Vertical Horizon and Live’s Ed Kowalczyk Live in Manila on April 28

On April 28, 2012, Vertical Horizon and Live’s Ed Kowalczyk will perform in Manila at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

When I read about this, I gasped! Wow! My favorite alternative rock artists will hold a concert here! Then, I went over my monthly finances and groaned. I couldn’t possibly afford another concert ticket this month. So, I surfed the net looking for promos (I know, I’m cheap hahaha). And I found one: Philippine Concerts is holding a Choose your Concert Promo for April 2012. Winner will get two tickets to the concert. All one has to do is blog about the concert.

To be qualified, however, the blog post should answer these questions:

Why do you want to watch the concert?

Well, because these two are my favorite alternative rock artists. I love their songs. Just the thought of seeing them perform their greatest hits gets me all excited.

What is your favourite song from the chosen artist?

For Vertical Horizon, my favorite is Best I Ever Had.

Why did you choose that song?

Well, because it’s a love song. LOL. And although I am not that young anymore, I’m still a sucker for romance (hahaha). Seriously, the song has this relaxing, even soothing tone, even though it talks about a failed relationship, about the pain of losing someone, of letting go, and moving on.

I just hope that Ed Kowalczyk (former lead vocalist of Live) will sing some of the greatest hits of Live. I would love to hear these songs – Selling the Drama, I Alone, Lightning Crashes, Dolphin’s Cry, and Run to the Water. Some of Live’s songs have abstract lyrics and are thus open to different interpretations.  Selling the Drama, I think, is about choices and beliefs while Lightning Crashes deals with the transference of life.

I also hope to hear the latest songs from their most recent albums. Vertical Horizon released their “Burning the Days” album in late 2009. Ed Kowalczyk has a solo album.

 So, there! I hope I get lucky J

http://www.philippineconcerts.com/foreign/vertical-horizon-lives-ed-kowalczyk-live-in-manila-2012/

Ticket Prices:
(Manila Concert)
VIP(103&101 ROWS A-J) (Reserved Seating) – P4755
PATRON (Reserved Seating) – P4225
LOWER BOX (Reserved Seating) – P3700
UPPER BOX A (Reserved Seating) – P2640
UPPER BOX B – P1585
GENERAL ADMISSION – P530

Tickets available at ticketnet.com.ph or call 9115555

Brought to you by Ovation Productions

Caffeine Overload

Finally decided to use my Starbucks GCs. The two grande-sized cups are chocolate chip frappucinos. The venti-sized one is dark mocha. I could finish one in minutes ... :)

Cranberries Live in Manila on April 10

I love rock music. I grew up listening to the music of Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, Supertramp, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Guess Who, Rainbow, Eric Clapton, Eagles, 10cc, Triumph, Aerosmith, Scorpions, and Metallica. My older brothers were (and still are) big fans of these bands. And being the older ones had many benefits: they could dictate what songs should be played in our stereo. And their favorite songs were the only ones heard at home. So, the obvious result -- my other siblings and I grew up as rockers, too.  My sister tried to deviate from the norm and tried to listen to other artists (Sharon Cuneta, etc.) and was teased mercilessly. 

At first, I resented being “compelled” to listen to these bands (my brothers hogged the stereo and played the songs at full volume, so it’s really hard to tune them out; and being at the lower pecking order, all I could do was grin and bear it) but I got used to them and learned to appreciate those powerful guitars, heavy drums and growling, almost screaming vocals. It became an acquired taste.

Back then, rock music had the power to alienate. But many people were also attracted to it. Why? Because it expressed a generation’s discontent and restlessness. It became a teenager’s sanctuary from the adult world. It offered a badge of identification. These, too, were the reasons I dug rock music. I still do, by the way. Because rock music is still imbued with sentiments that I can relate to.

But I also learned to appreciate other music genres – alternative and pop rock. And one of these bands is Cranberries whose music is sometimes described as pop rock or Celtic rock. Their music has lilting melodic strains, lush guitars and percussions. And of  course, there's the band's another trademark: vocalist Dolores O’ Riordan’s distinctive voice.  This Irish band had an impressive musical cruise in the 1990s – they sold over 15 million albums in the United States alone. Indeed, Cranberries was one of the successful bands of that decade.

Ever since I've read that Cranberries will hold a concert here in Manila, I’ve been feeling nostalgic. I’ve been listening to their songs more often, and included all of them in my latest playlist. I loved the politically charged“Zombie”, and other dreamy melodies that showcased O’Riordan’s trademark timbre, and of course, the band’s signature sound. I would love to hear these songs– Dreams, Linger, Ode to my Family, When You’re Gone, Salvation, and Free to Decide – performed live.

I must confess I haven’t heard their new album Roses yet. But I guess, they will perform some of the album’s tracks during the concert.

I know I sound like a broken record (I've been saying this repeatedly now, LOL) but I really love to hear from the Cranberries again. This is why I want to watch their concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on April 10. I would love to see them perform their greatest hits. I would love to reminisce, and yes, I would love to sing along with them J

Catch The Cranberries Live in Manila! The band behind the hits Zombie, Linger, Ode to My Family, Dreams and more! April 10, 2012 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum! Call 7821130 for bulk orders and premium seats 

For  Cranberries’ fans out there, hey, there’s still time. Get your tickets now!  Call 7821130 or visit http://ticketnet.com.ph/ for ticket inquiries!

Ticket prices are as follows:
Patron VIP (First 10 Rows 101 & 103 - Reserved Seating) - P7420
Patron (Reserved Seating) - P5830
Lower Box (Reserved Seating) - P4770
Upper Box A (Reserved Seating) - P2650
Upper Box B (Free Seating) - 1590
General Admission (Free Seating) - P530

Freebies!!!

I love freebies! Well, who doesn't? You actually get something without paying for it. So, when I got my Belle de Jour (BDJ) planner, I tore off coupons offering free product samples -- Athena Milk and CarbTrim Iced Tea Mix. I scanned the front and back of the coupons and e-mailed them to Unilab, the manufacturer of these products. Following are their e-mail addresses:

For Athena Milk -- athenamilk.unilab@gmail.com

For CarbTrim -- blockcarbs.carbtrim@gmail.com

I e-mailed Athena and CarbTrim last February 1, 2012.  Athena replied on February 29;  CarbTrim, on February 9.  Both said that I should expect shipment within TWO weeks.

I received the samples on March 22, 2012. Well, despite the long wait, I was happy and excited. It was the first time that I received freebies (hehe). (Oh, that's nor exactly accurate! I received free patron tickets -- to a Cyndi Lauper concert -- from a kindhearted blogger last March 16, 2012. I will post about the concert soon!)

For those BDJ girls planning to claim their samples, I think it would be better if you claim them personally at their office:

Bonaventure Plaza 

Ortigas Ave, Greenhills, San Juan. 

(Right in front of Greenhills, beside the gas station) Tel: 858 1281.

If you want the samples to be delivered to your home, be prepared to wait. :)

Hello Kitty!!!

A long, long time ago, McDonald's Philippines had a promo -- you get Hello Kitty stuffed toys when you buy their value meals. I can't remember if you have to shell out some money to get the stuffed toys. But I remember that my two sisters got so excited about the promo -- they bought those meals just to get their hands on the toys. Both of  them had a collection of these cute stuffed toys.

Fast forward to 2012. We did some general cleaning last week. And look what I've found:

This is my favorite. I love her costume.

Now, I wonder what happened to their helmets?

I'm sure there are still other Hello Kitty stuffed toys hiding in some boxes. I will update this post when I find them.