evening with "Monopoly" from the band's sophomore record, Trip, released in 1996.
The sight of Bamboo singing and playing alongside Rico, Nathan, and Mark again after 26 years was nothing short of surreal.
In fact, witnessing the quartet on one stage, performing songs they recorded three decades ago, felt almost dreamlike.
The band's energy was electric, and they wasted no time diving into their setlist, dishing out the hit "Kung Ayaw Mo, Huwag Mo," followed by the non-single yet fan favorite "Princess of Disguise."
The crowd erupted with even more cheers and enthusiastic singing as the band launched into another beloved tune, "Hinahanap-Hanap Kita," from their third album, Atomic Bomb (1997).
The band went slow but groovy with "Ballroom Dancing" and the infectious "Sunny Days," both from the Atomic Bomb album as well.
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MORE HITS AND TECHNICAL GLITCH
Bamboo led the audience on a nostalgic journey, reflecting on youth and the simpler times when they eagerly waited for their songs to play on the radio.
Nostalgia filled the entire venue as the band performed "Ulan," the song that propelled Rivermaya into mainstream consciousness.
Released in 1994, "Ulan" takes listeners on an introspective journey, celebrating the beauty of living in the present and finding happiness in life's ordinary moments.
The song's theme perfectly captured the mood of the night, transporting everyone, especially those who grew up with the band's music, on a journey down memory lane.
The first surprise of the night arrived when Rico delivered a solo rendition of the poignant "You'll Be Safe Here," used as the theme song of the ABS-CBN horror-drama series, Spirits.
Notably, this song was first heard in 2005, well beyond the era of the band's Bamboo phase.
Its inclusion in the setlist was unexpected, but it served as a surefire way to inspire enthusiastic sing-alongs.
Rico even took the liberty of altering some of the lyrics towards the end, incorporating Filipino translations, reminiscent of Rivermaya's breathtaking performance at the MTV Asia Awards in Bangkok, Thailand, back in 2006.
After performing "Luha," the band shifted again to a singalong track by playing the angsty but melodic "Bring Me Down."
A technical glitch disrupted the flow of the night momentarily during the performance of "20 Million."
Initially, the band members appeared unaware of the audio issue, continuing to perform while the crowd grew restless.
The band restarted the performance and then seamlessly transitioned into the melancholic yet beautiful "If," followed by "Fever," "Kundiman," "Hilo," and "Flowers."
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CLOSING THE NIGHT STRONG
The band decided to slow things down a bit before ending the night with a bang, starting with the sentimental "Panahon Na Naman," during which Rico and Mark shared vocal duties.
Then, it was time to unleash another crowd-pleaser with "Elesi," taken from the band's Atomic Bomb album.
The audience was in for another surprise with the inclusion of "Nerbyoso," a track from the band's first post-Bamboo album, It's Not Easy Being Green.
This marked the first time fans witnessed Bamboo singing the song live, as previous performances featured Rico on vocals.
Following "Nerbyoso," the anthemic but lesser-known "Mabuhay" graced the stage, followed by the electrifying "Awit Ng Kabataan," with the band encouraging the crowd to sing along in unison.
The familiar keyboard intro of the hit ballad "214" and its distinct bass lines instantly elicited screams and cheers from the audience.
Bamboo was joined by fans in singing the words to the song, which over the years has become Rivermaya's most beloved track.
Continuing with fan favorites, the quartet launched into "Himala" before concluding the night with the rocking "Kisapmata," as fans screamed along to its blistering chorus.
Kudos to conductor Mel Villena and his team for their exceptional work in incorporating string arrangements that added depth and substance to old Rivermaya songs.
Trivia: Mel has worked with Rivermaya in the past, putting horn arrangements on songs like "May Kasalanan" and "Bagong Taon," and strings on "If" and "Luha."
In an interview, Nathan expressed his desire to stage the reunion show while he and his fellow band members still possess the energy required to deliver a performance of such magnitude.
Bamboo, Rico, Nathan, and Mark were indeed on fire the rest of the evening, their energy never wavered from the first up until the last song.
They were having fun too and relishing the moment to play with one another again.
Rico commended the fans in a speech, thanking them for their untiring support and for making Rivermaya songs their soundtrack in their life journey.
It's astonishing to consider that the concert merely scratched the surface of Rivermaya's vast catalog and rich history.
Even more remarkable is the profound impact that the band's first three albums alone have had on the music scene, a legacy that resonates strongly today and for generations to come.
In one unforgettable evening, Bamboo, Nathan, Mark, and Rico reminded everyone how sensational they were as a unit, and in the process, earned the flowers they rightfully deserve.
Setlist:
Monopoly
Kung Ayaw Mo, Huwag Mo
The Princess of Disguise
Hinahanap-Hanap Kita
Ballroom Dancing
Sunny Days
Ulan
You'll Be Safe Here
Luha
Bring Me Down
20 Million
If
Fever
Kundiman
Hilo
Flowers
Panahon Na Naman
Elesi
Nerbyoso
Mabuhay
Awit Ng Kabataan
214
Himala
Kisapmata