On the evening of April 6, Franco Reyes made the Music Museum the home of positive vibes, good vibrations and great music as he owned its stage to mark his first major solo concert. With his laidback aura, his magnetic charisma and his striking musical talent, he held the attention and fervor of the jam-packed venue of Suspitsados and concert enthusiasts.

Formerly known as a superband during his debut in 2009, Franco is now making his own way as a solo artist. Supporting him onstage are Paul Cañada on guitars, Dave Delfin on bass, Victor Guison on drums who are all more than capable in handling their instruments and performing live. With the very recent release of his second album titled “Soul Adventurer”, he has proven that there’s still so much that he can offer the Filipino music scene. There’s still a lot we have yet to see and hear, and Franco is just about to get started. He proved that all too well that evening.

“Hey, you guys, stand up, man!” he encouraged the crowd in good humor. “This is a rock concert. You have plenty of time to sit down.” Astoundingly, Franco is as, if not more, positive spirited in person as he sounds in his songs. Just like his songs, he emanated “positive vibes” and “good vibrations” with his words and his beaming smile. All throughout the concert, he was overflowing with gratitude to the attendees and the fans that he kept thanking them almost after every song. He even went on to say, “thank you for keeping OPM alive.”

The setlist was a grand mixture of almost all the songs from the early days and the ones from Soul Adventurer. They performed the songs from the first album such as “Next Train Out”, “Memorykill”, “A Mass for the End of Time”, plus the anthemic “This Gathering” and “Castaway” which had the crowd passionately singing along and waving their arms around. One memorable moment during the concert was Franco’s heartbreaking acoustic rendition of “For My Dearly Departed”, a song which he played for his dying father. “To Survive”, “Muse”, “Lover’s Fire” and “Better Days” were among the tracks from the new album and which already have a steady following in the crowd.

The thing about Franco’s music is that all its elements are definitive. When you hear those riffs, those chops of reggae and R&B beats, the thuds of positive vibes, and of course, that deeply resonating voice, you just know that it’s him – it’s Franco Reyes, alright. Along with that recognition is the expectation of a good song, a good performance. True enough, he delivers well. Being part the concert was a great experience – the way that the wailing of the guitars fills the room and the way that his vocals reverberate all throughout. Franco is such a soulful musician and performer, a true gem in the Filipino music scene today. Here’s to hoping that he continues his crusade to create good music. As he proclaimed, “Mabuhay ang OPM!”

Written by Sandra Mae Laureano
Photos by Glenn Michael Tan

* Special thanks to MCA Music

Franco Solo Concert Setlist:
1. Moonset
2. Seasons
3. To Survive
4. A Beautiful Diversion
5. Muse
6. Last Waltz
7. Touch the Sky
8. Renewal
9. Better Days
10. For My Dearly Departed (Acoustic)
11. Memorykill
12. A Mass for the End Time
13. Across the Milky Way
14. This Gathering
15. Uprising
16. Razor
17. Next Train Out
18. This Gathering
Encore:
19. Lover’s Fire
20. Castaway
21. Song for the Suspect

More Franco Solo Concert Photos