Grammy Award-winning hip-hop duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis gave us a party to remember. After the rapper dude from Seattle Ben Haggerty (Macklemore) and Ryan Lewis took a lifestyle check that made them the trendy musical target of 2013, the whole world just couldn’t get enough of them. Thanks to the viral explosion of “Thrift Shop”, the Philippines had a chance to see the Seattle rap duo demonstrate how they powerfully owned every minute on stage last Sunday night (16 March 2014) at the Mall of Asia Arena.

They kicked off the show with an energetic performance of “Ten Thousand Hours,” followed by “Crew Cuts” and “Life is Cinema”. The excitement loaded up when the duo hit the phenomenal hit “Thrift Shop.” It was at this point when Macklemore informed the crowd that he’s been in the country when he was 19 and due to out of school, then he decided to travel, and remarked he couldn’t forget extremely large malls are all over the Metro Manila. The huge hit made
the crowd crazier as they sang and danced to its super funky beat. Macklemore then spoke out of experience, preaching to the youth about his battle with drug addiction before performing “Starting Over”. His message was for people to embrace the change for it was never too late, and segued into an emotionally compelling a capella rendition of “Otherside”, his personal ode to addiction. He aimed for honesty in his craft through experience, even exclaiming “Its not dope if you’re 25 and move back to your parent’s basement!”

The duo went all-in every minute, with fans jumping and dancing throughout the show. Every line of lyric spoke to the audience, and we felt the sincerity in the messages that Macklemore wanted to share. The duo’s unique character and charm was prominent all night, with the live musical accompaniment intensified the party ambience of the venue and Ryan Lewis playing both the roles of DJ and hype man. The stage design provided for a big video board that flashed lyrics and visual candy for the attendees.

The celebratory feeling continued when the duo performed “Can’t Hold Us” to which everybody jumped and partied like the party has no end in sight. The feeling was surreal, like no one can stop the crowd from moving into their respective places. We would never know how many of us in the crowd belted out the chorus of the LGBT rights anthem “Same Love,” as the The Arena went in full chorus with the line “Love is patient, Love is kind!”. It still seems unimaginable how a hip-hop song on marriage equality can became one of pop’s biggest hits.

The group’s party anthems made the crowd wild and gaga, “White Walls” and “And We Dance” made the crowd hyped. There was a show of the hometown party vibe from everyone was when one of the dancers held the Philippine flag during “Irish Celebration”. Macklemore took the time to thank everyone, and thanked the person behind his success, saying “I never knew that by clicking to that boy’s profile will change my life.” He thanked Ryan, and we all felt the sincere gratitude he had for that guy. After he finished the thank-yous, the group gathered once again on stage to give the crowd a strong encore party.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’s Philippine performance–possibly the best concert party held in the MOA Arena–left no doubt why they were named the best new artist at the 56th Grammy Awards.

Special thanks to Concertus Manila

Write up by Rye Ayala
Edited by Peter Tolibas
Photo by Cen Sulit and Jo Rivera

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Live in Manila Setlist
10,00 Hours
Crew Cuts
Life is Cinema
Thrift Shop
Other Side (ACAPELLA)
Starting Over
Same Love
Cant Hold Us
White Walls
Wings
And We Danced
Irish Celebration
Cant Hold Us

How was your Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Live in Manila Experience? Please post in the comments section below