Maroon 5: Overexposed and loving it

Paul John Caña

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For this band, their 3rd time in Manila's the charm

MAROON 5 FRONTMAN ADAM Levine is also now an image model of Filipino clothing brand, Bench. All photos by Ed Clinton Go for Dayly Entertainment

MANILA, Philippines – When musicians play in a city or country for the first time, succeeding appearances often lose the excitement factor.

After all, save for the most hardcore of fans, people who’ve seen an artist once will probably be in no hurry to shell out good money to see them again. The result is usually thinner crowds during each succeeding performance. 

Not so for Maroon 5. 

There was a spectacular mass of people inside the Araneta Coliseum on September 18, Tuesday. You’d think people would have tired of the band as it was their 3rd time to play in Manila in 4 years.

Quite the opposite, as there was hardly a square inch of space left at the Big Dome. So what exactly keeps fans coming back? 

The answer can be summed up in two words: Adam Levine.

The frontman has exploded in popularity in recent years, thanks in no small part to his exposure in reality talent competition The Voice.

BASS GUITARIST MICKEY MADDEN

The band even pokes fun at their own fame by naming their latest studio album Overexposed. “We were making the album during a time when Adam’s face was all over the place,” lead guitarist James Valentine said to select members of the press during a quick chat backstage before the show.

“So, yeah, we were a bit overexposed.” 

The reference may be self-deprecating, but there can be no doubt that Maroon 5 is one of the biggest bands on the planet today.

Yes, Levine’s good looks may have drawn in the crowds — particularly the girls — but let’s not forget these guys won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 2005. That may not mean much for snoots who thumb their noses down at the music world’s biggest honor, but it’s still a pretty powerful symbol of just how talented the band really is.

I’ve always believed their biggest achievement is their ability to write songs that appeal to a vast market without losing their “cool” cred.

RHYTHM GUITARIST JAMES VALENTINE

In other words, no one judges you if you say you like Maroon 5 unlike, say, other recent chart-topping pop stars. 

And so decibel levels were at an all-time high inside the Big Dome when the lights went down and Maroon 5 walked onstage. Neon bars twinkled around the coliseum, sending a multicolored visual welcome to Levine, Valentine, Mickey Madden, Matt Flynn and PJ Morton.

The band immediately launched into the first song, “Payphone,” from the latest record. 

“Whether you like it or hate it, my voice is my own. You know it’s me,” Levine was quoted as saying in his press conference for clothing brand Bench earlier that week.

That distinctive wail, somewhere between “Purple Rain”-era Prince and high-pitched Phil Collins, was on full blast. He had much more control over his vocals this time, unlike last year when the high notes sounded a bit like a cat in heat. 

LEVINE KNOWS THAT THE uniqueness of his voice is part of the band's strength

The setlist was a good mix from the band’s 4 studio albums. It’s difficult to cram in all of their hits into a two-hour show, but the songs they ended up performing provided a good overview of their career so far.

From older singles like “This Love” and “Sunday Morning,” to fan favorites like “Makes Me Wonder” and “Wake Up Call,” to songs from the latest album like “Lucky Strike and “Daylight,” it was an energetic, sweat-soaked show throughout.

Levine kept the banter with the audience to a minimum, electing instead to keep performing practically nonstop. 

The band injected quite a bit of surprises into the set.

Levine rapped during the song “Stereohearts” (which he collaborated on with recent Manila visitors Gym Class Heroes); sampled Skrillex’s “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” before “Harder To Breathe”; played a cover of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” with Levine doing a competent job on the drums; launched into snippets of Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” and Justin Timberlake’s “Sexy Back”; and teased audiences with current dance craze “Gangnam Style” fakeouts before the grand finale, “Moves Like Jagger.”

DRUMMER/PERCUSSIONIST MATT FLYNN

“We’ve had so much success all over the world,” Levine said, finally addressing the crowd, “but I have to say, specifically here in the Philippines, you guys have so much love for the band and we appreciate it so much.” 

Expectedly, the expression of thanks was met with loud squeals of delight.

I looked around and I could see audiences from all age groups, some with their hands up in the air, some waving their neon bars, all with huge smiles on their faces.

I thought I had seen everything Maroon 5 had to offer after watching them perform live twice, but the 3rd time proved to be the most enjoyable one yet.

Apparently, being “overexposed” isn’t such a bad thing after all. – Rappler.com

Paul John Caña is the managing editor of Lifestyle Asia magazine and is a live music geek. Email him at pjcana@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @pauljohncana

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