Since Mix 10 was the last leg of this year’s Karpos Live series, we thought we’d talk about some of our favorite things about Karpos Live this year:
- More booths! The venues were really vamped up with the Globe booth, which had a photo booth and merch, and the beer pong table over at San Miguel’s booth.
- The poster walls and neon signs that made for perfect photo ops! No Karpos Live experience was complete without getting your pic taken at the black and yellow wall of posters.
- Cool new Karpos Live merch — they sold shirts this year! Plus some of the Karpos Live artists sold their own merch at the shows, too.
- Artists we’ve been waiting for! Seeing RAC back in Manila was pretty much one big dance party, The Japanese House felt like a dream come true, and so many other great artists that we’re so glad came to the country.
- Putting the spotlight on local artists we love! If you’re accustomed to gig culture, where you get to watch bands play in a small space, it’s amazing to see what they can do on a big stage with a full set and all the works!
Karpos Live Mix 10
The last Karpos Live mix of the year was opened by Flu, one of the coolest new bands on our radar. They’ve got a groovy nostalgic sound that you’ve got to hear; check out their songs Fine Day and ‘93 to get a feel of it!
Next up, IV Of Spades. And their fanbase at the show definitely made sure there was no dull moment. It was all cheers and screams from the crowd from the moment they stepped out for their first song “Sweet Shadow” (one of the catchiest bops on the album, if you ask me).
And who knew such an explosive sound could come from three very talented guys? We got a taste of each of their individual talent with guitar solos from Blaster and Zild, and drum solos from Badjao.
IVOS played a ton of songs from their debut album CLAPCLAPCLAP! The band’s energy during songs like “Bawat Kaluluwa” and “In My Prison” was really captivating, the type where you just have to let go and jump! When it came to “Come Inside Of My Heart,” the sweet melody and Zild’s voice captured our hearts as we swayed along. They also made sure to play some of their older hits like “Where Have You Been, My Disco?” and “Hey Barbara” which really took us back to the days when the band was on the rise, on their way to becoming one of the most loved Filipino rock bands. Of course, everyone was super excited to hear them perform “Mundo.” It’s just one of those essential IV Of Spades songs. The crowd sang along to every word!
The guys of IV Of Spades seemed to not be so much on the talkative side during their show, but they did take the time to thank the crowd and their fans for coming. And when they do speak, their fans listen intently.
Oh, and that instrumental section at the end of “Bata, Dahan-Dahan” was craaazy. Definitely way better hearing it live than just streaming it. These guys will continue to go far if they keep making music this good!
Then came Phum Viphurit — and this cutie from Thailand did not stop smiling the whole night! That infectious smile and happy energy made his set special, and super fun to watch. Plus, we loved his colorful, animated set design, too!
What I think makes Phum’s music attractive is its simplicity, and I don’t mean a bland or boring kind of simple. Simple, in the sense that he sings about love and life with lyrics that anyone can easily relate with. His music could easily fit into a cute coming-of-age movie! And boy does he have a big fan base here in the Philippines! The crowd sang along to every song, especially his biggest hits like “Lover Boy,” “Hello Anxiety,” and “Long Gone.” I mean, how can you not love lyrics like “Take me away, sun ray!”
We’ve gotta give a big shoutout to Phum’s band as well. They were amazing! And they had the same happy, fun energy that Phum had. All in all, super charming to watch. One of the best moments of Phum’s set was when he took over the drums and gave an incredible solo! That surprised us in the best way!
With groove, good vibes, and undeniable talent all around, Flu + IV Of Spades + Phum Viphurit was an incredible set of artists for the last Karpos Live show of 2019. We’re looking forward to seeing what this concert series will bring come 2020!
You can check out our full album at https://www.facebook.com/pg/rx931/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10157098142683040
SPOTTED
Big shout out to some of our lucky online and on-air giveaway winners! Glad you guys had a blast!
Student Jocks Rache, Gam, and Tasha were there to enjoy the show, too!
