Why Don’t We came back to the Philippine concert stage — more than a year since their Invitation Tour — with new songs, greater energy, and more maturity. “We kind to know who we are now,” said the boys in an exclusive interview hours before 8 Letters Tour in Manila made the evening of Limelights who came out, on a Monday, at the New Frontier Theater, unbelievable in the best scenarios.

The show was jam-packed with new songs from their 8 Letters album and their single releases this 2019. Daniel, Corbyn, Jonah, Zach, and Jack were filled with energy and excitement as they jump on stage and roam around — passion reciprocated by their fans who cheered loud and sang along to the boys.

Why Don’t We opened the night with “Trust Fund Baby”, “M.I.A.”, and “Choose” before greeting the crowd with short introduction. The boys went on to deliver performances of their greatest hits that brought nostalgia to the fans who have been their since day one — back in 2016 — with “Taking You”, “Nobody Gotta Know”, “Why Don’t We Just”, and “These Girls” and the highly awaited mash-up.

The concert also marked the first live performance of Why Don’t We’s songs from their 8 Letters album, which received a gold certification in the Philippines. The album, which came out in August last year, is the group’s most successful release to date with “8 Letters” receiving gold certifications from Music Canada and the Recording Industry Association of America. Aside from “Choose” and “8 Letters”, Daniel, Corbyn, Jonah, Zach, and Jack also performed “Talk”, “In Too Deep”, “Friends”, and “Hooked” from the album.

But the night will never be complete without getting to hear the 2019 releases of the boys which include “Big Plans”, “Cold In LA”, “I Don’t Belong In This Club”, “Unbelievable”, “I Still Do”, and “What Am I”. Asked on their plans for new songs for the rest of the year, in accordance with their monthly releases, the group hinted on a possibility of coming out with a Christmas single.

As for their 2020 plans, nothing concrete has been shared by the boys. “We’ll definitely take sometime for the album, but what do I know?” Still, whether we get a new album or single, we will definitely be on the lookout for what the boys of Why Don’t We have in store for all of us.

With Daniel, Corbyn, Jonah, Zach, and Jack on stage with their instruments, bringing another wave of nostalgia to Limelights, Why Don’t We wrapped up the Manila leg of 8 Letters Tour with a sweet and lovely performance of “What Am I” and Jonah’s words of “Thank you for coming out and bringing the energy tonight. Mahal namin kayo.”

 

Words and photos by Danica Lacson